Grilled Bean/Vegan Burgers

So most of you who read this blog regularly, know that my youngest daughter is a vegan and that I am trying that lifestyle out slowly.  For the past 4 nights, I have only had meat (deli lean, antibiotic and hormone free oven roasted turkey), once.  The other meals have either been vegetarian or vegan.

Tonight I tried the following recipe taken from a recent issue of Simple and Delicious magazine.

I LOVED these burgers...super easy to grill and takes much less time than beef or bison.

Warning:  there is a bit of prep to this recipe so allow your self about a half hour of prep/grilling before wanting to serve dinner.

This recipe makes 8 burgers....I grilled two and froze the rest.

Steamed spinach, Grilled vegan burger, peach

GRILLED BEAN BURGERS

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 small sweet or yellow onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

3/4 c. shredded carrot

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp ground cumin

dash of black pepper

1 (15 oz) can each of pinto and reduced sodium black beans,

 rinsed and drained

2 Tbsp Dijon mustard (I used spicy brown)

2 Tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce

1 Tbsp ketchup

1 1/2 c. organic steel cut quick cook oats

hamburger buns, split

• In a large nonstick frying pan, heat oil over medium heat; saute the onion for 2 minutes.
• Add in the garlic and cook while stirring for 2 minutes.
• Add in the shredded carrot and spices.  Cook and stir until carrot is tender.  This took about 4 minutes.  Remove from heat.
• In a large bowl, mash the drained beans.  I used a potato masher.
• Stir in the mustard, ketchup, soy sauce.  Mix well and then stir in the carrot mixture, mixing well.
• Add the oats and mix well.
• Shape into 8 patties.
• Grill for about 5 minutes per side.  Keep grill at medium heat.  Grill until just browned.
• Serve on buns with lettuce, ketchup,  sliced tomato, pickles, or salsa. 

ENJOY!

DINNER IDEA:  I served these burgers with steamed spinach and fresh fruit.  

You can also serve with a side of pasta salad or tossed salad. Or any steamed vegetable of your choice.  For an easier, quick meal, serve with lightly salted veggie chips or blue corn chips!

If you eat cheese, consider adding a thin slice of cheddar cheese to the burger during the last minutes of grilling.  

NOTE:  these burgers are filling due to all the protein in the beans. There are 12 grams of protein per serving.