The Collegio Pittsburg's student voice since 1916
Ingredients:
2 (15-0unce) cans black beans, dried and rinsed
3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
2 large avocados divided
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 to 3 tablespoons olive or canola oil
Directions:
To begin, arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the beans onto a large baking sheet. Bake the beans about ten to 12 minutes, until the beans are dry and begin splitting in the middle. Once they are out of the oven, set them aside to cool for about five minutes.
Next, place the cooled beans, oats, salt, and pepper into a food processor with the blade attachment or into a blender if you don’t have a food processor.
Process or blend it until the beans and oats are broken down and the mixture begins to come together. Scrape at the sides as needed to make sure no large chunks of food are stuck on the side, and everything is mixed together. This usually takes about 15 to 20 seconds in my blender.
Then, place half of one avocado in a large bowl and mash it together with a fork. This should be about a 1/2 cup of mashed avocado. I usually keep the rest of the avocado aside for topping for my burgers.
Add the bean mixture to the large bowl and fold it to combine until a cohesive mixture forms. Add the cilantro and stir to incorporate it.
Next, shape the mixture into four (2/3 cup) patties or, for larger patties, into 6 (1/2 cup) patties. Let the patties rest for five minutes or place them in the fridge for a few hours.
To cook them, heat two tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the oil is shimmering. Add the patties and cook them until a dark crust forms on the bottom of the patties. This usually three to four minutes. Flip the burgers and cook them on the other side for an additionally three to four minutes until they’re crispy.
If you’re making six smaller burgers, I would recommend working in batches and adding an additional tablespoon of oil to the pan for the second batch.
Finally, mash the rest of the avocado and spread it onto the buns. Add the patties and enjoy the burgers with everything you would normally add!
Commentary:
These burgers are a great alternative to meat burgers for vegetarians and are also good for those of us trying to be a little more budget friendly. The great thing about these burgers is you can add or take away different ingredients according to your taste. I have tried experimenting and adding other veggies like mushrooms, onions, or chopped up bell pepper to the burgers.
These burgers also freeze well- raw or cooked. Simply cover them and out them in the freezer. If you freeze them raw, defrost them in the fridge the night before. Otherwise, the cooked burgers can be reheated in the oven or microwave.