Lentil, Rice and Veggie Burger

I had some left over lentils and rice so this was just a culmination of things in my fridge but I was amazed!  

Get ready for the most flavorful garden burger to ever grace your taste buds!

Here is what you will need:

• 1/2 cup of brown rice
• 1/2 cup of lentils 
• large handful of diced onions
• large handful of diced red bell pepper
• a few jalapeno slices, diced
• handful of spinach, chopped
• handful of shredded carrots
• handful of raisins
• 1/2 teaspoon of crushed garlic 
• 1-2 tbsp olive oil
• two eggs
• 1-2 cups of breadcrumbs 
• sea salt, pepper, paprika, hot sauce (dashes and splashes) 

This is what  you do:

• Cook the rice and lentils separately (they cook a little bit differently) 
• Rice:
•  1 cup of water (or I like to use veggie broth), 1/2 cup of rice. 
• once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cover until water evaporates and rice is fluffy
• Lentils:
• 1 cup of water (or broth), 1/2 cup of lentils
• simmer in an open sauce pan, adding water so lentils are always covered, for 10-12 minutes, drain. 
• Over medium heat, saute the onions, pepper, jalapeno, carrots, spinach and garlic in olive oil until soft
• Combine rice, lentils and veggies and raisins
• whisk together two eggs and add to mixture
• add enough breadcrumbs to make the whole mixture start to stick together. 
• form into patties about the size of your palm
• cook on frying pan which should still have enough oil left over from the veggies. 
• cook on both sides and then cover to ensure that the middle isn't mushy and the burgers are browned and firm, but not dried out. 

Serve on a bun (I chose brioche) with greens, bread and butter pickles, avocado slices and whatever condiments you like (mayo, honey mustard, thousand island, etc.) 

I recommend a baked sweet potato on the side! Top it with butter, sour cream or goat cheese...

(wash potato, poke holes all over potato skin with a fork, put in the microwave for 4-5 minutes or hit the potato button) 

Aside from being absolutely delicious, there are a few more wonderful things about this recipe...

1. Very cost effective, green lentils and brown rice can be bought in bulk for only a few dollars and they are very filling and make SO MUCH FOOD! (a bag of small sweet potatoes are only $1.69 at Trader Joes! and make a great, nutritious and quick side dish to any meal)
2. The recipe is super flexible so you can put whatever you like, and omit anything you don't like. Not to mention, you may already have almost all the ingredients in your fridge- there aren't any fancy shmancy ingredients so usually no special shopping trip is necessary.
3. You can make a whole bunch of it and it keeps really well... either form into patties, wrap in parchment paper, seal in a ziplock bag and freeze or keep mixture in a tupperware in the fridge for up to a week. 
4. If the mixture is made in advance you can throw this meal together in about 10 minutes total! 
5. You only dirty like 3 things (cutting board, mixing bowl, skillet)

Enjoy!!