Black Bean Burgers You Won't Find at the Ball Park

There is just something about biting into a burger. The toppings, condiments, the bun. Veggie burgers have come along way, and there are so many great brands that you can buy frozen and dress up, But sometimes, frozen veggie burgers just don't cut it. Sometimes they aren't filling enough, or flavorful enough once defrosted. And sometimes, you can't even pronounce all of the ingredients in them.  With this in mind, we decided to create our own. Protein packed, easy to make, and delicious on a bun or "in the grass".

These burgers are dairy free, vegan, and contain natural ingredients. We add a combination of spices and chili paste to give them some spice and chia seeds for added protein and to support the binding. Beans are a great source of fiber as well. 

Adding a black bean burger to a salad is the perfect way to get some added protein. We make about 8-10 burgers at once, eat some for dinner, and pack the leftovers in salads for lunch.  Some of our favorite toppings include sliced mango, which pairs so perfectly with black beans, and avocado because... why not? Spicy siracha mayo tops the burger and can serve as salad dressing! A double play!

Check out how we did it:

Ingredients:

For the burgers:

• 2 15oz cans black beans 
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 a medium white onion, chopped 
• 2 tbsp chia seeds 
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp smoked paprika 
• 1/2 tsp of black pepper 
• 1 tsp chili paste 

For the spicy mayo:

• 1/4 cup mayo (we like Chosen Foods avocado Mayo)
• Siracha to desirable spiciness 

Optional toppings:

• Sliced mango
• Sliced avocado (or mashed on a bun)
• Mixed greens 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375* and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
2. Drain beans, but do not rinse and place in food processor 
3. Add roughly chopped onion in food processor, and pulse until mixture is chunky and not too liquidy 
4. Take the bowl off the food processor, and mix in oats, chia seeds, spices, and chili paste. Stir until well combined. 
5. Create "patties" by scooping mixture onto baking sheet. They will likely be too soft to form with your hands, and will seem rather wet, but will dry out in the oven.
6. Put in the oven for 20 minutes, and then flip using a spatula, and cook another 20 minutes on the other side. 
7. Let cool, and serve on a bun or on a salad bowl like this (chopped red bell pepper, mango and avocado over mixed greens) and top black bean burger with siracha mayo.
8. Enjoy!