Veggie Black Bean Burgers

I've found a burger I really like - we ate them wrapped in lettuce after we covered them in dill pickle slices, ketchup, (relish on my husband's), onion slices and fresh summer tomato. Sorry I didn't photograph the process, but I was just not thinking that it would turn out as well as it did. So I'm posting the recipe, and next time I promise I'll add the way things looked as I go along. This started with a can of black beans (organic, low salt) drained and dumped in a bowl. It would need more salt if you cook your own black beans. I ended up with 7 burgers .. but you could fix that by making them all just a little smaller and get 8 out of it. We ate 3 between the two of us, and froze 4. (I'm so excited about that!)

Veggie Black Bean Burgers (makes 7-8)

Mash together in a medium sized bowl:
1 can black beans
1/2 cup finely chopped onions
1/4 cup roasted corn
1/4 cup chick pea flour
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp thyme
1/3 tsp salt

CHOP & THEN STEAM IN A STEAMER BASKET
Small bits but not too finely chopped:
1 small golden zucchini
1 medium-small carrot
1 small stalk of broccoli (1/2 cup?)
2/3 of a small sweet potato
(you could add a little mushroom... or red pepper ... or hot pepper)

Once this is softened, add it to the beans, and combine well.
ADD: 1/4 - 1/3 cup masa harina (flour made from roasted corn - Bob's Red Mill makes a nice one)

Spread about 1/2 cup masa harina on a plate, form patties and gently place one side and then the other in the corn meal. Cook in a non-stick saute or fry pan for about 10 minutes, turning gently. Cook less if you are going to freeze and reheat ... OH YUM!  I promise I'll show you how beautiful these were all wrapped in fresh lettuce and dressed up the way a burger should be!!

Veggie Black Bean Burger Nutrition Facts Serving Size: 1 Serving (118g) Amount Per Serving % Daily Value* Calories 96 5% Total Fat 1g 1% Saturated Fat 0g 1% Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 0% Sodium 381mg 16% Total Carbohydrate 19g 6% Dietary Fiber 5g 21% Sugars 3g 0% Protein 5g 10% Vitamin A 11% • Vitamin C 20% Calcium 4% • Iron 10% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calories needs. courtesy of cronometer.com using my data.

Chick Pea Burgers (with secrets)

I haven't eaten hamburgers in years, accompanying my husband's occasional grilled beef burger with a companionable portobello mushroom on a roll. In times past I ate turkey burgers as well. So I know how easy and satisfying it is to pile up the pickles and relish, onion and sliced tomato on something filling, chewy and tasty between the bread slices. The black bean & beet patty was better on the plate, so today I wanted something to eat on bread that was crisp on the outside, dense and flavorful on the inside and could stand up to my husband's relish and chili sauce. I started with a can of chick peas and a handful of ... are you ready? peanuts! It ends with a coating of crushed Ryvita sesame rye cracker and all's well!  I broiled them on both sides before baking them for 20 minutes.

Chick Pea Burger (no oil)

1 can chick peas (about 1.75 cups, drained)
2 Tblsp peanuts (dry roasted low salt)
1 medium carrot, grated
1 medium parsnip, grated
1/2 cup raw spinach, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
3/4 tsp parsley
2 Ryvita Sesame Rye crackers

1. Smash the chick peas with the peanuts in a bowl. Chop the spinach, grate the carrot and parsnip and mix in with the chick pea mixture.
2. Combine all the spices and herbs in the bowl, mashing and stirring. If this feels too wet, add just a little flour of your choice (brown rice or chick pea flour) perhaps up to a tablespoon. You don't want this to feel dry though. Moist is good but not wet.

3. Crush the two crackers on a plate. Form 4 burgers, rolling their surfaces in the crumbs (this should just cover all four).
4. Place on a piece of tin foil on a baking sheet or pan and put under the broiler for about 5 minutes on each side, turning carefully with a spatula.  Turn down the stove to bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes.
Serve as you wish! One was plenty for me on a piece of Ezekial sprouted whole grain bread with pickle slices, onion and lettuce and our fresh cole slaw. My husband had two, one with double bread and the works, the other more simply.  As always, put more spice or heat into these if you want them that way. Good nutritional content from the combination of legumes and vegetables for 170 calories!

