Chickpea Burgers with Yogurt Tahini Sauce

The title of this recipe is somewhat misleading as there is no meat used. In fact, all of my vegan followers will be happy to know that there are no animals products in this dish what-so-ever. So, for anyone who is a vegan or who is looking for a vegan recipe, you've come to the right spot!

These Chickpea Burgers might be lacking meat, but they are certainly not lacking any flavor. The herbs, spices, garlic, onion, and tahini all marry to make a flavorful and delicious dinner. For any of you who have never heard of or tried tahini, it is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. Similar to peanut butter or almond butter, tahini has a thick texture and a nutty flavor. Tahini is a common ingredient in Greek, Turkish, and Middle Eastern recipes, so you might have tried it and not even known it. And tahini is not only used in the burger recipe, but it is also in the list of ingredients for the sauce, which provides the perfect creamy balance to the flavorful burgers.

This recipe is great served alone with a side of vegetables, but the burgers also taste great on a burger bun or in a wrap. This vegan recipe is not only healthy, but it is super easy. You make both the burgers and the sauce in the bowl of a food processor. AND you don't even have to worry about washing it in between making each component. Can't get much easier than that. So, give these burgers a try the next time you are searching for an easy, delicious, and healthy week night meal.

Chickpea Burgers with Yogurt Tahini Sauce (adapted from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen)
(4-8 servings)

Chickpea Burgers:
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 onion, chopped
3 tsp minced garlic
1/3 cup fresh parsley
2 Tbsp Tahini
2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
juice from 1/2 lemon
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup breadcrumbs

Yogurt Tahini Sauce:
6 ounces non-dairy yogurt (or fat free plain greek yogurt if you are not vegan)
1 1/2 Tbsp Tahini
juice from 1/2 lemon
1/4 cup fresh parsley
salt and pepper to taste

To make the chickpea burgers, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Add all of the ingredients except the breadcrumbs (add chickpeas through baking powder) to a food processor. Process ingredients until everything is well combined. The mixture does not have to be completely smooth; just make sure ingredients are incorporated. Remove mixture from food processor and mix in breadcrumbs. Add more breadcrumbs as needed until mixture comes together and you can form patties. Make eight patties. Place patties on prepared cookie sheet. Bake for about 12 minutes, or until bottom of patties turns golden brown. Flip chickpea burgers and bake another 12 minutes.

While the chickpea burgers are baking, make the sauce by adding all of the ingredients to a food processor. Pulse until ingredients come together.

Remove the burgers from the oven and serve warm with a side of yogurt sauce.

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Nutritional Info (without Yogurt Tahini Sauce)
Servings Per Recipe: 8
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 128.5
Total Fat: 3.2 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 347.6 mg
Total Carbs: 21.0 g
Fiber: 2.7 g
Sugars: 1.2 g
Protein: 4.7 g

Nutritional Info (with Yogurt Tahini Sauce)
Servings Per Recipe: 8
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 157.8
Total Fat: 4.7 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 360.8 mg
Total Carbs: 22.5 g
Fiber: 3.0 g
Sugars: 2.1 g
Protein: 7.4 g

Pros:
-Easy to make
-Easy clean-up
-Healthy and delicious vegan dinner
-Great leftovers

Cons:
-Tahini sauce is not available at some grocery stores (check Whole Foods or other specialty grocery stores if they do not carry it at your local store)

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5