Young and inspired, Greek chef Kostas Magoulas aims to create dishes that offer a taste of the Mediterranean while serving wholesome, healthy and hearty meals that sustain the hungry traveler! He always has optimal health in mind, choosing the best methods of food preparation to preserve their nutrients.

During this period of Lent in Greece, we highlight one a vegan dish, offered by Kostas, that also makes a great lunch option onboard yacht charters, served of course with plenty of Greek meze.

BEAN-BURGERS WITH SPINACH PUREE AND VEGGIES (VEGAN)

“In Greece, we use white, medium-sized beans mainly for “Fasolada”, our traditional tasty and hot soup.
Sometimes, the leftovers can be used as a cold salad, especially red beans. I thought to transform this legume into a tasty, moist, crispy-golden burger!”

Recipe for 4 BIG burgers:

300 gr white beans, boiled for 40 minutes.
200 gr thinly grated white cabbage
1 small carrot, grated
1 small fresh onion, sliced finely
1 small leek, minced
1 small red onion, grated
Sea salt (optional), pepper and freshly grated nutmeg,10 gr turmeric
40 gr breadcrumbs (if you can make your own it’s even better)

Personally, I do not use oil and egg in this recipe and prefer the baking process instead of frying as is usually done.
If you prefer to add some oil, use about 30 ml in the beginning.

For the spinach puree

100 gr fresh spinach
20 gr honey
12 gr balsamic vinegar
20 gr vegan whipped cream

Instructions:
Preheat oven at 170 C degrees (338 F).

In a mixing bowl, add the ingredients except for the beans and breadcrumbs.
Mix once and leave aside.
Next, take the beans, well strained and using a knife try to mash them. Keep in mind the image of minced meat and try to give them a similar shape.
Mix well the mashed beans along with the veggies, add breadcrumbs and season with your spices.
With wet hands give the mixture a burger shape and place them into a pan with a wax paper in the bottom.
Bake for 30 minutes at the same temperature.
Remember! Since most of the ingredients are already cooked, don’t over-cook the burgers.

For the spinach, It isn’t really a proper puree, rather than an instant one.
All the materials put them in a beamers bowl and beam until you get a combined mixture.
You can serve it cold or hot. It is up to you.

I know I frightened you with olive oil, so you can now use it raw after the baking process. ☺

****Do not heat the olive oil, it is not good for your health due to the formation of free radicals!****

Enjoy!”