The Ultimate Vegetarian Burger

Who doesn't like Burgers, right? And as the Labor Day BBQ's are right around the corner, I'm sure everyone is looking for a unique recipe to impress friends and family this coming weekend. If a Vegetarian Burger fits your menu, then you'll be happy to find this perfect low-fat veggie burger recipe which also stars a secret ingredient - Chocolate!! Yes, you heard it right, a burger recipe with chocolate in the mix?! You have got to try this out, whether you like vegetarian food or not! Check out this unusual yet healthy and delicious gourmet recipe for a sure fire way to wow your guests. [Photo courtesy of Janine via wikimedia]

This recipe comes from Hotel Chocolat, a luxury British chocolatier who specialize in fine cocoa chocolate, especially for Xmas, birthday gifts and corporate gift ideas. Besides being devoted to producing the finest chocolates, the company works hard to help improve the livelihoods of the cocoa farmers who supply the raw product. See their website for a wide range of chocolate inspired cuisine and quirky gourmet chocolate gift ideas.

This recipe approximately serves four people, and is easy to prepare in around forty minutes. Once you spice it up with some healthy veggies, alfalfa sprouts and your favorite seasonings sandwiched between slices of whole-wheat buns, I bet you'll become a bit of a vegetarian yourself!

Ingredients
1 Courgette
1/2 tsp Curry Powder
1/8 tsp Turmeric
100g Millet or Quinoa
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 Onion - chopped
100g Hotel Chocolat Bitter Chocolate and Black Truffle Salsa
150g Pecan Nuts
50g Breadcrumbs
1 Egg Beaten
Salt - Pepper - to taste
3/4 pint of water

Method
First grate the courgette into a pan filled with 1/4 pint of salt water for 10 minutes to allow the courgette to absorb some of the water. After 10 minutes, rinse in fresh water, pat dry, and place to one side.

Add the millet, curry powder and turmeric to 1/2 a pint of water, then bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes.

Fry the onion and the courgette in 1 tbsp of olive oil until golden. Add the Bitter Chocolate & Black Truffle Salsa and mix until the courgette and onion are evenly coated with the salsa. Take off the heat and place to one side.

Finely chop the pecan nuts and add to the cooked millet, then add the breadcrumbs, beaten egg, cooked courgette and onion, mix together and season to taste with salt and pepper. Take handfuls of the mixture to create your patties, using your hands or a round pastry cutter to create evenly sized burgers.

Heat a frying pan with 1tbsp of olive oil and carefully place each burger into the hot frying pan, allowing 3 minutes for each side or cook until golden brown. Alternatively, place the burgers on a BBQ grill and cook on both sides until grill marks appear.

Serve the burgers loaded with your favorite condiments and veggies - lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumber, pickles, alfalfa sprouts - whatever you fancy. Here's to a hale and hearty healthy vegetable burger that will lure veggie as well as meal lovers alike!

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