Veggie Burger with Chickpea and Eggplant patties and Cilantro-Lime-Hummus sauce

Veggie Burger with Chickpea and Eggplant patties and Cilantro-Lime-Hummus sauce

Disclaimer - This may seem to be a long post, but it is totally worth it by the end!

I had purchased some eggplants to make Baingan Bharta the other day. However I landed up using all but one. So that one eggplant in my fridge was bothering me. I wanted to make something using it but it would not do justice quantity wise. I had initially thought of making an eggplant dip out of it but then I happened to see a picture of a burger on one of the food pages I follow on Facebook. That is when like a lightning an idea occurred to me! Yes, you got it too :) I thought why not make burger patties with eggplant in it. I know it doesn't sound very appealing but I wanted to give it a shot. But me not being a fan of eggplant, I decided to combine it with some other core ingredient to keep the balance in taste. Chickpeas came to my rescue!
This recipe is my creation where I am challenging my limits (not being an eggplant fan), using my creativity to come up with a new recipe which is vegetarian and healthy.

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Ingredients
For Burger
Burger buns
Lettuce leaves
Tomato and onion slices
Cheese slice

For the Chickpea and Eggplant patties
Ingredients
2 cups boiled chickpeas (Boil with salt and turmeric powder)
1 large eggplant, peeled and diced
1/2 cup spinach
1 large onion
3-4 garlic cloves
5-6 green chillies, minced
1/2 cup brown bread crumbs
2-3 tbsp corn flour
1 cup parsley
1/2 cup cilantro
Sesame seeds
Salt
1 tsp turmeric powder

Method
Boil eggplant along with spinach in water with little salt and turmeric powder. This helps in removing the bitterness from the eggplant. Drain the water and transfer this boiled mixture into a mixing bowl. Blend half of the chickpeas along with onion and garlic to a smooth paste.
Add all the other ingredients along with this paste into the mixing bowl. Mix well. It should not be runny as then you will not be able to make patties. Add more bread crumbs if required.

Refrigerate it for 20 to 30 minutes. Using your hands, form medium sized Patti, roll them over sesame seeds and shallow fry in a non stick pan using very little oil.

For the Cilantro Lime Hummus sauce

This is a crazy twist to cilantro chutney I think! This sauce is so much creamier and refreshing than the ones I have had before. 

Ingredients

1 bunch cilantro

1/2 cup parsley

2 tbsp hummus

2 cloves of garlic

Juice of 1 big lemon

1/4 cup olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Water if required

Method

Grind all the ingredients together to form a smooth sauce. 

You can use this as a dip or a burger sauce for the buns like I have used!

Assembly
Spread the cilantro sauce over both the buns.Place a patti on one side.

Place onion and tomato slices over the patti and a cheese slice over the other bun.

Place the lettuce over the patti and cover the bun with the cheese slice side bun.

Your veggie burger with Chickpea and Eggplant patties and Cilantro-Lime-Hummus sauce is ready to be served. You can surely taste the hint of eggplant and smoked sesame seeds as you take a bite! As a food blogger, I surely am very satisfied with myself today that I tried something new which I never thought I would! Eggplant patties!!! Really!!! :)