Made with a base of black beans, brown rice, and sunflower seeds, this protein-packed burger is a healthy and satisfying alternative to store-bought vegan burgers. It’s best cooked on a skillet (rather than a grill), but we kept the spirit of the outdoor dining experience alive by adding smoky-sweet barbecue sauce to the recipe.
Yield: 6 burgers
Prep time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes | Total time: 1 hour
You’ll need: a blender or food processor
1 cup raw unsalted sunflower seeds (no shells)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1½ tablespoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
½ tablespoon olive oil, plus additional for cooking
½ medium yellow onion, finely diced
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1½ cups cooked black beans, drained, rinsed, and patted dry
1 cup cooked brown rice
⅓ cup panko bread crumbs
¼ cup vegan barbecue sauce (store-bought or from the recipe on page 237)
Burger Fixings:
Burger buns
Fresh greens
Sliced tomato
Sliced red onion
Sliced avocado
Vegan mayo or barbecue sauce
1. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Pour the sunflower seeds into the skillet and toast them, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes, until they are golden brown. Allow to cool, and then tip them into a blender or food processor with the chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, and brown sugar. Blend on high to create a coarse powder.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic, and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, until the onion becomes translucent.
3. In a large bowl, mash the black beans using a potato masher or a fork.
4. Add everything else—the cooked rice, sunflower seed mixture, sautéed onion, panko bread crumbs, and barbecue sauce—to the bowl with the mashed beans. Mix until a pliable dough forms. Using your hands, press the dough into about six ¾-inch-thick patties.
5. Coat the skillet with olive oil and set it over medium heat. Add the burger patties and cook for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, until well browned.
6. Serve with your favorite burger fixings.
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