Homemade Veggie Burgers

Happy Sunday, everyone!

I am writing to you after a lovely refreshing day spent in Yosemite National Park on Thursday. Since the end of June marks my and Stuart's 2-year wedding anniversary, we decided on the spur of the moment to re-visit the location where we got engaged four years ago in 2010. We had just enough time to get away for a day in between his final grad school projects and start of his summer internship. It was amazing to spend the day amid giant sequoias and waterfalls, and to see the place where we got engaged, which had been covered in snow at the time of our engagement. As you can see in the photo below, this time it was green and beautiful! (Special thanks to the little boy who I accosted to take our photo and took about 7 of them).

In honor of summer greenery, I wanted to share a favorite recipe that I have been keeping under wraps for FAR too long now: homemade veggie burgers! If the words "veggie burgers" makes you want to wrinkle up your nose with a skeptical look on your face, please reconsider. You are probably thinking of the bland, frozen veggie patties the likes of which unlucky vegetarians are consigned to at summer barbeques. These are not those burgers. The homemade patties are full of texture and flavor, while toppings can include smoky roasted bell peppers and big hunks of crumbly feta cheese. As usual, need I say more?

 

 Plus, sweet potato fries. Of course.  

 

 

Just give everything a good stir... 

 

Get your hands messy and shape into a patty...

 

And grill in a skillet until nice and warm.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil
1 clove minced garlic
1 tsp dried oregano
1 cup herb-seasoned stuffing mix
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 10-oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
1/2 cup feta, crumbled
4  hamburger buns, toasted

For Topping:
plain yogurt
crumbled feta cheese
sliced red bell pepper (I like to roast mine in olive oil for 5-10 minutes)
sliced red onion

Directions:
1. In medium bowl combine oil, garlic, oregano, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Stir in stuffing mix to coat thoroughly. Stir in eggs, spinach (making sure as much water as possible is squeezed out), and feta cheese; mix well. Shape into 4 patties.

2. Heat skillet over medium heat. Add patties and cook 3-4 minutes per side, until browned.  Serve with desired toppings. I also enjoy mine with a side of Trader Joe's sweet potato fries!