Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Anpanman Bean Burger Bento

Remember the vegetarian run we had last week? It's continuing today with these garbanzo bean - rice burgers I made. I've made black bean burgers before, but they tended to fall apart easily. This recipe uses rice and egg as a binder, and the mashed garbanzos seems to have a stickier consistency. They still don't have as much integrity as a regular ground meat burger, so I'd use care while eating it in a bun, but it held together well enough for our bento. I placed this patty on a layer of curried cauliflower and decorated his face with grape tomatoes, sweet potato and Okinawan sweet potato to look like Anpanman. The fruit side contains all red items: blood (Moro) oranges, grapes and strawberry. So happy with the blood oranges again this season! They're a bit tart, but a nice change from normal oranges. Aren't they beautiful?

Garbanzo Bean (Chickpea) Rice Burgers (adapted from Whole Living recipe)

Ingredients
2 cups cooked and drained chickpeas
1 cup cooked brown rice (I used 2 cups to make it even stickier, and mine was a mix of white, brown and and millet)
1 shallot, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (I used cilantro because I love this herb)
Salt and pepper (I used cumin too, because I like this spice)
1 large egg, whisked
2 tablespoons olive oil

Mash chickpeas and brown rice until thick paste forms. Stir in shallot, garlic, and cilantro. Season with salt, pepper and cumin. Stir in egg. Form into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add patties and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side.

21 comments:

  1. Beautiful blood oranges! The vampire in me digs them. Muhahaaha!

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  2. Me too Judy! Do you have them in your markets yet? They just showed up here this week and I'm soo excited!

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  3. Lovely, lovely! What a wonderful creation. I adore the features of your Anpanman, they are so colorful and clear cut.

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  4. I haven't seen the blood O's yet, but when I do, bloodotinis my friend! Har!

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  5. Judy -- I'm driving down for those! *clink*

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  6. yummy yummy...the idea of bean burger makes me hungry
    yay...

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  7. I love all kinds of bean burgers! I am going to try this, because I never had rice in my burgers before :)

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  8. I'm intrigued by this burger. Did it turn out dry at all? I think I'm going to try this! I'm so jealous of your blood oranges! There's so hard to find here, not really sure why though.

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  9. I love this..YUMMY RECIPE..The lunch box looks so cute, who wouldn't love to eat that..

    Aarthi
    http://yummytummy-aarthi.blogspot.com/

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  10. Mmm... those bean burgers look great! I'm going to have to Pin that so I can remember to make them!!

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  11. I love Anpanman burger! So cute and clever!

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  12. Uniflame, I hope you can try it. I really like it!

    Heather, it wasn't totally moist, but it did have enough integrity to hold together. It wasn't dry because the stickiness of the rice really added to a nice chewy texture. Blood oranges should be arriving soon, especially in your area... orange city!

    Thanks Aarthi!

    Thanks a lot Julie; I hope you like them!

    Thanks a lot Jenn!

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  13. Our beloved Anpanman! Gosh, girls have been asking for his themed bento and I just postpone it...
    The chickpea patty looks good! Must try the recipe... I love falafels, the addition of rice is really interesting!

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  14. Yes, I want to see your Anpanman, and his delicious friends! We don't see the show, so sadly aren't acquainted with the fabulous Ramenchan and others... please show us!!
    This burger probably has the consistency of falafel, but just a bit stickier. It's quite good.

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  15. Although my kids finally graduated from crazy anpanman stage, I bet they will be thrilled to see this. I *think* I can pull this off... I think... it'll be funny face doesn't look like anpanman and my kids won't recognize it. LOL....

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  16. Nami, they will love it! They will be thrilled to see Anpanman in their bento, and I want to see it too ^_^
    P.S. I can't tell you how many time my kids see something else (or nothing at all) in my supposed charaben. Sigh. Ah well, it's the thought that counts...

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  17. mmm, garbanzo burger sounds yum... and anpanman always makes me smile! love the all-red fruit section, too :-)

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  18. Thanks as always megan! I think I've done more than my share of Anpanman... but he's just so sandwich-friendly. I can't resist :)

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