PREP TIME: 20 minutes – COOK TIME: 10 minutes – TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes
Servings: 5 burgers • Keeps Fresh: 2-3 Days • Freezer: 3 Weeks
Easy, grillable veggie burgers with just 10 ingredients (give or take a spice). Perfect for summertime grilling. Hearty enough to please meat eaters and vegans alike!
INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1 cup raw walnuts (or substitute bread crumbs)
• 1/2 tbsp. avocado oil (plus more for cooking)
• 1/2 medium white onion (finely diced – 1/2 onion yields 3/4 cup)
• 1 tbsp. each chili powder, cumin powder, and smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp. each sea salt and black pepper (plus more for coating burgers)
• 1 tbsp. coconut sugar (or brown or muscovado sugar)
• 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans* (well rinsed, drained and patted dry)
• 1/3 cup Panko bread crumbs (if gluten-free, use gluten-free bread crumbs)
• 3-4 tbsp. vegan BBQ sauce
INSTRUCTIONS
1. If your brown rice isn’t cooked yet, start there by following this method for the best results. Otherwise, move onto the next step.
2. Heat skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add raw walnuts and toast for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant and golden brown. Set aside and let cool and move onto the next step.
3. Heat the same skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add oil and onion. Season with a bit of salt and pepper and sauté for 3-4 minutes or until onion is fragrant, soft, and translucent. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. Once walnuts are cooled, add to blender or food processor with chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper and coconut sugar and blend until a fine meal is achieved. Set aside.
5. To a large mixing bowl, add drained, dried black beans and mash well with a fork, leaving only a few whole beans.
6. Next add cooked rice, spice-walnut mixture, sautéed onion, Panko bread crumbs, BBQ sauce, and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon for 1-2 minutes, or until a moldable dough forms. If dry, add extra 1-2 tbsp.
BBQ sauce. If too wet, add more Panko bread crumbs. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
7. For larger burgers, divide into 5 patties (1/2 cup in size), or form 10 smaller burgers (1/4 cup in size). To help form the patties, line your 1/2 or 1/4 measuring cup with plastic wrap and pack with burger mixture. Press down to pack firmly, then lift out by the plastic wrap’s edge, and slightly flatten with hands to form a 3/4- inch thick patty. Set on a baking sheet or plate for grilling.
8. If grilling, heat the grill at this time and brush the grill surface with oil to ease cooking. Otherwise, heat the same skillet you used earlier to medium heat.
9. Once skillet is hot, add just enough oil to lightly coat the bottom of your skillet, then add your burgers – only as many as will comfortably fit in the pan. Otherwise, add burgers to the grill and close lid.
10. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until well browned on the underside, then flip gently. They aren’t as firm as meat burgers, but will definitely hold their shape. Reduce heat if cooking/browning too quickly. Cook for 3-4 minutes on other side.
11. Remove burgers from heat to let cool slightly, and prepare any other toppings/sides at this time (such as grilling/toasting your buns).
12. Serve burgers as is, or on toasted buns with desired toppings. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. See notes for freezing/reheating instructions.
Notes:
**One 15-ounce (425 g) can of black beans yields only 1 1/4 cups black beans. So if using canned, be sure to grab two cans (amount as original recipe is written – adjust if altering batch size)! Also, if black beans are unsalted, add 1/4 tsp extra salt to burger mixture (amount as original recipe is written – adjust if altering batch size).
To freeze for later, cook burgers as instructed on grill or skillet. Then set on a baking sheet or plate and freeze. Once frozen completely, seal in a freezersafe bag or container and store for up to 3 weeks. Reheat in a 375 degree on a bare baking sheet for 20-30 minutes, or until warmed through and golden brown.