Garam Masala Quinoa burger earns Indian-American girl lunch with Obama

Nine-year-old Shreya Patel won the chance to have lunch with Michelle Obama, courtesy her recipe - garam masala quinoa burger with raita.

Shreya who hails from Schaumburg, Illinois clinched her spot at the Kids’ State Dinner among 55 young cooks who were given red carpet treatment at the White House with a spicy quinoa burger. The contest was open to children ages 8 to 12 and the kids were invited to create a healthy lunch recipe. Nearly 1,000 recipes were submitted but Patel's burger won over the Obamas' taste buds.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, here’s Shreya Patel’s recipe:

GARAM MASALA QUINOA BURGER WITH RAITA [Serves 4]

• ½ cup cooked quinoa

• 1 cup cooked garbanzo beans

• ¼ cup chopped kale

• 1 small boiled potato

• ¼ cup peeled and chopped onion

• ½ teaspoon garam masala

• ¼ teaspoon peeled and grated fresh ginger

• ½ teaspoon ground cumin

• 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced

• ¼ cup panko bread crumbs

• ¼ teaspoon grated serrano chile pepper

• Salt and pepper to taste

• ½ cup Greek yogurt

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• ¼ cup grated cucumber

• Sliced tomatoes

• 4 whole wheat buns

• Baby spinach leaves

Chop the garbanzo beans and add the quinoa, kale, onion, potato, garam masala, cumin, ginger, garlic, serrano chile along with bread crumbs.

Stir thoroughly after adding salt and pepper for taste forming them into round patties.

Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat and add the patties – cook until it turns brown and crispy.

Combining the yogurt and cucumber, make the raita.

Assemble the sandwiches, place the patties on the whole wheat buns and add ons with raita, tomato and spinach leaves.