After IKEA announced its new vegan meatballs, I began craving meatballs. Obsessively craving is a more accurate description.
Well played IKEA.
Because of this craving and the fact that the nearest IKEA is more than an hour from home, I rummaged through my pantry and freezer to see if I could satisfy the obsession. What I ended up with was the most delicious veggie burger in existence.
Makes sense in my head.
To clarify, I did make some of the mixture into meatballs using a small scoop and baking them until firm. They were a nice addition to top of some gluten-free spaghetti. But I just couldn’t leave well enough alone and thought, what if?
That question usually leads me down a long and winding road, sometimes leading to success and sometimes leading to a new lesson learned. This time it led me to an easy and delicious veggie burger. If all roads were this easy to travel, my life would be less interesting.
Let me give you a little nutrient breakdown so you can fully appreciate this humble little burger. With this knowledge, you can feel good about what you are using as fuel for the amazingly complicated machine that is your body.
The chickpeas and green peas pack a protein punch while providing iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C.
Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, so sneak it in whenever possible. It is high in vitamins A, B6, C and K and minerals such as manganese, calcium, copper, potassium, and magnesium. Fiber and protein are some more benefits of kale, so eat up Buttercup!
Sorry I called you Buttercup.
Ground psyllium husks act as a binder to keep the form of the patty while providing fiber. Fiber helps control blood sugar, promotes cardiovascular health and helps provide a feeling of fullness, thereby aiding weight loss. It also helps to keep your skin healthy, did ya know? It helps move yeast and fungus from the body so they don’t have a chance to be excreted through the skin, triggering acne or rashes. Fiber also helps keep things moving along ifyouknowwhatImean.
Flax meal also acts as a binder while providing a healthy dose of Omega-3 fatty acids and lignans. It also is a good source of fiber. Again with the fiber!
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