Mushroom Barley Patties Recipes

MUSHROOM BURGERS WITH ALMONDS AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Place the bulgur in a bowl with a little salt if desired. Cover with ½ cup hot water and leave for 20 to 25 minutes, until most of the water has been absorbed and the bulgur is soft. Drain through a strainer and squeeze out the water.
• Meanwhile, in a food processor fitted with the steel blade, grind the almonds coarsely.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat and add the mushrooms. When they begin to soften and sweat, turn the heat to medium and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes, until the mushrooms have softened. Add the garlic, thyme, salt, pepper and white wine, and continue to cook, stirring, until there is no more liquid in the pan, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, transfer to the food processor and process until very finely chopped.
• Return the pan to the heat and add the spinach, a handful at a time. Cook just until it wilts and remove from the heat. Transfer to a strainer and, with the back of a spoon, press out excess water. Add spinach to the food processor and process with the mushrooms and almonds until the ingredients are well blended. Scrape the mixture into a bowl, stir in the bulgur and egg (if using), and season to taste with salt and pepper. Form into patties. If there is time, cover and chill for 1 to 2 hours.
• Heat the remaining oil in a large, heavy skillet or on a griddle over medium heat, and brown the patties for 3 minutes on each side, being very careful when you turn them over. Don't worry if they fall apart; just patch them together. An offset spatula works well for turning them, and when you remove the patties from the pan, it helps if you place the bottom bun over the patty, slide the spatula underneath the patty and, with your hand on the bun, flip it over. Serve with the condiments of your choice.

MUSHROOM VEGGIE PATTIES

Steps:

• Line a sheet pan with paper towels and set aside.
• Place the mushroom caps and stems in the bowl of a food processor and process, scraping down the sides, until the mushrooms are finely minced into something of a paste, almost resembling ground meat. (You can also mince as finely as possible with a knife.)
• Transfer the minced mushrooms to a large bowl. Add the parsley, garlic, salt, turmeric, oregano and pepper, and stir to combine. Add the flour and stir to combine. Beat in the eggs one at a time, stirring until the eggs are well combined and the batter has the consistency of loose yogurt.
• In a large pan with a lid, heat the oil over medium-high. Reduce the heat to medium, and dip two spoons in the hot oil so they're slightly greased up. Using the spoons, drop two tablespoons of batter into the oil to make one patty. With the back of a spoon, even out and shape the patty into an oval as best as you can. Repeat with as many patties as you have room for in the pan. Cover and cook the patties on one side until you see the edges setting and crisping up, about 5 minutes. (You should hear sizzling sounds.) Very carefully lift the lid so you don't get splattered, and use a spatula and spoon to flip the patties. Cover and cook until the other side is golden brown and the patties are cooked through, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer to the prepared sheet pan and repeat with any remaining batter, adding more oil if needed.
• Serve the mushroom patties hot or at room temperature with trimmings.

MUSHROOM VEGGIE BURGER

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add mushrooms, onion, and garlic to the hot oil and season with salt, black pepper, and oregano. Cook and stir mushroom mixture until mushrooms have given up their juice and the juice has almost evaporated, about 10 minutes. Transfer cooked mushrooms to a cutting board and chop into small chunks with a knife.
• Transfer mushrooms to a large bowl. Mix in rolled oats and bread crumbs; taste for salt and black pepper and add more to taste. Stir Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese into the mixture, followed by eggs. Let mixture stand for the crumbs to soak up excess liquid, about 15 minutes. (At this point you can refrigerate the mixture to cook later if desired.) Moisten hands with a little vegetable oil or water, pick up about 1/4 cup of mixture, and form into burgers.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and pan-fry burgers until browned and cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes.