Spicy Burgers With Tahini Sauce and Harissa Carrot Slaw

Ingredients

For the burgers

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium portobello mushroom, dark underside scraped out and discarded, cap finely chopped
• 1 medium leek, white and light green part only, finely chopped
• 1 pound (454g) lean ground beef (5% fat)
• 5 teaspoons ground flaxseeds
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

For the slaw, sauce and assembly

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons harissa
• 2 large carrots, grated
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
• 2 pinches salt
• Black pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 4 small (50g each) whole-grain naan, lightly toasted (I used Stone Fire’s Ancient Grain Mini Naan)
• 4 green lettuce leaves

Directions

Heat the oil in a medium non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and leeks and sauté, stirring frequently, until the vegetables begin to brown, about 4 1/2 minutes. Add a few tablespoons of water and simmer, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan, until the water has evaporated, 30 seconds. Scrape into a mixing bowl and let cool. Add the remaining burger ingredients to the bowl and stir thoroughly to combine. Form the mixture into four, 4 1/2-inch (11cm) patties and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the slaw: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon lemon juice and harissa. Add the carrots, cilantro, salt and pepper and toss to combine, set aside. Make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, 1 tablespoon hot water, remaining lemon juice and maple syrup until smooth; set aside.

To cook the burgers, preheat a grill or a non-stick grill pan over medium-high heat. Add the burgers and grill until juices run nearly clear when pierced in the center of a patty, 2–3 minutes per side. Place the burgers on the toasted flatbreads, top with lettuce, tahini sauce and slaw. Serve immediately.

Serves: 4 | Serving Size: 1 flatbread, 1 burger patty, 1/2 cup (50g) slaw, 1 tablespoon sauce

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 423; Total Fat: 19g; Saturated Fat: 5g; Monounsaturated Fat: 4g; Cholesterol: 75mg; Sodium: 585mg; Carbohydrate: 36g; Dietary Fiber: 5g; Sugar: 6g; Protein: 32g