Potato and Zucchini Burgers with Melting Heart

Potato and zucchini burgers with a melting heart are a tasty vegetarian variant of the classic hamburger. Here’s how to prepare them.

Ingredients

• 2 medium potatoes
• 2 zucchinis
• 100 g of melting cheese (such as mozzarella or scamorza)
• 1 egg
• 50 g of breadcrumbs
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Aromatic herbs as desired (for example, parsley or chives)
• Flour, as needed for breading
• Olive oil for frying or pan cooking

Preparation

1. Start by boiling the potatoes in salted water until they are soft. Drain them and let them cool down.
2. Meanwhile, wash the zucchinis, dry them, and grate them with a large-holed grater.
3. Squeeze the grated zucchini well to remove excess liquid.
4. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher or a fork in a large bowl.
5. Add the grated zucchini, egg, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and aromatic herbs. Mix well until you have a homogeneous mixture.
6. Take a portion of the dough and flatten it on your hand. Place a piece of melting cheese in the center and cover with another portion of the dough, shaping everything into a burger.
7. Roll each burger in flour, making sure to cover it evenly.
8. In a pan, heat a little oil and, when it’s hot, cook the potato and zucchini burgers on both sides until they are golden and crispy.
9. Drain them on paper towels to remove excess oil and serve them warm.

Curiosity

Vegetarian cuisine offers countless possibilities to reinvent traditional dishes in a veggie key. In Italy, the concept of “melting heart” is often associated with tasty baked pasta or fried preparations, such as arancini or breaded mozzarella sticks, which hide a delicious surprise of cheese that melts during cooking.

Tips: If you prefer a lighter cooking method, you can bake the potato and zucchini burgers at 180 °C for about 20 minutes or until golden brown, turning them halfway through cooking. And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can add spices such as curry or paprika to the recipe for an exotic touch. Enjoy your meal!