NOTE: My post will go live on May 23rd at 10am. Sorry for the delay!! ~ Jennifer
Hi Everyone,
How are you! I thought Monday would be a crappy day, but it didn’t turn out to bad. Yah!! Hmmm, so work went well, but dinner, hit or miss, not to sure, you tell me. My Husband wasn’t feeling well, so he said to have a fend for yourself night. I love my fend for yourself nights. This is when I can get creative and make things I normally wouldn’t make.
This weekend I was going through my Woman’s Health Magazine and I saw a recipe in there for Black Bean Burgers. I read the ingredients and thought, why not make them? It has peppers, onions, beans, carrots, oatmeal and I threw in a jalapeno, whats not to like? All my favorites in a patty. Here is how they turned out!
I have never had a black bean burger or a veggie burger so I am not sure how the texture is supposed to be. These burgers were easy to make, just place all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until combined. They turned out very moist. I couldn’t scoop them into a shape, so I plopped them onto my aluminum foil and shaped them into a patty. They kind of look like cow pie! You know poop! What a horrible way to describe my dinner. But I speak the truth!
I was originally going to cook them in a skillet, but seeing how moist they are, I figured I’ll follow the directions and cook them on the grill. All you do is place the patty on aluminum foil, sprayed with cooking spray and cook each side for 5 minutes. I cooked the first side for 7 minutes and had a horrible time trying to flip them. But I did manage to flip. The outer part of the burger was crispy, which is nice, but the center was still very moist. Is that how a black bean burger is supposed to be? I cooked the other side for 5 minutes. Placed on a bun and topped with guacamole and a tomato.
I guess the real test is the flavor. I took my first bite of my first ever black bean patty and my thought was mmmm, it’s good! But as I took a bite, part of the burger fell out of my bun. This is the most juicy burger I ever had. But juicy in a weird way. I don’t know how to describe the flavor, it had a pinch of heat from the jalapeno and I loved the flavor of the onions and peppers in it. Would I make this again? Probably, but I need to find a way to make it more firm. Maybe not blend it so much? What do you think? How could I make this burger better? I need your help!!
- 1½ cups black beans, canned, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup sweet bell pepper, sliced
- ⅓ cup onion, roughly chopped
- ¾ cup carrot, shredded
- ½ jalapeno pepper, roughly chopped
- ⅓ cup quick cooking oats
- 2½ tsp. canola oil
- ½ tsp. cumin
- Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until combined. About 2 -3 minutes. Form into 4 patties.
- Heat grill on medium heat, meanwhile, lightly spray aluminium foil with cooking spray, place the foil to the grill. Add the burgers to the foil, and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes per side.
- Optional: To serve, add burger to a whole wheat bun and top burger with a slice of tomato and guacamole.
Ok, so here is your homework for the week. Make black bean burgers and tell me how to make mine better! I love the flavor, I love how easy it is and I love the calories. So how do I make this not so mushy?
Now that I gave you homework, I shall let you go. Time for me to have a little dessert tonight! Have a wonderful Tuesday and just think 4 more work days till a long weekend. Do you have Monday off? Big plans for Memorial Day? I have nothing planned as of yet, but we shall see.
Toodloo,
Jennifer
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Well, I don’t have a recipe in front of me, but I have made this type of “burger” before. I thought I would just mention that the carrot could be one if the culprits here. The tend to hold a lot of moisture. I haven’t used carrot in this type of recipe before and still had good results. Also, when it comes to flipping, maybe try using a piece of foil wide enough to fold over the top of the burgers then roll the entire foil… Does that make sense? I do that with delicate fish and vegetables for the grill….
Hmmm, your right it could be the carrots, there pretty moist when you shred them. Maybe I could omit them next time or let them dry out a pinch? I’ll try your flipping method next time. Thank you for your help!
I would think that adding an egg or some egg whites would help bind them more. I think it would even be cool to make little black bean meatballs either Italian style or Mexican. Mmmm, I’m making myself hungry! Good luck to you!
Oh making them into meatballs is a great idea!! I can see a Mexican type of dish! I think adding the egg would bind it, but it might make it even more moist. But maybe I should add egg and bread crumbs?
Maybe adding bread crumbs to the mixture? I’ve made salmon cakes beore and ran into this problem, but the egg/bread crumb mixture helped a lot. This looks really good actually, but not too sure how the rest of the family would feel about eating just a veggie burger.
My family wouldn’t eat these, they were just for me. My Husband would eat all the ingredient seperate, but not in a patty! I think I will add bread crumbs and egg next time. That should bind it up nicely! Great idea!
i LOVE black bean burgers. I actually made some and posted them on my blog a couple weeks ago http://happyfoodhealthylife.com/2012/05/08/southwestern-black-bean-burgers/
I do agree that they are kinda difficult to flip. They don’t really ever get firm in the middle. I keep them on the skillet for a really long time and kinda press them down so they’re thinner and have a better chance of not being mushy.
Keep at it, you’ll get it – and they’re super good for you!
I checked out your recipe, it looks great! Glad to know I am not the only one who has issues flip them. I will try them in a skillet next time. Maybe it will make them more crispy?
hehe, you totally crack me up! no one but you would say poop on their blog, especially describing their food, so funny! Maybe some egg, panko and just chopping the veggies fairly fine but still with some texture would make a difference. I think you might need to post a “glamour shot” version of this one! 🙂 you’re the best!
Ahhh, adding panko bread crumbs and finely chopping the veggies sounds perfect! I’ll try that next time. I’m thinking this maybe a weekend project! My friend just read my post and cracked up that I used the word cow pie and poop! lol, I know I’m kind of weird that way! 🙂
LMAO the way you described your food! Maybe that’s why I don’t have any desire to try it b/c the way it looks. Lol. I think panko is a good binder for any kind of burger thou. Good luck.
I think it might need a finer carb than oats, like garbanzo bean flour or even ground oats if that was what you wanted to use. It looks beautiful though!
Hi Jennifer! I stumbled across your blog and really love it! I nominated your site for the Food Stories Award for Excellence in Storytelling. I posted the details here: http://lipsticknlemondrops.blogspot.ca/2012/05/aww-shucks-im-speechless.html 🙂
I’ve never made my own bean burgers, but have had them at restaurants and love them! Taking on your homework challenge as soon as my move is over and I have time!
I just saw ur post its now 2017 lol .. anyway I first timer to make these lil bundles if good..I didn’t use egg. I used crushed rice cakes for breadcrumbs. Added 1 mashed sweet potato and dash if soy sauce and dropped in a tsp if brown sugar. I used 2 small sweet peppers red and orange..and onion. I bakes mine in oven for 30 min flippin half way..they were Sooooo yummy! I also added few feta cheese crumbles to the mix. Trick also us put in fridge for few min before baking ..I’m definitely making these babies again!!😉😉