Sunflower Seed and Brown Rice Veggie Burger

I've always had a fondness for Veggies Burgers (except when they contain Cheese) and I had one particular favorite - Sunshine Garden Burgers. I've been ordering them during the lockdown from my local Health Food Store, but in the last order, they were out. I thought maybe I could replicate them and I did!  I'm quite happy with the results so I may not be ordering them much anymore. I checked the website for the ingredients of their Veggie Burgers and I had the ingredients except for Chives, so I replaced them with Onions and I think I might even like them better. I made the Brown in a regular Rice Cooker which takes a long time, but you could also easily cook the Rice in an Instant Pot in about 20 minutes. If you use freshly cooked Rice, the extra Water may not be needed. But if you use Rice that has been stored in the refrigerator, you will probably need to use the extra Water since refrigerating Rice dries it up. Other than that, you just process it all in a food processor and it takes no time at all to come together.

I don't bother putting them in a bun as I like to eat them straight out of the oven or out of the pan and I don't even use any condiments  Both cooking methods work but the oven method makes them a bit drier and gives them a more even crispiness, while the pan fried method keeps the burger much softer with a harder, crisper crust. I did cook them both ways, just to test it out. And, personally prefer the oven method. I'm so happy with these Veggie Burgers!

Sunflower Seed and Brown Rice Veggie Burger

1 cup Raw Sunflower Seeds

1 cup cooked Brown Rice

3/4 cup of chopped Carrots

½ cup chopped Celery

½ cup chopped shallot or Onion (if using Chives use ¼ cup less)

1 teaspoon Salt or Seasoned Salt

1 – 2 Tablespoons Water if needed

4 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil divided

Optional:  1/4 cup minced Chives

Turn the oven to 375 degrees

Process the Sunflower Seeds into a meal in the food processor. Then add in the Brown Rice, the Carrots, Celery, Onion and Salt.  Pulse until the mixture is fairly smooth. Check the texture. It should be a bit soft but sticks together when you try to make a ball. If it is too dry, add in 1 Tablespoon of Water, stir and check again. Add the additional Tablespoon of Water if necessary.

Drizzle a baking sheet with 2 Tablespoon of Vegetable Oil. Using a 3 - 3 1/2 inch Ring mold, fill the ring mold to make 6 Veggie Burgers.  Brush the tops with the remaining Vegetable Oil and place in the oven.

Cook for 15 minutes and turn over. Cook for an additional 15 minutes. Serve with the condiments of your choice and in a bun if you want.

Or pan fry one or two at a time on medium high heat for about 5 - 6 minutes per side.

You can also freeze them, but place parchment on the baking sheet (don’t use the oil). When they are frozen solid, you can place them into freezer storage bags.  When you want to cook them, follow the directions above, but cook for another few 3 - 5 minutes.  

Five Element Analysis

White Rice belongs to the Metal Element, but Brown Rice adds in the Earth There is more Earth added from the Carrots. The Sunflower Seeds contribute the Water Element and the Onion brings in the Metal Element. The Celery makes sure that the Metal Element is also present. It’s a pretty balanced little Veggie Burger. Only Fire is missing, which can easily be added by serving this Veggie Burger with a side salad or a glass of Iced Tea.  

Rhubarb Compote

One of the things I look forward to in the Spring is Rhubarb. I hear it's quite easy to grow, but I've never tried. I just wait until it shows up a the grocery store and today I got some delivered. I got more than I needed - I ordered 4 stalks, thinking they would be small and they were very large. So, I cut them up and made them into a simple compote that has a number of ways it can be used. 

Remember never to eat Rhubarb leaves, so be sure to trim any of those off. Then just trim and cut the Rhubarb into chunks, add some Sugar and some Water and let it stew for about 10 - 15 minutes. If you like the Rhubarb in chunks, leave it as it is. Or, you can mash the Rhubarb to make it smoother. 

My German Grandmother once told me that for every pound of Rhubarb, you need 1 cup of Sugar. I have friends who like their Rhubarb very tart, but like my Grandmother, I like it sweet too. So you can play with the amount of Sugar to suit your own tastes. You can use this Compote in place of Lemon Curd to make Cookie Bars, you can layer the Rhubarb with Whipped Cream in pretty glasses, or use it to make a Trifle. I like to mash up the Rhubarb a lot and eat it just like it is, kind of like a pudding. - warm or cold. It's so good, so easy and so delicious!

Rhubarb Compote 

1 pound of Rhubarb, trimmed and cut into 1" chunks

3/4 - 1 cup Sugar

2 Tablespoons Water

Place the Sugar and Water in a pot and add the Rhubarb. Turn the stove on to medium heat. Cook, stirring until the Sugar melts. Then turn down the Heat and cook for 10 minutes. If you like the Compote to be smooth, mash it with a Potato Masher. Spoon into individual serving bowls and refrigerate or pour into a container and refrigerate to use later. 

Optional: Whipped Cream for serving

Five Element Analysis

Rhubarb is technically a vegetable, as it is the stalks of a big bush. It has a very tart flavor, which makes it part of the Wood Element, but the bright red color brings in some Fire too.  The Sugar adds in a lot of the Earth Element too. So, it's a good dessert to serve with Whipped Cream, which adds the Metal Element. 

Simple Roasted Potatoes and Onions

Potatoes and Onions are one of those classic food combinations that I love. Of course, I put them together often in many dishes - stews, soups, hash, etc.  But one of the ways I like to make them most is to roast them. The problem with roasting them together is that Potatoes take a lot longer to cook and by the time they are done, the Onions are usually burnt. This recipe solves that problem. Just roast them on separate sheet pans, remove the Onions when they are nearly done and then add them back when the Potatoes are done and crips them up together under the broiler for the last few minutes. The Roasted Onions will flavor the Potatoes wonderfully with only the hint of char on a few pieces of Onion from broiling them to finish them off. This is the perfect side dish and it's so easy to make and is incredibly delicious too! 

Simple Roasted Potatoes and Onions

4 large Russet Potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks

1 large Yellow Onion, trimmed, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

4 Tablespoons Olive Oil, separated

1/2 teaspoon, divided

Heat the oven to 425 degrees. 

Heat a pot of Water and add in the Potatoes when it is boiling. Cook for 10 minutes. Drain and place the Potato chunks onto a large sheet pan. Drizzle with 3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil, sprinkle with most of the Salt, toss lightly and place in the oven. 

Place the Onion chunks on a smaller sheet pan and drizzle with the remaining Olive Oil and Salt. Please in the oven.

Cook the Onions until they are browned (but not charred), about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven.

Continue to cook the Potatoes until they are browned and crisp. Then take them out, add in the Onions and toss together. 

Heat the oven to broil, put the Potatoes and Onions and cook for another 2 - 3 minutes or until late Potatoes get a bit more browned, but be careful not to burn the Onions. Serve immediately.

Five Element Analysis

Potatoes belong to the Earth Element and the browned, slightly caramelized Onions add in even more. The Onions also represent the Metal Element and the Olive Oil contributes the Metal Element. While this is not balanced by itself, it makes a really good side dish for a meal that contains both Fire and Water foods.