Green Pea Burgers

Peas are great source of “green” protein, and are also high in fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc and lutein. Their only drawback seems to be the difficulty in getting your family to eat them. That’s why I developed this recipe, a modified version of others I found on the net. It worked! My mom says that she hates peas, but she likes these burgers, and another friend that doesn’t like vegetables came back for seconds! The recipe leaves lots of room for experimentation, and people can top the patties with whatever condiments they prefer – cheese, hot sauce, whatever floats their goat. Here’s the ingredient list to make 16 patties:

2 cans peas (or 2# frozen peas would work – I haven’t tried that)

1 can chickpeas

1 1/3 cup bread crumbs or crushed crackers (one tube of unsalted saltine-type crackers is what I use)

½ cup chopped onion

2 large eggs (if the eggs are smaller go for three, more egg will help the patties stay together better)

½ tsp salt (if you use salted crackers forgo the salt)

2 tsp parsley

A shake of black pepper or your favorite seasoning

Open and drain the cans, then dump the chickpeas into a medium sized mixing bowl. Mash the chickpeas first because they are tougher than the green peas, then add the green peas and mash them. Before adding the onion, pre-cook it in the microwave a little bit by placing it in a microwave-safe dish and cooking on high for about a minute. Beat the eggs, then add them to the mixture. Since I use a whole tube of unsalted saltine-type crackers, I just crush the crackers while they are still in the tube, then open it and dump them in. Add the salt and spices, and mix everything together. Place the mixture in the refrigerator for about an hour, or overnight if you wish. It just helps to let it rest for a while and congeal.

Use a 1/3 cup measure to scoop the mixture onto a well-oiled hot frying pan or griddle. A fork works well to get the mix out of the measuring cup, and to flatten the mix into a patty shape once it’s on the pan. Cook on both sides to at least a golden brown. I like mine a little crispy. I haven’t tried grilling these, but it might work. Makes 16 mouthwatering patties.

Thanks for reading! If you make this recipe, or find a way to make it your own or make it better, I'd love to hear about it! Also, I'm entering this instructable in the Meat-Free Meal Challenge, so please vote!