Homemade Chicken Burgers

I'm always looking for new recipes, or interesting things to try and I tend to stay away from ingredients that feel unnatural to me. I have learned how to make my own burger patties a few years ago, but I always used beef or pork because I could not find any other type of minced meat. A few days go I was reading a Brazilian blog about healthy life, pensandomagro.net (thinking skinny in English) and I found a recipe that caught my eye: homemade chicken burgers! The recipe is super easy, fast and best of all, versatile. You can add whatever spices or ingredients you feel like and make a super delicious and healthy meal. The original recipe was made by the owner of another Brazilian blog, Receitas de Minuto. Both blogs are in Portuguese, but you can always have a look at the videos if you want. As for my version of this recipe just see below. Enjoy!

Ingredients (4 burgers):

600g chicken breast, cut in big chunks
100g spinach
2 tbsp rolled oats
1/2 onion
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Process all ingredients in a food processor, until you obtain a paste. Add another drizzle of olive oil if needed. 

2. Take 1/4 of the mixture and form a ball with your hand. Throw the ball from one hand to the other a few times, to remove air bubbles. Put the ball on a plate and form a patty pressing with your fingers. Repeat with the remaining mixture.

3. Heat up a non-sticky skillet on high heat. Cook the patties for about 4 minutes on the first side or until half of the side of the patty is cooked. Turn the patties, reduce the heat to medium and cover. Allow to cook for another 5 minutes or until the burgers are cooked through (no one wants raw chicken!).

Serve with rucula, cherry tomatoes and millet salad seasoned with balsamic vinegar (see photo) or in a bun with your favourite ingredients.

Raw Healthy Brownies with Applesauce

We are always up to try new things and we have never attempted a truly raw recipe. This weekend, I am home alone and wanted to eat something sweater and chocolaty but without indulging in a whole lot of sugar or fat. I found the perfect recipe at popsugar.com/fitness, adapted it to what I had at home and combined the brownies with homemade apple sauce. This brownies do not taste like traditional chocolate brownies. They are fruity, nutty, healthy and delicious. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

Applesauce

300g apples (peeled, chopped in 1 inch cubes)

1 tsp cinnamon 

1 pinch nutmeg

1/2 cup water

1 thin lemon slice

Small pinch salt

Brownies

2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup Brazil nuts

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

8 dates, pitted

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 ripe banana

1/3 cup homemade applesauce

Mixture of seeds (linseed, sunflower, sesame and chia seeds) to spread on top

1. Start by doing the applesauce. Add all ingredients to a pot, and turn heat on high. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce the heat. Allow to simmer for about 20 minutes or until the apples are soft. Stir frequently, making sure the apples don't stick to the pot. Add more water if needed. Remove lemon slice and mask with a fork. Allow to cool.

2. Place oats, Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, dates, cocoa powder and salt in a food processor and blend until a floury consistency. Add the banana and the applesauce and blend until it forms a sticky dough.

3. Brush a baking dish with a drop of olive oil. Push the mixture into the dish pressing firmly with a spatula or big spoon. Top with the mixture of seeds, pushing a bit with the spatula. Place in the fridge for at least an hour to firm up. Cut into squares and serve with more applesauce.