Veggie burgers are one of those things that are nearly criminal to buy because they're so easy to make and there are so many recipes for different versions. I've probably tried hundreds of veggie burger recipes, but I had to try the Spiced Bean Burger from a new cookbook called Bean Cuisine because it's so different from other recipes. It calls for pureed roasted cauliflower. Intriguing!
Spiced Bean Burger
The prep for this veggie burger is a bit more intense than other recipes, but the result is great. The flavor has a unique tang. I topped mine with vegan mayo, but I could probably eat them plain because they taste so good. Avocado would also make a good topping.
The only bad thing is that they were very soft. I attribute that to the high moisture content of the roasted cauliflower and no firming ingredients (many recipes have oats or bread crumbs or some combination to firm up the burger.) You wouldn't be able to put these burgers on an actual grill, but pan frying works.
Spiced Bean Burgers
Makes 6 burgers
Ingredients
1 head of cauliflower, chopped into small florets
3 tbsp olive oil, divided
2 tbsp barbecue spice blend or seasoning
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can butter beans, drained and rinsed
Juice of half a lemon
1 handful of fresh cilantro
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 400F. Place the cauliflower in a roasting pan with half the olive oil (1 1/2 tbsp), the spice blend, and garlic. Mix, then bake for 30 minutes or until tender, turning once or twice.
2. Using a blender or food processor, blend together the butter beans, lemon juice, and half of the roasted cauliflower until fairly smooth. Add the rest of the cauliflower and the cilantro and mix well. Taste and add more lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste.
Roasted cauliflower and butter beans about to be pureed
3. Form the mixture into equal-sized patties. I got 6 patties, but it depends on how big you make them. Scatter the breadcrumbs on a plate and press the burgers into the breadcrumbs so that there is an even coating. Heat a large skillet and add the remainder of the oil (I used as little as I could just to get the golden texture). Fry the burgers on each side until golden and crispy, about 5 minutes total. You could probably also bake them by spraying with cooking spray and baking at 400 for about 15-20 minutes.
