I am sure you have been to a summer BBQ’s where someone pulls out a pack of frozen soy burgers for the veggies in the attendance. Those dry, crumbly, frozen pucks, free of flavor and texture have always been on the menu served by non-vegetarians for as long as I can recall. I am by no means saying that I am ungrateful for the food I am provided when I am invited into someone’s home; I am merely tossing a theory out there- a large part of the population have no idea that veggie burgers can be delicious, nutritious and satisfying. Stop rolling your eyes at me; I am being totally serious!
These black bean burgers have robust, meaty texture, juicy and spiced flavour, and are packed with nutritious plant-based protein. The recipe takes just a few quick minutes and can be cooked either on the stove in a pan or skillet, or grilled on the BBQ.
Please please please do not over-mushify these bad boys, under fork-mashing and pulsing is much better than over; trust me. You will hit a sweet spot; it took me about 3 tries to nail it. I’m a slow-learner. My second tid-bit of burger-making advice is to cook them on medium heat to ensure they are heated through, but a teensy-bit crunchy on the exterior. I hope you enjoy these bad boys!
- 2 cups mushrooms, roasted
- 2 green onions, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp cumin
- 1 tsp fresh or dried parsley
- 1 14oz can of black beans
- 1 tbsp tahini
- ⅓ cup nutritional yeast
- ⅓ cup breadcrumbs or wheat germ
- salt to taste
- In a food processor add the black beans, onions, garlic, the roasted mushrooms, cumin, parsley, tahini and pulse until combined. This is like 3-4 pulses ONLY. Do not over process.
- If you do not have a food processor, you can use a large medium bowl and mash ingredients with a fork. Again, don’t go crazy.
- In a large bowl add the processed ingredients and add the nutritional yeast, bread crumbs or wheat germ and salt to taste.
- Mix into the mashed beans, until mixture sticks together but try to not mash much further. Add more crumbs or wheat germ as needed.
- Divide mixture into patties.
- If grilling, cook for a few minutes on skillet or pan on each side to help prevent these guys from sticking to your BBQ/grill. It is helpful to cook these guys on the grill on top of a piece of foil.
- Grill for about 5-8 minutes on each side.
- If frying or using a skillet, cook on an oiled pan for about 8 minutes on each side.
- If baking, place patties on baking sheet, and bake for about 10 minutes on each side.
Heidi says:
Will wheat bran work in place of wheat germ? I have of wheat bran. I don’t have the other.