Did you know you can make tasty veggie burgers with pantry staples? These homemade patties give you 23 g of protein and 15 g of fiber, so they fill you up and taste great.
French green lentils keep their shape when cooked, giving the burgers a texture that feels more like a real burger than many soy‑based patties.
Lentils also contain prebiotic carbs that feed the good bacteria in your gut, helping digestion.
Active time: 20 minutes | Total time: 30 minutes
Lentil Burgers With Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
For the burgers
- 3/4 cup (135 g) dried French lentils
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 4 whole‑grain burger buns or large lettuce leaves
For the tzatziki
- 1/2 cup (123 g) 0% plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup cucumber, grated and squeezed dry
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/8 tsp salt
Directions
- Put the lentils, garlic, and thyme in a small pot. Add 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer 25‑30 minutes until tender. Drain and let cool for 10 minutes.
- While the lentils cool, mix the yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Stir well and set aside.
- Transfer the lentils to a large bowl. Mash half of them with a potato masher. Add breadcrumbs, onion, eggs, salt, pepper, and paprika. Mix until everything sticks together. Shape into four patties about ½ inch thick.
- Lightly spray a non‑stick skillet with olive‑oil spray. Heat over medium. Cook the patties 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
- Place each patty on a bun or a lettuce leaf and top with a spoonful of tzatziki.
Serves: 4 (1 burger with 2 Tbsp tzatziki per serving)
Nutrition per serving: 418 kcal, 5 g total fat, 71 g carbs, 15 g fiber, 23 g protein. Also provides vitamin D, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin A and C.