Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Black bean sweet potato burgers

You won't miss the meat in this flavorful, hearty veggie burger, loaded with healthy sweet potato, black beans and sharp cheddar cheese.

black bean sweet potato burgers

In your efforts to eat healthier, have you embraced more meatless meals?

We try to, but it's hard when you love bacon and sausage -- and only half-jokingly refer to yourself as The Meatasaurus.

One way we've successfully enjoyed more meatless dinners is with veggie burgers. If your only experience with veggie burgers are those frozen, cardboard-like discs that come four-to-a-box in your grocer's freezer, it's time to put down the processed food and make your own.

A good, homemade veggie burger can truly be a delicious substitute for a traditional grilled burger (not all the time, mind you -- clearly I'm not that cray cray). I love to make big batches of them to keep on hand in the freezer for times when I need a quick lunch or I'm at a loss as to what to make for dinner. They can go from freezer to table in less than 15 minutes.

To keep the freezer back-up meals interesting, I've added this new black bean and sweet potato burger to the stash. It was inspired by a recipe from the brand-new Cabot Creamery Cookbook, which is officially available online or at your favorite bookstore as of today! If you're a fan of cheese (lordy, I do not want to meet the person who isn't a fan of cheese), do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this cookbook. The recipes -- for everything from entrees to desserts -- are delish, the photos are gorgeous: it's a real treat.


Cabot Creamery Cookbook

This black bean and sweet potato burger, as its name implies, is loaded with good-for-you veggies and beans, and, unlike some other veggie burgers, it holds together beautiful and is really quite hearty. Plus, the burgers are simple to make and baked rather than fried, with a whole bunch of tangy, sharp cheddar cheese baked right inside.


black bean sweet potato burgers

If you're cutting back on carbs, serve these black bean sweet potato burgers without the bun or atop a bed of greens -- just don't forget to add a little spicy sauce or dressing (I'm partial to serving them with my idiot-proof Siracha mayonnaise, as pictured above).

Are you a veggie burger fan? Or do you have other favorite ways of incorporating meatless meals into your healthy eating routine? Leave a comment: The Ninj wants to know.

black bean sweet potato burgers

Black Bean Sweet Potato Burgers

adapted from The Cabot Creamery Cookbook

Ingredients:
1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup sliced green onion
1 cup mashed sweet potato (about 1 large potato)
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (I use Cabot Seriously Sharp)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

In a food processor, combine the first 9 ingredients (beans through garlic) and pulse a few times until the mixture is well combined (don't over process!). Scrape the mixture into a bowl and add the green onion, sweet potato and cheese. Mix well (easiest to do this with your hands), adding more breadcrumbs if the mixture is too sticky, then shape into 6-8 patties.

Place the patties on a baking sheet coated with non-stick spray and bake for about 10-15 minutes, flipping the burgers halfway through, until the cheese is all melted and the burgers are fully heated. Serve on whole wheat buns with lettuce, tomato and your favorite sauces or toppings.


www.yankeekitchenninja.com
-- print recipe --

19 comments:

  1. First off, BOOYAH! We love veggie burgers. Anything black beans and sweet potato has to be damn tasty! I'm looking forward to Lorraine making up a batch of these.

    Any tips on how to make the patties stay formed ?

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    1. I love how you are looking forward to *Lorraine* making them. :-) The great thing about these guys is that there is no trick to keeping them formed -- they stay whole and don't fall apart, no tricks required (the melted cheese helps bind them)!! Let me know how you enjoy them, Jeff.

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    2. Cook, freeze, re-heat. Rinse, lather and repeat ! :-) I'll report back. Thanks Ninja

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  2. I definitely want to try this out.

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  3. I do make more meatless meals than I used to. These look like something we would enjoy trying.

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  4. While I do not follow the meatless Monday idea (medically need animal protein with every meal), I have plenty of vegetarian and vegan friends that I am ALWAYS needed great recipes for! This looks wonderful though, I'd eat too.

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    1. Feel free to share it with your friends, Michelle!

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  5. Michelle, you can always throw some bacon on the top of these!!!

    I think I'll give these a try. My husband loves burgers, and I'm not such a big fan. I'm thinking I'll make a batch and put them in the freezer, so next time he wants to make burgers I can pull one out. Yum!!

    And BTW, I have a small one who won't eat cheese. How nuts is THAT? He can't possibly be related to me, must have been a mix-up at the hospital.

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    1. These freeze really well, so that's a great plan. (And I do NOT understand not eating cheese!!!)

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  6. Although Asheley and I both are fans of meat, we love a good veggie burger. Never got a chance to try one with sweet potato in them... these sound SO good. You wouldn't mind if I put a slice of bacon on there now, would you?! Hahaha... does bacon really count as meat? It should be it's own wonderful category of food.

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    1. Yep, I agree that bacon is its own food group, Chris. :-) Go ahead and throw some on top of the burger -- I won't tell.

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  7. Love black bean burgers - made my first ones last year and they were a hit!! Can't wait for grilling season to make them again!

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    1. With these, Yvonne, there's no need to wait until its warm enough to grill outside, as they are baked right in the oven -- enjoy!

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  8. QUESTION: Mine the last few times have been getting really crispy on the top and bottom when I flip them but the middle isn't cooking. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

    Thanks

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    1. It sounds like your oven may run hotter than mine and/or you keep your racks closer to the heating element. Try lowering the temperature to 400 and see if that works (which is fine because there's really nothing to "cook" in this burger, you're really just making it hot and melting the cheese). Good luck!

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