Save money with chickpea burgers

Whether you’re buying shop-bought burgers or making them from scratch, the soaring price of beef means they’re more expensive than they used to be.

So if you want a cheaper alternative that’s no less tasty, let us introduce you to chickpea burgers.

A tin of chickpeas only costs about 50p, but it can form the basis of a tasty treat that will please even the fussiest eaters.

And it’s a great veggie option too.

What you'll need

Makes four burgers

• one tin of chickpeas, drained
• 50g plain flour
• one egg
• one teaspoon of paprika
• one teaspoon garlic granules
• salt and pepper
• a little oil for cooking 

How to make them

1. Drain the chickpeas and tip them into a bowl.
2. Mash them with a fork or potato masher.
3. Stir in the flour, egg, paprika and garlic granules
4. Mix well until you have a firm mixture that holds together.
5. Divide into four equal portions and shape into burger patties.
6. Heat a little oil in a frying pan and cook for around 4–5 minutes on each side until golden and heated through. 

You can also cook them in the oven at 200°C for around 20 minutes, turning halfway through.

Serve with salad, bread rolls and homemade chips.

Make your shopping go further

Chickpea burgers are a great way to use up ingredients that you might be about to throw out or veg that’s slightly past its best.

So don’t be afraid to throw in bits like grated carrot, half an onion (finely chopped) or some fresh and dried herbs to use up what you have in.

It’s better than chucking them in the bin and saves you money.

Remember too that chickpea burgers freeze really well, so even if you don’t plan to eat them straight away, you can just bung them in the freezer for another day.

A healthy, veggie alternative

As well as being kind to your wallet, it’s good for your waistline.

Chickpeas are packed with fibre and protein, so they’re healthy yet filling ingredient.

And if you’re trying to cut your meat intake or you’ve got a vegetarian in your household, you can keep everyone happy without making different meals.