Super Yummy Burger! Healthy, too!

Almost immediately after I found out I was pregnant, I became "icked" out when handling meat or poultry. The icky feeling didn't go away after I had Easton, and I have started to eat less and less meat as a result. Luckily, I have a hubby who eats almost anything I put in front of him- and he enjoys it, damn-it. I have started incorporating much more vegetarian and vegan dishes into our dinners, and have had loads of fun trying out new and fun recipes. Here is a recipe that I did yesterday for lunch- it was completely amaze-balls.

Quinoa and Northern Bean Burgers:

1/2 cup rinsed quinoa

• 1 medium carrot, cut in large chunks
• 6 green onions, thinly sliced 
• 15 ounces great northern beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/4 cup plain dried breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten (use flax meal if you want to make this dish vegan)
• Coarse salt (to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon Ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions: 

In a small saucepan, bring 3/4 cup water to a boil; add quiona, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook until liquid is absorbed, 12 to 14 minutes; set aside.

2. In a food processor, pulse carrot until finely chopped. Add cooked quinoa, half the green onions, beans, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; pulse until combined but still slightly chunky.

3. Form mixture into four 3/4-inch-thick paties (dip hands in water to prevent sticking). If too soft, refrigerate 10 minutes to firm. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium; cook burgers until browned and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes per side.

I served the burgers over spinach salad with a low cal honey mustard dressing and fresh avocado on top! It was desish. Try it out, it's so easy and really really healthy. If you make 6 patties out of the mixture- they come to 147 calories each burger.