Sam Stern's Lancashire Burgers

Ah, the simple pleasures of winter.  Steaming mugs of tea.  Picking lemons off the tree.  Baking bread.  Coming home to a warm house.  Melted cheese.  Last weekend in between making barley stew and gingerbread men, I made Lancashire Burgers from Sam Stern's Eat Vegetarian.  They were fantastic.  Unlike most burgers I make, I shallow-fried these.  They were crisp and golden and tasted as good as fried cheese.

I found the Sam Stern book in the library.  Apparently he is a teen celebrity chef and cookbook writer.  I really liked the modern feel of the book.  It has lots of tempting British old-school vegetarian recipes - including these burgers, cheese fat rascals and nut roast.  I agree with the reviewer on amazon.co.uk who remarks 'If you like Jamie Oliver you'll like Sam Stern.'  This recipe was quick, easy and tasty, albeit not for those who are counting calories.

The burgers seemed unlikely to work when I had a bowlful of crumbly mixture.  Yet once squished together they looked like burgers and when the cheese melted it held them firmly together.  (They reminded me of these cheesey pumpkin sausages.)  Sam Stern suggested serving them in a bun with salad.  I wasn't so organised.  Nevertheless I highly recommend these for a quick weekend meal with chutney, roasted pumpkin and steamed brussells sprouts.  They were also lovely cold the next day.

Previously on Green Gourmet Giraffe:
One year ago: Cookie wands
Two years ago: Falafel for E, Pizza for Sylvia
Three years ago: NCR Quinoa, Cabbage and Corn Soup
Four years ago: Curious Chipotles and Bonza Burritos
Five years ago: Peanut Butter Brownies

Lancashire burgers
From Sam Stern's Eat Vegetarian 
makes 6 burgers

110g fresh breadcrumbs (I used wholemeal that were a few days old)
175g lancashire cheese (the orange one), grated
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp chickpea flour (besan)
1-2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 egg
1 tsp English mustard (I used yellow mustard powder)
finely grated rind of half a lemon
seasoning, to taste
vegetable oil for frying

Mix together all ingredients (except vegetable oil).  Sam Stern chilled his mixture but I didn't.  The mixture looks like it isn't coming together enough but squish a handful together to make a patty.  Repeat until you have 6 burgers.  Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a heavy based non-stick frypan over medium-high heat.  Fry burgers in oil for 4 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy.  Drain on kitchen towel and eat warm. 

On the Stereo:
The BBC Sessions: Belle and Sebastian