Flavorful Hearty Veggie Burgers (Printable version)
Hearty vegetable and bean patties with carrots, mushrooms, and spices for a satisfying meatless meal.
# What you need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 cup grated carrots (about 120 g)
02 - 1 cup finely chopped mushrooms (about 100 g)
03 - 1/2 cup finely diced red onion (about 70 g)
04 - 1/2 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen and thawed (about 70 g)
→ Legumes
05 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
→ Binders
06 - 1/2 cup rolled oats (about 50 g)
07 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (about 60 g)
08 - 1 large egg (or 1 flax egg: 1 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 2 1/2 tbsp water)
→ Seasonings
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tbsp dried)
11 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1 tsp ground cumin
13 - 1/2 tsp salt
14 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Cooking and Serving
15 - 2 tbsp olive oil
16 - 4 burger buns
17 - Lettuce leaves, tomato slices, pickles, ketchup, or toppings of choice
# How To:
01 - Place the drained and rinsed black beans in a large mixing bowl. Use a fork or potato masher to coarsely mash them, leaving some texture intact—avoid turning them into a complete puree.
02 - Add the grated carrots, chopped mushrooms, diced red onion, corn kernels, minced garlic, chopped parsley, rolled oats, breadcrumbs, smoked paprika, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper to the bowl with the mashed beans.
03 - Crack the egg into the bowl (or add your prepared flax egg). Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly distributed and the mixture holds together when pressed.
04 - Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions. Shape each portion into a patty approximately 1 inch thick, pressing firmly so they hold their shape.
05 - Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil shimmers, carefully place the patties in the pan. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side until both sides are golden brown and the patties are cooked through.
06 - While the patties finish cooking, toast the burger buns face-down in a separate skillet or under a broiler until lightly golden.
07 - Place each cooked patty on a toasted bun. Layer with lettuce leaves, tomato slices, pickles, and your preferred sauces. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The smoky paprika and cumin combination tricks even committed meat eaters into reaching for seconds before the regular burgers disappear.
- Mashing the beans by hand gives you perfect control over texture so every bite is hearty rather than mushy.
02 -
- Wet hands slightly before shaping the patties because the mixture is sticky and a little water on your palms prevents it from clinging like glue.
- Resist the urge to flip early because the crust needs uninterrupted time to form and release naturally from the pan.
03 -
- Let the mixture rest in the fridge for fifteen minutes before shaping because the oats absorb moisture and the patties hold together dramatically better.
- Press a thumbprint into the center of each patty before cooking to prevent it from puffing up into a dome shape in the pan.