Ok, not totally new, we’ve been friends for a while.
Like those times when fresh lemongrass requires me to take out a mortgage in order to buy it.
When bugs have eaten all my basil.
And when I want some garlic that hasn’t sprouted that weird little green horn because I’ve forgotten it’s in the back of the cupboard.
Gourmet Garden have always been my friends, coming to my rescue with their reliable little tubes of herby goodness.
You may have seen them in your supermarket produce section. They may already be your pals too.
They live down the road from me, in pretty Palmwoods. Where, after the herbs are picked when antioxidants and essential oils are at their peak, they are packaged fresh and under refrigeration to get the best flavour, aroma and the highest value of nutrients. They’re only washed, chopped, blended and packed. That’s it!
I’ve been to their factory and by gum, it smells GOOD! It makes me hungry every time I even visit the offices, let alone where the actual magic happens. Their facilities are so clean and fancy, and although it is freezing in there, everybody looks cheerful and probably goes home smelling like an Italian neighbourhood. This is a Good Thing.
The tubes were originally created because they know that fresh herbs and spices can’t be beat in cooking. But not all of us can or want to grow them, or they get sad and withered before we can use them. Plus we’re all busy and if you’re anything like me, you forgot the chillies at the supermarket, and now none of us have to miss out.
They have tons of flavours like chives, dill, ginger, rosemary, oregano, and cool mixtures like Thai and Mediterannean seasoning. No waste, always ready to go. Win!
You’ll be seeing them pop up in recipes from time to time here on Veggie Mama, and I’ll be creating some recipes for their site and blog, as well as the very cool Dominique Rizzo and the chicks from 4 Ingredients. I might even make a cameo in their very popular Herb eCooking School videos, which you can like on Facebook here and be kept up-to-date with their goings-on. You can enrol in the classes, which are FREE!
They have a whole treasure trove of recipes already, here.
I hope you’ll make them welcome!
And yes, they were the very kind BlogHer/BlogHer food sponsors, so if you’re a blogger, you know how awesome that is. For a company to value the worth of what we do, and be excited to partner with us in this way is incredibly generous and SMART of them. They could teach some brands a thing or two!
I loved the garlic in this recipe because it mixed much more smoothly and evenly in the burgers than chopped garlic would. They’ve just got that little something extra that boosted the flavour.
Makes 8-10
Ingredients
3 cups cooked brown rice
1.5 cup cubed pumpkin, steamed
1/4 cup danish feta
1 tbs Gourmet Garden basil
1 tbs Gourmet Garden garlic
1 egg
1/4 cup plain flour
salt (not too much) and cracked black pepper
chopped parsley
Method:
1. Mix all ingredients together. You can mash the pumpkin beforehand if you like, but I don’t bother.
2. Cook on medium-high heat in a large frying pan 5-8 mins on each side, until browned and cooked through. You might want to keep flipping if yours is an excellent frypan and keeps the heat, not like mine, who takes forever to brown anything…
Rhianna says
March 7, 2012 at 3:14 amThis looks so good. Ill be trying these next Monday 🙂
Robert Dulaney says
March 7, 2012 at 3:31 ami love tomato paste and herbs in a tube! i don't use them enough to warrant keeping fresh ones in the house! these burgers look incredible! i'm freaking out about them as i eat frozen mac and cheese. ugh.
Veggie Mama says
March 7, 2012 at 4:29 amI'm so happy they turned out so well 🙂
Veggie Mama says
March 7, 2012 at 4:29 amBut I love mac and cheese! In fact… I want some now.
Mrs Woog says
March 7, 2012 at 10:32 amI have the Gourmet Garden mini packs in my fride right now! Love an Aussie company supporting Aussie Bloggers. Great Choice Gourmet Gardens! xx
Veggie Mama says
March 7, 2012 at 10:48 amWell said, Mrs W!!
Melissa Walker Horn says
March 9, 2012 at 4:39 amOur fridge is literally packed with these babies. I love the mixed mini tubes and the chunky garlic the most. My brother told me a little while ago that they were based on the Sunshine Coast which made me love them even more. Great choice Gourmet Garden, Veggie Mama ROCKS.
And about these patties!! Yum. Printing to PDF as we speak to add to my cooking file.
Veggie Mama says
March 9, 2012 at 7:27 amThe Sunshine Coast has the best!
Elizabeth says
March 9, 2012 at 8:30 amI have worked a few trade shows for Gormet Garden and couldn't agree more- a great company with great products. A little trick I learnt courtesy of lots and lots of free samples is to keep them in the freezer. Many can be squeezed out of the tube even when frozen or take just a few minutes to defrost enough to squeeze them out. Keeps them a lot longer!
Veggie Mama says
March 9, 2012 at 9:06 amYes! That's such a good idea! Especially for the ones I don't use as often, like dill. They really are a fab company, or I wouldn't be working with them. Just love their whole style.
Jenni T says
March 10, 2012 at 5:00 pmThx for your blog veggie mama! I only recently discovered your blog after reading about it in Peppermint magazine. Looking forward to checking out previous blogs for more great recipes like this one! I agree with previous post, freezing your Gourmet Garden tubes is definitely the way to go!
Raynor says
March 11, 2012 at 2:12 pmYes, hello, I would like to please put these burgers in my face. Kind regards, Raynie.
Raynor says
March 11, 2012 at 2:13 pmYou guys! I want mac and cheese tooooooo! Also, I would like to dunk these burgers -into- the mac 'n' cheese. HOMG! This needs to happen.
Veggie Mama says
March 12, 2012 at 12:11 amBest idea everrrrrrr!
Veggie Mama says
March 12, 2012 at 12:11 amDone.
Tash says
May 2, 2012 at 6:27 amHi ! Made these ones for tea tonight..had to do a little test patty before school pick up …. YUM ! They are great thanks. My husband is a FUSSY vegetarian so always on the look out for veggie recipes 🙂
Veggie Mama says
May 3, 2012 at 4:40 amOh I hope he likes them! I love any way of sneaking brown rice into my diet 🙂
Maxabella says
May 30, 2012 at 10:09 amDeeeeelish! I'm making these. Gourmet Garden basil and garlic and all… x
Maxabella says
May 30, 2012 at 10:10 amCrack up!! x
Kerrie Takle says
July 13, 2012 at 10:17 amThese also sound amazing – will be trying these out soon – thanks 🙂
Veggie Mama says
July 15, 2012 at 11:10 amYou're very welcome!