Meat-lovers' Veggie Burger

Total Time: 25 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1/3 cup instant rice ( or brown)
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 1 1/2 cups frozen vegetables
• 1/3 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 egg, slightly beaten

Recipe

• 1 in a small saucepan, combine rice and water. bring to a rolling boil. reduce heat to medium-low and cover. simmer until all the water is absorbed, about 10 minutes. set aside.
• 2 in a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of oil. add frozen veggies and cook for 1 minutes or so to soften. (this is also the stage where you would cook onions and garlic if you would like to add them!).
• 3 remove veggies to a large bowl. stir in rice, oats, walnuts, cheese, flour, basil, salt and pepper into vegetable mixture. add the egg and stir until starchy, about 1 minute. (make sure to beat the egg before adding to the other ingredients. otherwise your patties won't bind as well.).
• 4 using a 1/3 cup dry measure, scoop and form mixture into 8 patties.
• 5 in the same large skillet you cooked the veggies, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat. cook patties in oil until browned on one side, about 3 minutes. turn over and continue cooking until browned and cooked through, about 2 minutes.
• 6 serve however you like - i suggest inside of pita bread.