Tempeh and mushroom burgers with smashed avocado

INGREDIENTS

Serves 4, Gluten-free | Vegan

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 250g button mushrooms, trimmed and finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 250g packet tempeh, roughly chopped
• 30g (¼ cup) gluten-free breadcrumbs
• fine salt and freshly ground black pepper
• olive oil, to cook
• 4 gluten-free burger buns, sliced in half
• 1 large ripe avocado, smashed in a bowl with a little lemon juice, salt and pepper
• good-quality mayonnaise (vegan or regular), pesto, lettuce or micro greens, sliced red onion and tomato relish, to serve

INSTRUCTIONS

• Heat a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add oil and onion and cook, stirring often, for 4–5 minutes or until tender and golden. Add garlic, finely chopped mushroom and thyme and cook, stirring often, for a good 5–8 minutes or more, until the mushrooms have released their juices and these have evaporated, so that the mushrooms are almost dry, tender and golden (this is important because you don’t want any excess moisture or your patties won’t hold together). Add paprika and cook for a further 20–30 seconds. 
• Transfer to a food processor, add tempeh and breadcrumbs and pulse until finely ground.Season with salt and pepper. Shape into 4 large patties, cover and chill for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 days if preparing ahead of time. If you don’t have a food processor, finely chop the tempeh, add onion mixture and breadcrumbs then, using your hands, scrunch everything together until it holds its shape.
• Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add a splash of olive oil and cook the patties for 3–4 minutes on each side, or until golden. 
• Grill buns on the cut side until golden. Spread a little mayonnaise and pesto onto the base of each burger bun, then add a patty, a few micro greens or lettuce, some onion slices or Quick Pickled Red Onion. Top with smashed avocado and spread a little relish on the cut side of the top bun and place over.

Note: The patties can be frozen for up to 3 months – just defrost in the fridge overnight before using.

Recipes extracted from Every Day by Emma Galloway published by HarperCollins NZ, RRP $60

This recipe has been included by Twinkl among their top picks for 7+ Healthy Lunch Box Ideas for Vegetarian October.