Vegan Beetroot Burger with Hazelnut and Chilli ‘Pesto’

Home / Recipes / Vegan Beetroot Burger with Hazelnut and Chilli ‘Pesto’

01 Feb 2022

1 Hour 20 Minutes | easy | Serves 6

These satisfying burgers are full of the earthy flavour of beetroot, and are finished with a lively relish based on a pesto – packed with nuts and herbs, it adds fragrance and texture to the burgers.

Ingredients

400g raw beetroot, grated (around 3 beetroots)
100g brown rice (dry weight)
1 red onion, peeled and finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed or finely grated
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
40g breadcrumbs
Zest of 2 lemons
100g toasted hazelnuts
1 large handful basil leaves
2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon chilli flakes, or to taste
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
6 brioche burger buns
Red onion slices
Lettuce leaves

Directions

Cook the brown rice

Cook the brown rice in boiling salted water for around 45 minutes, or until tender, then drain. Set aside to cool.

Light 2 gas burners

Light 2 gas burners on the Jupiter Outback BBQ and set the heat to medium-low. Heat a splash of oil in a frying pan and cook the onion for a few minutes, until soft but not coloured. Add the garlic and cook for a minute more, taking care not to burn it. Add the paprika, cumin and coriander, mix well, reduce the heat to low and cook for another minute, stirring.

Combine the spiced onions

Combine the spiced onions, beetroot, rice, breadcrumbs and lemon zest along with some salt. Mix everything really well with your hands, squeezing and kneading it until it comes otgether well – this will take a minute or so.

Refrigerate the mixture

Refrigerate the mixture for at least half an hour. Shape the mixture into ball shapes then flatten into burger shapes.

Place the burgers on the BBQ over direct heat and increase the heat to medium. Cook for around 5 minutes each side, turning carefully.

Combine all the ingredients

Combine all the ingredients for the pesto in a small blender or pestle and mortar and pulse or crush to a rough paste. Season with salt and set aside.

Toast burger buns

Toast burger buns briefly on BBQ before assembling the burger.

Top with red onion slices

To serve, place a lettuce leaf into each burger bun and add a beetroot burger. Top with red onion slices, the pesto and the tops of the burger buns.