By Jenny Engel and Heather Bell, Guest Contributors
Beans are one of the vegan foods that wear many hats. They can disguise themselves as burgers, dips, and even meringue. We use red beans as the main ingredient in this burger because the color is spot on, the texture comes out meaty—in the most vegan-y way possible—and it’s a fantastic base for a wide variety of toppings.
Quick and Easy Red Bean Veggie Burgers
Yields 4-6 patties.
Ingredients
- 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 teaspoon dried minced onion
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon brown rice syrup
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup unbleached flour or cornmeal
- 1 to 2 tablespoons neutral-tasting oil
- 4 to 6 vegan buns, split
- 4 to 6 (4″ square) pieces romaine lettuce
- 4 to 6 slices tomato
- Choice of ketchup, mustard, pickle relish, barbecue sauce, or other toppings
Directions
- In a food processor, combine beans, onion, garlic powder, sea salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and brown rice syrup. Pulse 5 times. Add oats and flour or cornmeal, and pulse until mixture holds together.
- Heat a large skillet and add oil. With damp hands, form the burger mixture into patties and place in pan. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, or until browned.
- Toast buns until golden brown. Place a burger on each bun bottom, top with lettuce, tomato, other desired toppings, and remaining bun half.
Recipe Tips and Variations
- Always thoroughly rinse and drain canned beans. They’re much more digestible after the bubbles are washed away and it will prevent your belly from hurting.
Jenny and Heather are co-owners of Los Angeles-based vegan cooking school Spork Foods, which travels to universities, health care companies, hotels, markets, and restaurants all around the world to teach chefs how to prepare tasty vegan meals.
You can learn more about Spork Foods and Jenny and Heather’s cookbook on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Sorry too complicated. I rarely cook and even tho this sounds delicious. It’s too much….maybe ready made garden bergers will be doable
Helene, what is too complicated – the spice mix? One thing I do is premake spice mixes that are sort of “poultry” (light flavors) and “beef” (darker, heavier flavors) and keep them premixed in a jar. It takes a little time up front, but I can add it to “burgers”, “meatloafs”, “seitan”, etc. with a minimal amount of time. I also buy little one-serving cheap red and white wine and add that with part of the liquid to enhance flavors. If you want to buy burgers, I also like the Field Roast Hand Formed Burgers. I can buy them CHEAP by the case (if you have freezer space or shop with friends) at the local restaurant supply store. They cost USD $1.60 per burger.