I've been on a veggie burger kick these days. I like eating with my hands and getting food all over my face. So, here's the black bean burgers I made last night, and today already for lunch. And we'll have them again for dinner. It makes a lot, so get your burger on.
~adapted from 'Veganomicon'
2 cups ish black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup vital wheat gluten (can be found in the bulk section of health food stores, or ask your grocer)
1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
2 ears corn, raw, but cut it off like when you had braces
3/4 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1 tbl ketchup (check your ketchup for high fructose corn syrup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 onion, grated (break out your ski or swim goggles for this one)
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and minced (optional)
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbl olive oil, plus spray or more olive oil for cooking
bread or buns of your choice, toasted
Mash the beans with a fork in mixing bowl. Don't puree; leave some half beans. Add the bread crumbs, gluten, corn, chili powder, cumin, oregano, ketchup, grated onion, garlic, olive oil, cilantro and jalapeno. Mix everything together with your hands until it is uniform (about a minute).
Preheat a heavy bottomed pan over medium. Divide the burger mixture into 6-8 ball. Flatten on a surface or between your hands. Pour a thin layer of olive oil in pan, add burgers and cook until brown. Flip and cook for 3-5 minutes.
At this point I leave the burgers in the pan, warming and make the sauteed spinach and mushrooms.
6 mushrooms, thinly sliced
1/2 cup spinach leaves, chopped roughly
1 tbl earth balance or other butter substitute
Heat a large pan with butter over medium and add mushrooms and spinach. Spread out the mushrooms so they aren't touching and stir occasionally. Cook for 5 minutes or until soft.
I built my burger/ sandwich like this:
toasted bread/ bun
veganaise
ketchup
thinly sliced avocado, spread evenly (peel it first)
burger
mushrooms and spinach
tomato slices
red onion slices
toasted bread/ bun
