*Tips for Success:

• Refrigerated Rice: It is important to use rice that has been cooked and cooled in the refrigerator.  Using freshly made rice will result in a gummy burger.
• Canned versus Cooked Chickpeas: We highly recommend using canned chickpeas because of their solid texture.  If you do use cooked chickpeas (example Instant Pot), you want the chickpeas cooked, but with a firm texture that you can typically find from canned chickpeas.  Using cooked chickpeas that are too mushy could result in a much softer textured patty.
• Spice Distribution: Really get your hands into the mixture to ensure the spices are evenly distributed.
• Patty Formation: With slightly dampened hands really pack the patties tightly in your hand to form a firm, smooth cohesive ball, then press down while it is still in your hands and form a flattened disk.  Take the time to really smooth out the sides.  This helps prevent the disk from cracking while it is baking.  They may crack a tiny bit, but you want to make sure you want to shore up the edges before it goes in the oven.
• Thickness of the patty: The thickness of this burger is another area within your control.  We made multiple kitchen tests and preferred a ¾ inch thick patty.
• Tahini: Use room temperature tahini. If you refrigerate your tahini, either remove the recipe amount and allow to come to room temperature or microwave it just until it is no longer cold. Do not melt the tahini.
• Crumb Coating: Simply place the crumb coating on a flat plate. Then take each patty and place it on the crumb coating, slightly press, flip over, then repeat.  Take each patty and push it onto the edges of the patty so that the patty is completely coated with the crumb coating.  Repeat with all the other patties.  You may or may not have crumb coating left over.  Save for later use if you wish.
• Freezer Friendly: To freeze them, simply make them, cool completely to room temperature, then wrap them individually in plastic wrap, then place the individually wrapped patties into a freezer bag.  You can pull one out at a time, microwave, and devour!   They taste as good as the day you made them.

*Notes Continued

*Tamari: We used San J Tamari Soy Sauce, Gluten Free, Reduced Sodium.  You can substitute the tamari with reduced sodium soy sauce, Braggs Liquid Aminos, or Braggs Coconut Liquid Aminos.

*Rolled Oats:  Use whole grain rolled oats, not instant oats. We used Bob’s Red Mill Rolled Oats (Whole Grain).

*Maple Sugar/Date Sugar:  We used maple sugar because we had it on hand. You can also use date sugar.  We have had readers tell us that coconut sugar works great as well if your diet allows for coconut sugar.   Additionally, do not use maple syrup, it will make the burgers too soggy.

*Cayenne Pepper:  Use just a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper.  It tends to build on the palate.  It adds wonderful flavor, but we strongly suggest a tiny pinch.  If you are not a lover of spice, omit it completely.

*Sea Salt:  Please adjust the sea salt based upon your family’s sea salt preferences and/or based upon dietary needs.

*Serving:  Makes 4 patties

*Storage:  Refrigerate and use within 7 days.  Freezes well.