Meatless Lentil Burger

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup dried green lentils, rinsed
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 3/4 cup diced yellow onion
• 2 celery stalks, minced
• 1/4 cup leeks, finely diced
• 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
• 5 tsp Dijon mustard
• 3 tbsp unsalted tomato paste
• 1 tsp chile powder
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 cup cooked long-grain brown rice
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cook lentils according to package directions.
2. In a large bowl, mix garlic, onion, celery, leeks, flaxseed, Dijon, tomato paste and spices. When lentils are cooked, mash them with the back of a fork, leaving some whole. Add mashed lentils and rice to bowl. Mix all ingredients together.
3. Heat oil in a medium saucepan on medium-high. While oil is heating, form lentil-rice mixture into 6 lentil patties. Add them to pan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until light brown. Transfer patties to prepared baking sheet and cook in oven for 15 minutes to warm through. Serve with a side salad and topped with diced tomatoes and avocado, if desired.

NOTE: There is no need to sandwich these burgers between a bun since you’ll be consuming a healthy amount of fiber thanks to the brown rice and lentils.