When I was first trying out a mostly vegetarian lifestyle (back in 2007), I immediately fell in love with two meals: pineapple pizza and black bean burgers. Which probably don’t sound like the healthiest of choices. These were basically veggie versions of two of my (then) current favorite foods.
Ever since then I’ve been trying to create my favorite homemade version of black bean burgers. This is my new favorite.
These are loaded with nutritious goodies like brown rice and black beans. If you’re looking for a protein packed meal but you’d like to skip the meat, I highly recommend you try these.
Black Bean Burgers, makes four.
1/4 red onion
3-4 cloves of garlic
1 15 oz. can black beans
1 8 oz. can sweet corn
1/4 cup uncooked oats
1/2 cup uncooked brown rice
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
1 egg (optional)*
a few drops liquid smoke (optional)
Cook the rice according to the package directions. Typically it calls for double the amount of water to rice. You can use a teaspoon less water than usual, as we want the rice to be cooked but not soggy (excess water will cause the patties to fall apart easier).
Chop up the red onion and mince the garlic. Sauté in a teaspoon or two of olive oil until soft (4–5 minutes over medium heat).
In a food processor combine half of the black beans (drain the can first), the cooked onion and garlic, cumin, cayenne powder, and liquid smoke (if using). Process a couple times using the pulse option. You don’t want to puree the mix, but you do want everything chopped up well.
Use a sharp knife to chop up the oats. In a large bowl combine the batter from the food processor, the oats, the cooked brown rice and the egg (if using), the remaining black beans, and the canned corn (drain the can first). Refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight (this helps dry the mix out a little bit).
*If you’d like to keep these burgers vegan-friendly, you can easily leave the egg out. The egg does help to bind the burgers together, but if you’re careful as you cook they’ll still turn out very good without the egg.
Form 4 patties from the mix. I like to place the patties on 4 small sheets of parchment paper so when I’m ready to cook I can place the patty into my hot pan and simply peel the back layer of parchment paper off.
Cook in a large pan or skillet with a little olive oil over medium high heat for about 2-3 minutes on each side. Carefully flip them when they are half done, much like you would a pancake.
Serve on a toasted bun with all your favorite fixings. You can freeze these before or after cooking. Simply wrap them tightly in plastic wrap before placing them in the freezer. Enjoy! xo. Emma
Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman. Photos edited with Summer of the Signature Collection.
Mmmm!!! yummy!!! Want to try)
Girls you are my inspiration!!!
Love this recipe! Think I may have to try it out.
Jo x
She Wears Burgundy
Just made these! Soo good! Thanks again for the simple and delicious recipe! Your strawberry poppyseed pie is now my family’s favorite and I never would have thought I could convince meat lovers to eat bean burgers without any complaints! Thanks Emma!!
great recipe!! looks easy to make.
Since being a vegan for over a year now, I love searching for recipes like these. I’d just skip but it sounds SO, SO delicious!! 😉
Love from Germany,
Elisa
Yummy, a suggestion different from the usual hamburguer. I like it 🙂
I admit, I end up buying veggie burgers from Trader Joe’s a lot, but I think they’re delicious!
Thank you for the recipe, I try to eat less meat but I love burgers, it will be very useful for me and looks sooo good!
I throw a little sweet potato in mine…only because I’m not sweet enough, of course!
instead of the brown rice can we use quinoa??
Sooo happy you guys are posting more vegan food and vegan options for the veg recipes. 🙂 🙂
This looks delicious!
OMG this looks solo yummy! I should totally try this
Black Bean Burgers are one of my favorites. I’m going to have to try your recipe.
must remember to try this but I’ll have to do so when my hubby isn’t home.. he won’t want me messin’ with his burgers 😉
Pescetarian here but I eat vegetarian 70% of the time. I love all things beans. I will definitely have to try this out!
Emma, your black bean and quinoa burger recipe from Food Coma is still my go to! I have all the confidence that this recipe will be great too and I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for all the black bean burger inspiration!
I am going to try this I am vegetarian!!! This looks delicious, you girls are amazing!!!!
I love the use of raw oats in your recipe! Beans are one of the tastiest ingredients around and I’m always on the search for my bestie, who is veggie/vegan friendly. Even though I’m not, I’d gladly whip up a batch next time she’s about. Delish!
Everything about this burger has my name written all over it!! Thank you for sharing 🙂 I always enjoy reading your blog!
These look so delicious!
I stopped eating meat when I was young because I never enjoyed the taste and haven’t looked back since. But that obviously means that the meat-like faux meats completely turn me off, so black bean burgers have always been one of my favorites. I can’t wait to try this recipe. (:
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