Saturday, May 19, 2012

Black Bean Oatmeal Burgers

My husband and I are attempting to adopt a vegetarian diet, which I am hoping will open us up to many new and interesting recipes.  We have eliminated all red and poultry meats from our diets in favor of only plant-based foods. For now, we will include seafood and some dairy. Well, at least until we have eaten all the yogurt, cheese and milk we have in the frig. We have always enjoyed a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, not to mention legumes in our diet, so the change hasn't been all that difficult.  I go to a local produce retailer where prices are very low, so I can stock up on a lot of stuff quite inexpensively.

This week's experiment is with black bean burgers. I have made many a Gardenburger or Boca burger, but I figured if I was going to be serious about going vegan, I needed a recipe where I can make them from scratch - scratch is always better in my opinion. This recipe comes from Angry Chicken -- thank you. The burgers are an absolute cinch to make and serve as a great base for lots of variations.  Just put all the ingredients in a food processor, grind into a finely combined mixture, shape and bake. I served them between whole grain hamburger buns with a dollop of mango salsa. They were delicious, moist, full of flavor and very satisfying.

Black Bean Oatmeal Burgers       
recipe from Angry Chicken

1 1/2 c. cooked black beans ( I used a 14.5 oz. can, drained)
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, very well drained
1 c. fresh chopped cilantro or parsley (I used cilantro)
1 teaspoon cumin
1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
2 green onions, roughly chopped
2/3 c. shredded carrots
1 3/4 c. rolled oats


Put all the ingredients in a food processor and grind until well combined. 


Using a large ice cream scoop, portion out and place on a baking sheet lined with either parchment or a Silpat. Flatten the patties and bake in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.  Gently turn the patties and bake another 15 minutes. 

Makes 8 large to 12 small patties.


2 comments:

  1. I'm totally intrigued by the oatmeal part of this burger. Must give these a try soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The oatmeal helps to bind and add good soluble fiber. I used regular oatmeal, not the quick type. You could easily use farro or cooked brown rice instead. They freeze well also.

      Delete