With summer heating up and beef burgers flying off the grill, we though you’d appreciate a couple of alternative, yet equally delicious, burger recipes that will help you stay course on your health plan. Keep reading and get grilling!
G Force’s owner, Gidon Gabbay, has modified the following recipes to keep their Glycemic Index and calories low, while making sure protein and healthy fat content is high. Whether you’re a vegetarian or not, we’re certain you’ll enjoy these burgers AND reach your health goals that much faster.
We give you several options within the recipes, so we are unable to provide the nutritional content. Please feel free, once you’ve decided on your most preferred variation, to use any of the online nutrition calculators if you’re curious about the nutritional impact of these veggies burgers.
Black Bean & Rice Burgers with Guacamole
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked or canned black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup cooked black or basmati rice
- 1 medium-sized carrot, shredded
- 1/3 cup ground flaxseed
- 3 large free range egg whites
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp sea salt, divided
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Grapeseed oil for grilling
- 6 *thin* whole grain buns OR lettuce leaves for weight-loss (optional)
- 1 large avocado
- Juice of ½ lime
- ¼ tsp cayenne, or to taste
- 1 large avocado
- 1 medium-sized tomato, seeded
Directions
Add black beans to food processor container and blend until broken down but not completely smooth (you can also use a potato masher). Add rice, carrot, flaxseed, egg whites, 1 garlic clove, mustard, cumin, ¼ tsp salt and black pepper; pulse until well combined. Form mixture into 6 equal-sized patties.
Preheat grill to medium. Brush burgers with oil and grill for 5 minutes per side, or until they have developed a crispy crust. If using buns, heat them on the grill for 1 minute or until toasted.
Guacamole: In a small bowl, mash together avocado, lime juice, 1 garlic clove, cilantro, cayenne, tomato and remaining salt. Serve black bean & rice burgers topped with guacamole.
Chickpea & Lentil Goat Cheese Burger with Pesto
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 1 & ¼ cup canned lentils & chickpeas (multiple amino acids), drained and rinsed
- 3 cups spinach
- ½ cup flat-leaf parsley
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 1 garlic cloves, minced, divided
- ½ tsp salt, divided
- ½ cup ground flaxseed (or “No Flour”)
- 4oz soft goat cheese, crumbled
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- ¾ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 medium-sized zucchinis
- Grapeseed oil for grilling
- 6 *thin* whole wheat buns OR lettuce leaves for weight-loss (optional)
- Sprouts (optional)
Directions
Spinach Pesto: Place spinach and parsley in food processor and pulse until well chopped. Add olive oil, lemon juice, 1 garlic clove and ¼ tsp salt and blend until well combined. Set aside.
Add lentils and chickpeas to food processor and pulse until most of the beans have broken down but are not completely smooth. Add remaining garlic and salt, flaxseed, goat cheese, walnuts, balsamic vinegar , mustard, cumin and black pepper; pulse until well-combined. Form mixture into 6 equal-sized patties.
Slice zucchini in half along their width. Stand the 4 halves upright and slice each into 4 or 5 thin slices.
Preheat grill to medium. Brush burgers and zucchini with oil. Grill burgers for 4 minutes per side, or until they have developed a crispy crust. Grill zucchini slices until tender, flipping once, about 5 minutes.
If using buns, heat them on the grill for 1 minute or until toasted. Serve lentil burgers topped with spinach pesto, zucchini slices and sprouts (if using).
Healthy Burger Topping Subs
Some of the most common burger toppings add a lot of unnecessary calories and have a high Glycemic Index, shooting your blood sugar through the roof and making it nearly impossible to lose fat and gain muscle.
- 1. Instead of ketchup, use tahini (a sesame spread).
- 2. Instead of relish, use thinly sliced pickles.
- 3. For an additional complete, clean protein source, add hummous.
- 4. As a vegan substitute for cheese, use Daiya cheese.
- 5. To help you lose weight, substitute cow cheese for goat cheese. Read The 2 Most Important Nutrition Tips For Accelerated Results.