Roasted Butternut Squash-Quinoa Veggie Burger

photo by Izy Hossack





- Ready In:
- 2hrs 10mins
- Ingredients:
- 18
- Yields:
-
6 patties
- Serves:
- 6
ingredients
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted (or margarine)
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon
- kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
- 1 small butternut squash, halved and seeds removed
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1⁄2 cup quinoa, well-rinsed
- 1 cup water
- 1⁄4 cup ground hazelnuts
- 1⁄2 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs, plus more if mixture is too wet
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 6 slices gruyere cheese
- 6 whole grain buns
- 6 leaves butter lettuce
- 6 slices tomatoes
- caramelized shallot (Caramelized Shallots)
- piquillo pepper ketchup (Piquillo Pepper Ketchup)
directions
- Preheat oven to 400°F Line a baking sheet with foil.
- In a small bowl, mix together the honey, butter, cinnamon and salt and pepper to taste.
- Arrange the squash on the baking sheet, cut side up, and coat the squash with the butter mixture.
- Roast until soft, about 40 minutes.
- While the squash is roasting, heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in saucepan. Add quinoa and toast lightly, about 3 minutes.
- Add the water. Bring to a boil. Add large pinch of salt and cover. Simmer for about 15 minutes. Let cool and fluff grains with a fork.
- Scoop squash flesh into a small bowl and mash lightly. Add about 2 cups of the squash to the quinoa with the hazelnuts, breadcrumbs, beaten egg, crushed red pepper and salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Form into 6 patties and refrigerate the patties for another 30 minutes.
- Heat remaining two tablespoons olive oil in large nonstick skillet. Cook burgers until crusted and brown, about 3 minutes per side. Melt a slice of Gruyère cheese over each burger for the last minute of cooking.
- Toast buns. Arrange lettuce leaf on bun bottom along with tomato slice and caramelized shallots (Recipe #408147). Top with a burger and spoonful of Piquillo Pepper Ketchup (Recipe #408089). Serve with oven fries (Recipe #408087).
Questions & Replies

Got a question?
Share it with the community!
Reviews
-
I had some leftover squash in the fridge so I used that, and I spotted some leftover cooked barley in there, so I used that instead of quinoa! It was interesting and really quite tasty, though it was more of a "pancake" texture than a "burger" texture. Next time I'll definitely use the quinoa. My squash was seasoned with curry powder, and I used a clove of fresh garlic and some fresh sage and parsley. Yummy and different! Thanks for the inspiration.
-
I love trying different kinds of veggie burgers and this had an intriguing list of ingred. This was my first time making quinoa, and the organic brand I bought didn't require pre-washing. I used almonds for the nuts (I just noticed it said "ground," but I chopped and enjoyed the texture). I used dried bread crumbs, too. I topped with Cheddar and cranberry sauce for me and jalapeno jack for my husband. We both enjoyed these burgers very much! Thanks Diet It Up, for a great recipe.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
I’m a twenty something, alright, late twenty something woman living on Long Island and working at a publishing company in the ever stressful NYC. Food makes me happy. What’s not to love about a cheeseburger and fries with a huge chocolate shake on the side? Come on, it’s a match made in heaven that would put a smile on even the grumpiest face. Unfortunately, I’ve been battling a pesky weight problem for what feels like an eternity. To make matters worse, I recently found out I have a blood sugar condition that will likely lead to diabetes. Doesn’t that sound like a recipe for disaster? So, I desperately needed to find a way to still love food, but also squeeze into a pair of skinny jeans. The solution, you ask? That’s a little tricky. I don’t believe in surviving off the frozen food aisle’s never-ending supply of frostbitten chemical concoctions. And the thought of eating a strict lettuce and water diet makes me want to throw myself off a building.
So, what’s a gal to do? I learned to Diet-It-Up. I love to cook and I’m always finding ways to take my favorite recipes and shave off a few calories, eliminate some of the processed ingredients and overhaul it in a way that makes it healthier. I’ve mastered every diet under the sun and while Weight Watchers© and The South Beach Diet© can be very successful, they’re tough to stick with when you just want to eat something that tastes good. I don’t have any fancy formal credentials and I’m not going to preach to you about carbs or fat grams. I just want you to enjoy tasty, delicious meals without the next-day calorie guilt. Mix in a jog or two at the gym and you’re on your way to a healthier life. I’m beginning to collect some of my recipes here. I invite you to Diet-It-Up with me. If we’re good all week, maybe we can even sneak in a few sips of that chocolate shake, wink wink.