Chickpea burgers Nutrition Facts Serving Size: 1 Serving (112g) 1 burger Amount Per Serving % Daily Value* Calories 169 8% Total Fat 5g 8% Saturated Fat 1g 3% Trans Fat Cholesterol 0% Sodium 400mg 17% Total Carbohydrate 25g 8% Dietary Fiber 3g 10% Sugars 2g 0% Protein 7g 14% Vitamin A 11% • Vitamin C 7% Calcium 5% • Iron 8% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calories needs. courtesy of cronometer.com using my data.

If you want to make up your own slaw, I recommend that you use what you have. Here's what I used.

Cleaning the Fridge Again Cole Slaw
leftover nub of cabbage
leftover nub of radicchio
one remaining stalk celery
1/4 of a red pepper, finely chopped
two slices dill pickle finely chopped
dash- 1/8 tsp celery seed
splash of pickle juice
squeeze of fresh lemon juice

Made about 3.5 cups - which disappeared between 2 of us. Very satisfying crisp, crunch, tart and sweet flavors, contrasting well with the warm, chewy textures of the chickpea burgers.

B&B Patties - Black Beans & Beets

Looks good, but it ain't no burger! There was a bag of sweet little beets in the fridge and I was hankering after something different for lunch. The days of burgers are gone for my husband, and most frozen bean-based burgers seem like a replacement food, not something to crave. Added to the challenge is the question of how to make a patty without frying? Of course you can replace any of these ingredients, including using kidney beans rather than black beans, peppers instead of beets, etc.. You could definitely add hot sauce or pepper flakes, or cayenne if you are so inclined, So here's what I put in it this time.

B&B Patties (Black Beans & Beets) - It Ain't No Burger

2/3 c leftover smashed potato/carrot/parnsip (use any rice or sweet potato leftovers, or breadcrumbs)
3/4 c canned black beans (or homemade)
1/4 c frozen spinach (or leftovers)
1/4 c corn (frozen or leftover)
1 finely chopped shallot
2 finely chopped cremini (or other) mushrooms
1/4 c fine chopped beets (about 2 small beets)
2 Tblsp chick pea flour
2 Tblsp whole oats
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp sage
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp sesame seeds


1. Cook a couple small beets (along with others to have cold tomorrow!).
2. Chop up 2 mushrooms, beets when they are cooked, and finely chop a shallot.

3. In a medium sized bowl, stir together, mashing black beans, leftover mashed potato mixture (or whatever rice, sweet potato or other starch),  frozen spinach, corn, mushrooms, shallots, oats and spices. Microwave for one minute or let sit out a while to soften frozen veggies.
4. Add in chickpea flour, beets and mash together.

5. Scoop  1/4 cup  at a time onto a tin foil covered baking sheet, or pan, and gently shape into even sized patties. Be sure the thickness is fairly consistent. Sprinkle 1/2 tsp on top or so sesame seeds on the tops.
6. Broil for 5-10 minutes, flipping with a spatula and sprinkling another 1/2 tsp sesame seeds on top so that both sides crisp. Eat with a slab of tomato, avocado, onion, lettuce or whatever you like! Treat with ketchup, hot sauce or mustard, or eat with sprigs of cilantro. This is especially nice if you don't treat it like a burger and eat two patties.

But it does look like a burger ...

B&B Patties (Black Beans & Beets) Nutrition Facts for one patty Serving Size: 1 Serving (90g) Amount Per Serving % Daily Value* Calories 104 5% Total Fat 1g 2% Saturated Fat 0g 1% Trans Fat Cholesterol 0% Sodium 333mg 14% Total Carbohydrate 20g 7% Dietary Fiber 4g 18% Sugars 2g 0% Protein 5g 10% Vitamin A 6% • Vitamin C 9% Calcium 3% • Iron 9% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calories needs. courtesy of cronometer.com using my data.