The arrival of Autumn always brings back childhood memories of bonfires and burning leaves, and the lovely smokiness in the air from the first fire in the fireplace. There’s a hint of that smoky autumn excitement in this recipe: smoked cheddar and the nuttiness of pecans give these burgers a lively flavor that needs no enhancement. They can be baked for a low-fat finish or sautéed in a little oil for a tasty toasted brown crust.

Complete protein and satisfying taste.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups cooked chickpeas
2 eggs
3/4 cup grated smoked cheddar cheese
1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped
1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated carrots
Pinch of ground red pepper
Salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2-3 scallions, white and green parts, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander

1. In a food processor, combine chickpeas and eggs and process until pureed. Turn out the puree into a bowl and add the cheddar, pecans, breadcrumbs, carrots, red pepper, salt, black pepper, soy sauce, scallions, and coriander. Chill, covered, 2-3 hours.

2. When you’re ready to cook the burgers, form the mixture into 6 patties.

3. If you’re baking the burgers, preheat the oven to 350F and lightly oil a baking sheet. Place the patties on the sheet and bake 20 minutes.

4. If you’re sautéing the burgers, heat a little oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. When hot, place the patties in the frying pan and sauté 3-4 minutes on each side, or until a browned crust has formed.

Makes six 3 1/2-inch burgers.