Instructions: Makes 4 burgers

You are probably thinking, "A fruit burger? Dessert for dinner?" But before you turn the page in disgust, hear me out. With the green pepper and onion, the tart apples provide crunch and create a good balance of sweet and savory flavors. Because you need cooked rice for these burgers, they are a good way to use up the leftover rice from last nights Chinese take-out. And you can make these burgers without a food processor.

Eat the burgers naked (without buns, that is), maybe with Hot-and-Sour Slaw

(see separate recipe) on the side.

1. Put the onion into a large bowl. Squeeze the grated apples lightly to remove excess juice, then add them to the bowl. Chop the bread very fine, or break it into pieces and whirl it to crumbs in a food processor. Add the bread crumbs, bell pepper, ginger, cooked rice, and half of the ground oats to the apples and onion, and mix well. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Form four patties about 1 1/2 inches thick. Place a large skillet over medium heat, and add the oil. Coat the patties with the remaining ground oats, then cook them for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until they brown slightly. Add a little more oil to the pan if you need to cook a second batch. Serve the burgers with hot sauce, slaw, or both.

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