A delicious quinoa burger with some bite

Dear SOS: I just got back from a trip to Santa Fe, N.M., where we ate at Cafe Pasqual’s. I had its wonderful quinoa burger. The restaurant has two recipe books, but this is a new recipe and is sadly missing. The patty includes minced portobello mushrooms, sweet potatoes and zucchini and is topped with tomato chutney and fried shallots and served on a gluten-free multi-seed English muffin. If I could make these wonderful burgers at home, I would not only be very happy but also healthy! Do you think they would share it with you?

— Laurel Patric, Glendale, Calif.

Dear Laurel: This is one of the better vegetarian burgers I’ve had. Cafe Pasqual’s was happy to share the recipes for its quinoa burger and tomato chutney topping.

Tomato chutney

1 hour, 20 minutes. Serves 6.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon oil

1/2 teaspoon black mustard seeds

Pinch asafetida

1/2 cup rice wine vinegar

1 1/2 cups chopped fresh tomato

1/8 teaspoon curry powder, more to taste

1/8 teaspoon fenugreek, more to taste

1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger

1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh peeled garlic

1/4 teaspoon powdered turmeric

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1/2 teaspoon toasted cumin seeds, ground

1/2 teaspoon toasted coriander seeds, ground

1/4 teaspoon mace

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/4 cup sultana raisins

Directions:

In a heavy-bottomed sauce pan, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and asafetida. When the mustard seeds begin to pop, add the rice vinegar, tomato, curry powder, fenugreek, ginger, garlic, turmeric, cayenne, cumin, coriander, mace, sugar, salt and raisins. Stir together and bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat and gently simmer until the liquid reduces and the mixture thickens slightly, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool, then cover and refrigerate until needed. This makes about 1 1/4 cups chutney.

Quinoa burger

Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa

1 small zucchini

1/2 cup olive oil, divided

1 large shallot, minced

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

2 large portobello mushrooms, stems removed and caps finely chopped (preferably using a food processor)

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

1 1/2 cups bread crumbs

1/2 cup mashed cooked yam, more if needed

3/4 cup guacamole, for garnish

6 toasted English muffins, to use as buns

6 tablespoons tomato chutney, for garnish

Daikon sprouts, for garnish

Thinly sliced fried shallot “sticks,” for garnish

Directions:

1. Cook the quinoa: Rinse the grains well and place them in boiling water (1 part seeds to 2 parts water), and cook until the quinoa is translucent and tender and the germ has spiraled out from the grain, 12 to 15 minutes, careful not to overcook. Drain, measure 2 cups and set aside. This makes about 2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa, more than is needed for the rest of the recipe; the remainder can be eaten by itself or added to foods such as soups or salads.

2. While the quinoa is cooking, coarsely grate the zucchini. Spread the zucchini out on a kitchen towel, then roll up the towel and wring it to squeeze out as much moisture as possible. Set aside.

3. In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil over low heat and add the shallot and red pepper flakes. Cook until the shallots are soft, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and zucchini, and cook for 3 more minutes to soften, stirring often.

4. Place the mixture in a large bowl and add the quinoa, then add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside to cool, then add the bread crumbs and mashed yam, kneading the mixture to fully incorporate and form the burger base. Test the mixture by forming a very small patty and frying it in a saute pan; if the burger is too soft to hold together, add mashed yam to bind. Make 6 patties by pressing the mixture firmly with your hands.

5. Heat a thin layer of olive oil in a large skillet or grill pan over medium heat. Cook the patties until golden-brown on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

6. Spread a tablespoon of guacamole on the cut side of each toasted muffin slice. Place a cooked patty on one of the muffin slices, and top each with a tablespoon of tomato chutney and small handful of daikon sprouts. Top with a sprinkling of fried shallot sticks. Place the remaining muffin slice over the top, or serve the burgers open-faced.

NOTE: Adapted from Cafe Pasqual’s in Santa Fe, N.M. Black mustard seeds, asafetida (or asafoetida) and fenugreek can generally be found in Indian and cooking supply stores, as well as online.

Nutrition information per serving: Calories 606; Protein 14 grams; Carbohydrates 79 grams; Fiber 7 grams; Fat 27 grams; Saturated fat 4 grams; Cholesterol 0; Sugar 14 grams; Sodium 708 mg