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Chilli bean burger in a bun with salad on a wooden board

Chilli Bean Burgers

Deborah
The combination of vegetables, herbs, spices, seasonings and beans results in a deliciously 'meaty' burger!!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Chilling time: 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Course Lunch, Main
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 2 to 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion very finely chopped
  • 0.5 red pepper very finely chopped
  • 1 small carrot finely grated
  • 2 jalapeños very finely chopped (include seeds)
  • 3 tbsp coriander stems finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 1 to 2 tsp chilli paste or hot sauce (such as chipotle)
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 400g tin black, pinto or kidney beans drained and rinsed
  • 50g cooked brown rice (see Tips)
  • 75g breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg

To serve:

  • 1 avocado sliced
  • juice of 1 lime
  • salt
  • cheese slices (optional)
  • 4 burger buns
  • lettuce or salad leaves
  • 4 slices of red onion
  • soured cream (optional)
  • coriander leaves to garnish
  • hot sauce

Instructions
 

  • Heat a tbsp of oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion, red pepper and carrot and cook until the onion is soft and translucent and the vegetables are collapsed down and glossy, but dry (about 3 minutes). Add the jalapeños, coriander stems and garlic and stir for another couple of minutes. Stir in the chilli paste or hot sauce, soy sauce, cinnamon and cumin and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Set aside to cool.
  • Put the beans into a bowl and mash them roughly – you want a mixture of textures. Add the rice, breadcrumbs, egg and the cooled vegetables. Season with more salt and freshly ground black pepper and mix thoroughly.
  • Heat a little more oil in the frying pan, take a dessert spoonful of the mixture and form it into a small patty. Fry briefly on both sides and taste for heat and seasoning. Add more salt, pepper or chilli to the main mixture if necessary. When you are satisfied with the flavour, form the mixture into 4 patties and chill them for at least an hour – this will help the flavour develop.

Cooking and assembly:

  • When you are ready to eat, remove the patties from the fridge. Peel the avocado, remove the stone and slice the flesh. Toss the slices in the lime juice and season with salt.
  • Heat more oil in a frying pan and add the patties. Cook over a medium heat for about 3.5 minutes until a brown crust forms underneath and the patties come away from the pan with ease. Carefully flip the burgers to fry the other side, for another 3.5 minutes. If serving with cheese, add it to the burgers now and put something over the pan to help the cheese melt – a lid partially covering the pan is fine.
  • Lightly toast the burger buns, then layer up the lettuce leaves, onion, avocado slices, burgers, and soured cream, if you like. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with extra hot sauce.

Notes

  • Make ahead – cook the rice the day before, or earlier in the day you’re making the burgers.   Drain and rinse in cold water then put it into an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to add it at step 2.
  • This chilli bean burgers recipe is easily adapted if you’re cooking for less or more people.

 

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Keyword bean burger, Hairy Bikers, Hairy Bikers Everyday Winners, vegan, vegetarian, veggie burger