Walnut Burger

This has to be my favourite veggie burger. We used to regularly eat these at this local cafe and enjoyed them so much we asked for the recipe. I've pimped it up a little since then by introducing smokiness and toastiness into the ingredients.

Ingredients
makes 4
for the burger
175g smoked cheddar cheese, grated
125g walnuts, finely chopped
75g wholemeal bread, sliced, toasted and crumbled
1 onion, finely chopped
1 egg
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 tsp fresh thyme, leaves chopped
2 tsp smoked paprika
salt, to taste
freshly ground black pepper

for frying
vegetable oil

for serving (suggestions)
Large tomato, thinly sliced
Lettuce
Gherkins
Tomato chilli sauce

Brioche burger buns

Method
Mix together all the ingredients for the burger. Mash together with a fork, or even a potato masher.   Divide into four equal pieces and shape into patties about 1.5cm thick. I find using a chef's ring really useful make a very compact burger. 

You could freeze the burgers at this stage. They also cook well from frozen.

Pre-heat the oven to 180C

In a large frying pan heat some oil to a medium temperature and fry the burgers slowly on one side for about 5 minutes.  The base should have coloured and crisped without burning too much. Gently turn the burgers over. Be careful as they will be quite soft. You may need to reshape them.

Cook on the other side for further 5 minutes.

Line a baking tray with parchment paper and place the burgers on the tray in the oven to continue to cook and warm through for about 10 minutes.

Serve in a brioche burger bun on top of lettuce, a thin slice of tomato, then topped with another thin slice of tomato, gherkins and a tomato and chilli chutney/sauce.