Didi Emmons came on the show and made these burgers and ever since I was hooked. They’re truly spectacular. Note that these must be cooked over low heat, otherwise, the sugars in the beet will burn. But really, even if you’re hasty and burn the burgers, they’ll still taste fabulous. I recommend eating it bun-less, next to a big salad, with a puddle of hot sauce. You can freeze burgers in individual packages for easy preparation.

Makes approximately 8 burgers

2 T. vegetable oil
3 small beets, scrubbed well (about 1 lb.)
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped (roasted)
1 mediun carrot ( scrubbed and roasted)
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
3-4 good quality beet green leaves
½ c. walnut pieces
1 c. raw millet
2 slices of whole wheat bread, lightly toasted
½ c. wheat germ (optional)
¼ cup pumpkin seeds (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Drizzle about 1 tablespoon of the oil on a baking sheet. Cut the beets into quarters and place them on the sheet pan. Add the onion, carrot, and garlic too. Lightly season the vegetables with salt and pepper. Bake until the beets are cooked, about 25-30 minutes, or until a knife enters the beet easily. Let the vegetables cool for at least 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the millet. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, and add the millet. Cook the millet for 30 minutes, over very low heat, and covered. When the millet is finished, put it into a large bowl and let it cool for a few minutes.

In a food processor, combine the walnuts, the bread, the garlic, and the pumpkin seeds, and wheat germ, if using. Process until the bread is a nice fine crumb texture. Add the mixture to the millet.

Now add the vegetables to the processor and process until well chopped. Add the vegetables to the bowl as well. Stir the mixture with a large spoon and season liberally with salt and pepper. When the mixture is thoroughly mixed, chill it for 1 hour.

Form about 8 generously sized burgers with your hands, packing each down into a nice even height.

To cook the burgers, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a sauté pan, over low heat. When the pan is hot, add the burgers. Do not move them once they are in the pan because this will cause them to fall apart. Let the burgers cook for a few minutes, then with a spatula, carefully flip them and continue cooking the other side until nicely browned. You want to develop a nice caramelized crust. Repeat with the remaining burgers, or freeze the extras in individual baggies for a convenient burger meal whenever you need it.

Healthy and delicious, this burger is long on flavor and texture and uses the oft-ignored black-eyed pea. I also love any excuse to use shallots and they add such a wonderful depth of flavor to this recipe. Try this pattie on a bun, accompanied by mashed potatoes, or with savory rice, and a light salad.

Ingredients:
1 15 oz. can black eyed peas, drained & rinsed
1 medium-sized shallot, finely minced
1 scallion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 T. parsley, chopped
¼ t. chili sauce
6 oz. cremini mushrooms, roughly chopped
1/2 c. toasted walnuts, chopped
2 T. olive oil
Salt and pepper
½ c. flour (for dredging the patties)
Oil for frying

To prepare:
Mash the black-eyed peas in a bowl and add the shallot, scallion, parsley, and chili sauce.

Heat a skillet on medium heat and, when it’s hot, add the olive oil. Wait a few seconds for the oil to heat through, then add the chopped mushrooms. Sauté just a few minutes until the mushrooms are nicely browned but not cooked down. Add the toasted walnuts and the garlic and sauté for about a minute, then remove the pan from the heat and add the mushroom-walnut mixture to the mashed pea mixture. Blend well with a fork or your hands. The mixture should be fairly dry and easily shaped into patties. Form patties to desired size.

Heat a heavy cast iron skillet with a good coating of vegetable oil. Put the half cup of flour on a plate then dredge each burger in flour. Carefully place the patties in the hot, oiled skillet and cook until you have a nice brown crispy coating. Turn the burger carefully and brown the other side. When both sides are crispy, place the burger on a bun, add your favorite burger toppings, and serve with a salad for a delicious light meal.

This recipe serves two to four and is easily doubled.