Mini Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burgers
My kids tease me that the burgers I serve them have had a previous life. It is true to some extent, especially if the leftovers are beans. Some of my best work has been the resurrection of beans, miraculously transformed into a beautifully browned, plump burger. My husband declared this version the best work to date. These Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burgers are tender inside, crisp outside with a hint of sweetness from the sweet potatoes and good texture from the supporting veggies in them. I serve them on a bed of mixed greens, drizzled with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce and a side of Spanish Slaw but you can dress them up like a traditional burger with a bun, using this super fast recipe for burger buns. They are a snap to make with either leftover Pot O Black Beans, Caribbean Black Beans or canned beans. Chop the Veg in the Vitamix and this recipe goes from fridge to table in less than 20 minutes.
Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burgers
Black Bean & Sweet Potato Burgers
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 6 burgers
Use canned or leftover Black Beans. Serve as a traditional burger on a bun or on a bed of spring greens with roasted red pepper sauce or salsa. Use the VitaMix to pulse your veg and mash the beans. You can use a variety of veg: celery, onion, peppers, zucchini, carrots, leeks all work well
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Cumin Seed
- 2 cloves Garlic, peeled
- 1 large Red Onion, chopped
- 2 Carrots, chopped
- 1/2 Red or Yellow Pepper, chopped
- 2 stalks Celery, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 2 teaspoons Smoked Sea Salt
- splash of Sherry Vinegar or Balsamic Vinegar
- Black Pepper
- 4 cups leftover Black Beans or 2 cans, rinsed and drained
- 3 tablespoons Ketchup or Tomato Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Tamari or Soy Sauce
- 2 cups cooked Sweet Potatoes, diced (or 2 large ones, diced, then cook covered in a large shallow pan with about 2 cups of water for 5-8 minutes. They should hold their shape but be tender)
- 2-3 cups Oats
Instructions
- Heat a glug of Olive Oil in a large fry pan over medium heat
- Toss in the Cumin Seed and let sizzle a few minutes
- Finely dice or pulse all the Veggies in the Vita Mix until small dice
- Add to the pan and saute 5 minutes, add the rest of the dry Spices
- Splash in a bit of Vinegar and cook 2 more minutes
- Put 2 cups of Beans into a large bowl, add the Sautéed Veg and Sweet Potatoes
- Wipe the pan and splash with a generous amount of Olive Oil
- Whirl the remaining Beans in the Vita Mix or food processor with the Ketchup and Soy Sauce
- Add the Processed Beans to the bowl
- Gently stir and add enough Oats to make a moist mixture that will hold its shape
- Adjust seasonings adding more Sea Salt and Pepper if needed
- Heat the Olive Oil until hot
- Form into Patties small or large and gently brown in the hot Olive Oil, 2 minutes each side
- Turn the heat down, cover and cook 6-8 minutes (depending on the size)
- You can also brown them and finish them off in the oven at 400f/200c for about 10 minutes
The ingredients are healthy and delicious but the recipe is poorly written and the result was a mush rather than burgers. Should the oats be cooked or not?
Thanks for the feedback. I will take a look at the recipe and see if I can make it more specific. Oats should be uncooked, plain (not quick cook) and depending on how much liquid is in the beans may take more oats to get a firmer consistency. I also find if I have time to let it sit a bit the mixture will firm up better.