Homemade burger (vegetarian and non-vegetarian version)

Burgers, Coke and Fries... the most popular JUNK FOOD... which is so easily available , you give your order in a car at one window of a mcdonalds or a burger king and go ahead to the collecting window within 3-5 minutes, the order is ready.... u can eat in 5 minutes and regret it 10 minutes later... :) 

My kids love this combo, so I try to make a healthier version at home. I always used to make a vegetarian burger at home, but my friend Lakshmi shared an interesting chicken burger recipe which was a hit with my older kid. So here it is....both the recipes are almost same but they taste so different.....:) 

Chicken burger with lime-mayo dressing

Vegetarian burger with peri-peri sauce

Ingredients:

For the Vegetarian burger patty:

• 5 medium potatoes
• 3-4 cloves garlic grated
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup frozen or fresh green peas
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp oil 
• A bunch of fresh coriander leaves
• Juice of half a lemon

For the Chicken burger patty:

• 1 chicken breast piece
• 3-4 cloves garlic and 1 inch piece of ginger
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tsp garam masala
• A bunch of fresh coriander leaves
• Juice of half a lemon
• 1 tsp oil

For Lemon Mayonnaise:

• 1/3 cup Japanese (or any other) mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
• Juice of half a lemon

Recipe:

For the vegetarian burger:

• Boil and pressure cook the potatoes. Defrost the green peas in the microwave or boil them in a pot of water.

• Peel the potatoes and mash them. Add green peas, coriander, lemon juice, salt and pepper and garam masala.

• Mix all the ingredients well and form a dough. Make even sized balls and flatten them.

• Grease a skillet with oil and pan fry these burger patties on a very low heat for about 5-7 minutes. When browned on one side, flip them with a fork and let them brown on the other side.

• Now, assemble the burger. I used whole wheat buns. Sliced them to half and toasted them on the skillet. Added some slices of cucumbers and onions with the patty and topped with a store bought Nandos peri peri sauce.

For the chicken burger:

• In a food processor, process ginger, garlic and coriander leaves. 

• Cut the chicken breast in two pieces and pulse it for 10-20 secs till the chicken is chopped and mixed with the other ingredients. It will shape like a ball of dough.

• Take it out in a container. Add salt and pepper , garam masala and lemon juice.
• Make small balls and flatten them. 
• Grease a skillet with oil and pan fry them. Once done on one side after 3-4 mins, flip the patty and let it cook and brown on the other side. 

• Take them all out on a plate and assemble the burger.
• I like slices of onion, and the fresh lemon mayonnaise as the dressing to the burger.

For the Lemon Mayonnaise:

• Grate the zest of a lemon in 1/3 cup mayonaisse. 
• Add juice of half a lemon.
• Add 2 tbsp chopped coriander.
• Mix it well.
• Zesty fresh lemon mayo is ready.

Quantity:

• Makes about 5 burger patties (chicken recipe) and about 8 (vegetarian recipe)

Vegetarian burger with peri-peri sauce

Notes:

• Add a green chili or two to make a spicier patty.
• Can add any vegetable like slices of tomato, or even mushrooms and onions sauteed together,salad leaves and cheese slices while assembling the burger.

Chicken burger with lemon mayonnaise and banana smoothie