Still Grill Season! Try These Black Bean Burgers

August 26, 2013

Vegan Black Bean Burgers

Recipe By Meg Pearson, Vegan Cook & Raw Food Chef

Ah, summer time. As this blissful season begins to draw to a close, now is the time to squeeze in the last few weekends of al fresco dining before the cool eves of autumn are upon us. And instead of grilling up the usual fired up fare like beef patties & sausage, why not try a meatless option to round out your BBQ-ing repertoire? This vegan burger recipe fulfills even the most carnal of meat cravings with its dense flavours and meaty texture, and also caters to those with grain-free and nut-free lifestyles! The following patty product stands up solidly to the char, and was divine with a side of grilled peppers and local asparagus and topped with avocado salsa!

Black Bean Burgers

Makes 8 patties

1 can black beans, rinsed

1 large clove garlic

2 T tahini

Juice of 1 lime

1.5 t cumin

1 t cinnamon

1 t chili powder

1 t curry

1 t sea salt

½ C ground flax seed, plus 1 C

½ cup diced red onion

¼ cup grated carrot

¼ cup diced yellow or orange pepper

¼ cup salsa (I used an organic bottled version)

In food processor, blend first 9 ingredients with ½ cup flax until combined.
Add in the onion, carrot, pepper, and salsa and continue to process until combined, but still little chunky. The mixture will be quite moist at this point.
Remove mixture to large bowl and stir in remaining 1 cup of ground flax until well combined. The liquid in the mix should absorb the flax and it will become more dough like.
Refrigerate for 1 hour
Once the dough is well cooled, it will be easier to handle. Shape into 8 patties, and either grill straight away, or freeze individually on a baking sheet, transferring to Ziploc bag or glass freezer container to store.

Meghan Pearson is a Nutritarian (labels are tough!), passionate cook, Alissa Cohen certified Living on Live Food Instructor, and Culinary Nutrition Expert trained with Meghan Telpner’s Cooking Academy. She is also a Yoga Teacher, Reiki Practitioner and Live Well Educator, with a strong focus on informing others about the benefits of following a plant-heavy diet and focusing on whole life balance. You can find out more on her website.