Halloumi Tapioca Vegetarian Burgers
Makes 4 burger patties
An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott
Preparation time: 10 minutes plus a few hours setting time
Cooking time: 20 minutes
For patties:
- 200g/7ozs. halloumi, finely grated
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup tapioca pearls
- Salt and pepper
- Smoked paprika
For burgers
- 4 buns (I used charcoal buns)
- 2 avocadoes
- 4 tablespoons chive cream cheese
- Mayonnaise (I used a jalapeno mayonnaise)
- Soft butter lettuce leaves
- Thin slices red onion
- Chilli ketchup sauce
Step 1 - First make the patties. Place the milk in a saucepan and heat until almost boiling. Add tapioca pearls, halloumi, salt, pepper and smoked paprika. Stir until thickened. Place in a greased pan, I used a 20cm round pan or you can also use a square pan for less wastage. Smooth over, cool at room temperature. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
Step 2 - Preheat oven to 200C/400F. Cut into squares or rounds and brush with a teaspoon of oil per patty. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until crispy on both sides.
Step 3 - Spread the cream cheese on the base of the burger buns. Place soft lettuce on top. Add the patties, mayonnaise, chilli tomato sauce and red onion. Then cut each avocado in half, remove the seed and skin and fan out on the patty (half an avocado per burger).