Spinach-Chickpea Burger

Recipe from "The Splendid Table". Be sure to reserve a portion of the chickpeas and mash them by hand, it gives the burger more texture.

Makes 5 patties

Ingredients
2 T. plus 1 t. olive oil
1 t. toasted cumin seeds
5 ounces fresh spinach
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas
2 eggs
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 t. salt
1/3 cup chickpea flour (make yourself from dried chickpeas or in Indian grocery store, called gram flour)
 
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a medium skillet. Add the cumin seeds and spinach and cook, tossing with tongs, until the spinach is completely wilted, 2 or 3 minutes. Transfer to a heatproof plate and allow to cool. Drain if necessary and chop finely.

Combine 1 1/4 cups of the chickpeas, the eggs, lemon juice, and salt in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles a chunky hummus. In a large bowl, combine the spinach with the remaining 1/4 cup beans and mash coarsely with a potato masher. Add the bean-egg mixture and stir thoroughly. Fold in the chickpea flour. The mixture should be sticky but somewhat pliable. Add more flour, 1 teaspoon at a time, if too wet, or a bit of water if too dry. Shape into 5 patties.
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In an oven-safe skillet or nonstick sauté pan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. When hot, add the patties and cook until browned on each side, 6 to 10 minutes total. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the burgers are firm and cooked through.