veggie/bean burgers

finally, the recipe post i should have written a long time ago since it quite possibly is my favorite meal to make for the family (and often). the recipe is as simple as you want it to be since you can include whatever ingredient you really want. below is what i usually do for veggie/bean burgers. i generally use four cans of different beans which makes quite a bit of burgers for four and then some leftovers. so definitely half the recipe for two people.

enjoy !

ingredients:

burgers

• four cans beans of any variety (kidney, black, pinto)
• 1 med-large potato shredded (use cheese grater)
• 1 large carrot shredded (use cheese grater)
• 1/2 cup peas (optional)
• lots of salt 
• crushed red pepper flakes for spiciness 

how to:

1. preheat oven to 400 degrees F
2. separate all your large ingredients into different bowls; beans, potato, carrot, peas. make sure to rinse the beans very well. tip: shred the potato last
3. get another bowl you can mush these ingredients with a fork easily to later form your burger. take a handful of beans and mush them for a minute (they don't all have to be completely mushed) then take handfuls of all your veggies and put those into your mushed bean bowl. 
4. you can mix all the ingredients with a fork and then add your spices
5. now using your hands form your burgers into a patty shape, you kind of need to press hard to get the beans to stick with all your ingredients but it should go pretty easily. (beware this is the messy part)
6. continue to make more patty's by adding and mushing together more of the mixture.
7. once done oven them for 30-40 minutes on a sprayed aluminum foil over your baking tray
8. the burgers should be slightly golden and crispy on each side. you can turn them over half way.

tip: if your patty's wont stick well it might be too wet which can be fixed with more beans which will make the mixture dryer. it is usually the water from the potato that may make your mixture un-stickable. you may need to squeeze out the water from the shredded potato if you notice it is watery.

toppings

• avocado slices (personal favorite)
• tomato slices
• bell peppers slices
• spinach
• onion slices
• ketchuppp (go organic! avoid HFCS)
• cucumbers (optional)
• toasted whole wheat buns (trader joes has yummy ones)

how to:

1. put all your toppings in dishes so everyone can build their own burger later

side dishes

• sweet potato wedges baked
• it is just fine and even nutritious to eat potato skins so simply wash and scrub your sweet potatoes before you slice them into wedges 
• you can make these while your burgers are in the oven so don't turn the oven off when the burgers are done since these can also bake at 400 degrees F. 
• then prepare your baking sheet. i put aluminum foil over my baking sheet for easy clean up. spray your sheet and then put your wedges on. you can sprinkle more olive oil over your wedges here too.
• use whatever spices you like and sprinkle them over the wedges. salt is usually what i use.
• they go in the oven for about 45-60 minutes depending on your wedge sizes and oven. i never know how long i keep them in because i keep adding the time if they are not ready. aka you want the wedges to be really soft and be able to put a fork through them easily so keep checking! definitely start with 30 minutes and then check every so often.
• transfer the wedges to a plate once done

• spiced chickpeas baked (optional)
• after your sweet potatoes are done you can use the same baking sheet and aluminum foil used with the wedges. 
• first rinse your garbanzo beans really well and then simply place them on your sprayed aluminum foil on the baking sheet
• sprinkles your desired spices, i go with  cayenne pepper and salt
• bake for about 30 minutes on the same 400 degree F as the burgers and wedges.
• the garbanzo beans will get golden and crispy as well.
• transfer them to a bowl and eat them as a snack on the side!