Vegetarian or Vegan Black Bean Quinoa Burgers

Today for lunch I made vegetarian burgers! I had seen a few different recipes for them online, but each had comments below saying alterations they made because the recipe didn't quite work out, so I took bits and parts from about 3 to make mine, and they turned out great! I have actually made these once before, but in a completely different way so I'll post both methods below for you.


Method 1 is the ideal method in which you will need a food processor, a mixing bowl, a medium sized frying pan, and a pot.


Method 2 is for when you don't have a food processor. Still requires a mixing bowl, medium sized frying pan, and a pot. Also a slight change in ingredients from method 1.


METHOD 1

This recipe makes 6-8 patties depending on how large and how thick you choose to make them.

If you have zero of the spices that I used it will cost you about $16.74 + the price of buns or bread, and any additional condiments.

It took me an hour and a half from start to finish to complete this dish.

The patty is vegan!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup quinoa
1 small onion (I used yellow)
1/4 cup sun dried tomato packaged in oil
1/4 cup black olives
1 15oz can of black beans OR 1.5 cups of cooked black beans
2 cloves garlic
Then either 2 teaspoons of any brand of steak seasoning
OR 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon salt to make your own seasoning
Or any other combo of seasonings you know and love.

Missing from this photo is the sun dried tomatoes

Preparation:

• The onion needs to be finely chopped. After chopping I placed it into a bowl and set aside.
• The two cloves of garlic should be peeled and then chopped up very fine (minced).
• The olives I bought were whole and pitted, but you can buy them already sliced if you like. You will need to finely chop them as well.
• The sun dried tomatoes should also be finely chopped, and then set aside.
• If you are using a 15oz can of black beans drain the liquid from the can and briefly rinse the beans. If you are using 1.5 cups of dried black beans now is the time to have them cooked and ready.

Finely chopped onion

Minced garlic 

Directions:

1. In the pot combine the quinoa and 1 1/4 cup of water. Add one shake of salt and bring the water to a boil.
2. Once boiling reduce to medium-low heat and cover. You want to let this simmer until all the liquid is absorbed. This should take about 20 minutes. It is important to try and let all of the water soak into the quinoa or evaporate because the more liquid you have the harder it will be to get your burger to stay together.
3. In the medium sized pan add the onion and sun-dried tomatoes. The oil from the tomatoes should be enough to help cook the onion. Stir often for about 4 minutes or until the onion is soft.
4. Add the garlic, seasoning, 3/4 cup of the black beans, and 1/2 cup of water to the pan containing the onion and tomatoes.
5. Simmer this mixture for 5 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Again it is very important that most of the liquid has evaporated or been soaked up because the more liquid you have the harder it will be to get your burger to stay together.
6. Now is a good time to preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
7. Place the mixture from the pan into a food processor and add 3/4 cup of the cooked quinoa. Then pulse the processor until smooth.
8. Transfer this into a mixing bowl and add the remaining quinoa and black beans. Taste and add more salt and/or pepper to your preference. 
9. Allow this mixture to cool for a few minutes.
10. Using your hands mold the mixture into patties. You can also use circle cookie cutters to get a circular shape. I used about 1/2 cup of the mixture per patty, but it's completely up to you what size you want them to be.
11. Take a baking sheet and spray with pam. Then place your patties onto the sheet and place in the oven for 20-25 minutes.
12. Flip the burgers and bake for another 10 minutes
13. Serve on bread or with buns, and any additional condiments. To make this meal vegan friendly use vegan buns or bread.
14. ENJOY

**NOTE** I have also heard of others adding some oats if your burgers are having a hard time staying together.

For those using quinoa for the first time this is what it will look like when done cooking 

METHOD 2

Method 2 will make the same servings as method 1 and takes the same amount of time to cook, as well as coasting about the same amount of money. I had a huge craving for these but didn't have a food processor or a few of the specific ingredients for method 1 with me at the time so I decided to try it out anyways with other things I had in the cupboard. Works just as well and not a noticeable difference in taste.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup quinoa

1 small onion (I used yellow)

1/4 cup of tomato

1/4 cup black olives

1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil

1/4 cup of black beans

3/4 cup refried beans (mine also had lemon zest)

2 cloves garlic

then either 2 teaspoons of any brand of steak seasoning

OR 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon salt to make your own seasoning

OR any other combo of seasonings you know and love.

Not pictured is the 1/2 tsp vegetable oil

Preparation:

• The onion needs to be finely chopped. After chopping I placed it into a bowl and set aside.
• The two cloves of garlic should be peeled and then chopped up very fine (minced).
• The olives I used were whole and pitted, but you can buy them already sliced if you like. You will need to finely chop them as well.
• I used a regular tomatoe and it took me about 3 slices finely chopped to make the desired 1/4 cup needed for the recipe.
• If you are using black beans from a can measure out 1/4 cup and rinse them along with draining the liquid. If you are using dried black beans now is the time to have them cooked and ready.

Directions:

1. In a pot combine the quinoa and 1 1/4 cup of water. Add one shake of salt and bring the water to a boil.
2. Once boiling reduce to medium-low heat and cover. You want to let this simmer until all the liquid is absorbed. This should take about 20 minutes. It is important to try and let all of the water soak into the quinoa or evaporate because the more liquid you have the harder it will be to get your burger to stay together.
3. In the medium sized pan add the onion and chopped tomatoe along with the vegetable oil. Sitr often for about 4 minutes or until the onion is soft.
4. Add the garlic, seasoning, 3/4 cup refried beans, and 1/4 cup of water to the pan containing the onion and tomatoe.
5. Simmer this mixture for 10-15minutes. 
6. Since the refried beans become more of a liquid upon heating you either need to let the pan cool until the refried beans take back on original consistency or set in the freezer for about 5-10minutes.
7. Now is a good time to preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
8. Transfer the mixture into a mixing bowl and add the ramining quinoa along with the 1/4 cup of black beans. Stir together and add salt and pepper to taste.
9. Allow the mixture to cool for minute or two.
10. Take a baking sheet and spray with pam
11. Using your hands mold the mixture into patties. You can also use circle cookie cutters to get a circular shape. I used about 1/2 cup of the mixture per patty, but it's completely up to you what size you want them to be.
12. Add the patties to the baking sheet and place in the oven for 20-25minutes.
13. Flip the burgers and bake for another 10 minutes.
14. If you allow them to cool for a few minutes they will set and be more likely to stay together.
15. Serve on bread or with buns, and any additional condiments.
16. ENJOY!

Let me know in the comments below how everything works out for you!