"You are what you eat"

Found this BBC TV show by accident. Gillian McKeith, the "nutritionist/diet doctor" on the show is sometimes harsh, sometimes crass, but VERY informative about foods, health, nutrition, etc.

I've DVRd it and last nigh****ched about 6 episodes in a row.

http://www.gillianmckeith.info/

I like how she relates specific foods and nutrients to specific "problems" and/or "symptoms", like headache, swollen ankles, low libido, sweating, etc.... I am learning a lot!

I got a craving for chickpea burgers after watching her make some last night. Went to Trader Joes and got some things.

Assembled some raw almond slices, a can of garbonzo beans (chickpeas), a bit of diced carrot, some sprouts, some onion, quinoa, olive oil, crimini mushrooms...

Made a mash... tried making burgers..no go.

I need a "'binder" of some sort... looked at some online recipes, and some use eggs, others bread crumbs, or flour, one used croutons....

Does anyone make them? What do you use as a binder??

I love the taste of what I made, but it came out as a loose consistency after cooking in on stovetop in some olive oil.

YUMMY, but not a "burger"...yet!

I love using chick peas for burgers and homemade hummus.

Here's a link to a recipe I've used:

http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/chickpea-burgers-recipe.htm

I skip the hamburger bun or I make it open face at the very least.  Add a slice of cheese and the protein is good.

Good luck!

thanks, janeene!!

that recipe uses an egg white and croutons... it holds together as a patty ok?

yum

Yes it holds it together.  I use 1/4 cup of eggbeaters instead of the egg whites, but it turns out great.

right on....i do have eggbeaters, too... i'll try that with some of the mixture and try again for a burger consistency for dinner!

stay tuned!

thanks!

Lori,

You might try throwing half the garbonzo beans in a food processor.  Pulse them up and stream in the olive oil.  This will give you a pasty mixture.  Then mix that with the rest of your ingredients and maybe throw in an egg.  I'm thinking that should be enough to hold it together.

Are you cooking the quinoa first before adding it in?  If not, do that.  That might act like your bread crumbs.

Are you pan frying or baking?  I would try the above and then do a quick fry on top of the stove to brown the outside and then continue cooking in the oven.

Let us know what you try and how it comes out.

Steph

steph.. i was thinking that it would work better w/a food processor, but, i don't have one.... i used a hand masher, like for potatoes...

i didn't cook the quinoa first... i thought it might plump up or get a little bready just in the pan frying, but it didn't. It got real tasty, though, but kinda more like little pellets...

I might try cooking the Q. first, AND adding an egg white... that should do it, eh?

I felt so good doing something so healthy for myself today... and, i find i'm staying fuller much longer, (than when I eat less nutritionally dense foods) which is great.

Lori,

You can get small food processors at like Big Lots for probably about $20.00.  Might be worth looking into. I don't think the hand masher would work.  How about a blender. or Magic Bullet? If you do it in small batches with a little olive oil that should work.

But I do think perhaps cooking the Q first might give you the binding you need along with the egg.  And again I might lean more towards baking it in the oven where you don't have to turn it.

Now I can't wait to hear how it all comes out.  I might have to try it myself.  Of course that would necessitate my really cooking.  I'm good for a chicken breast or eggs after a day of work.  Actual cooking is a whole other story.  LOL

Steph 

I do have a blender...hmmm... i think i'll incorporate yours and janeene's suggestions and see how it works for dinner that way....

stay tuned!

and, yeah, for next time, i'm going to prepare the Q first... although, i really like it's nutty taste this way...might do a little of both....

And, steph, you know... it really wasn't much "cooking"... and, one can of garbonzos made enough for a few meals...and now it's ready to go in tupperware...

very tasty... healthy... and Dr. Diet (Gillian Mc) would HEARTILY approve... it will probably even make a good "poo" which she would be oh so proud of!

xoxo

Lori I love her and watch her every chance I get in the mornings.  I would love to have access to some of her recipes but I don't want to pay to join her site.  She is quite enlightening and informative thought.  Who knew there was so many indian take a ways in England.  She does have a funny hunched shape though and sometimes she just reminds me of a hobbit.

Hope your burger turned out well.

Monica