Here is what we will be making at Williams Sonoma on Saturday, for my “Plantiful and Healthier You” in 2018. I did a cooking class and these burgers were a hit, even the meat eaters loved them. The thing about this recipe, is you can add different beans and legumes to give change the texture and flavor. I sometimes use lentils, instead of black and red beans and when you add different flavors like, sundried tomatoes, basil and a piece of mozzarella, you get a total new burst flavor.  You can also keep it very vegan and add vegan cheddar, mustard, ketchup, a good pickle,  and you have a good old fashion American burger. It is not as hard as we think, to incorporate more plant based foods in our everyday diet. All we have to do is take our regular meat recipes and look for ways to add more veggies, or substitute the meat for a vegetable options.  The best to start is with pizza, spaghetti, lasagna and even now with this recipe, burgers.  The big thing here, is to get creative in the kitchen, while add more healthy foods to your diet, that are good for you and your family.

Three Bean Vegan Burger with Triple Berry Srirachi Sauce

Ingredients:
1 cup Kroger’s organic triple beans or any store bought brand ( cooked)

1 small red bell pepper (chopped)

1/2 cup chopped smoky sundried tomatoes

1/2 cup of chopped onions

1/2 tbsp of chopped garlic (fine)

1 tsp of olive oil

1/2 cup gluten free oats

1 tbsp of ground flax seed flour (binding)

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp of smoked paprika

1 tsp of garlic powder

1/8 tsp chipotle powder

1/8 tsp of sea salt or more to taste

 

Directions:

1. Heat a pan, add a tsp of olive oil and garlic. Once it starts to sizzle,
add chopped onion, sundried tomatoes and peppers. Cook for few minutes until
they are slightly mushy. Season with salt, pepper and red pepper
flakes. Cool the mixture and set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, add cooked beans with your
hands or back of a spoon, mash them together. Add the vegetable
mixture, the spices, gluten free oats and flax seed to mixture. Mix well and adjust
salt & pepper if desired.
3. Take a small ball of the mixture and make patties out of
them. I like to allow my patties to set in the fridge for 30
mins., so they can harden. This will allow them to keep their shape
during cooking.
4. When ready to cook, heat rest of oil in a pan and add one patty at
a time,, no more than four in a medium saucepan. Cook each side on medium low heat, until it’s crunchy and golden
brown.  Don’t flip the patties often. Just cook them slowly each side
for 4 to 5 minutes and gently flip with a wide spatula. Lay on a
toasted bun and add the triple berry srirachi sauce, lettuce and any of your favorite toppings, better yet add it on a bed of greens with our favorite vinaigrette.

Makes 4 – 5 medium size burgers.

Triple Berry Srirachi Sauce

This is very simple recipes

1 cup Triple Berry jam

1/4 cup blueberries

1 tsp srirachi sauce

In a small saucepan, add the triple berry sauce, the berries and the srirachi sauce under a medium heat, stir and allow the berries to cook down for about 10-15 minutes.  Remove from the heat and allow to cool down. Once the sauce is cool, add to the your bun or on top of your burger.  This sauce is amazing over some toast with a cup of cinnamon tea, or mix with apple cider vinegar, olive oil and make a nice vinaigrette.