Black Bean, Lentil & Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers

Veggie burgers are probably one of my favorite meals to cook.

Any time I can spend under an hour in the kitchen and get at least 5 meals from what I made, I am elated.

Not only does this recipe turn out a lot of product but they are tasty, filling, and packed with healthy protein. That’s my kind of meal.

 

Black Bean, Lentil & Sweet Potato Burgers

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Adapted from Veggie and the Beast

• 2 cans black beans (15 ounces each), drained and rinsed
• 1 cup beluga lentils, soaked overnight and rinsed
• 1/2 cup quinoa, soaked overnight and rinsed
• 1/2 oat flour
• 1 egg (or mix 1/2 cup warm water 3 tablespoons ground flax for vegan version)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1 cooked sweet potato (small, approximately 3/4 cup)
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 teaspoon Sriracha
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Cilantro-Lime Yogurt Sauce

• 6 ounces plain Greek yogurt
• 4 tablespoons lime juice (approximately 2 limes)
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

 

Place 1.5 cups of water in a pot along with the pre-soaked quinoa and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until water has completely absorbed. In a separate pot, bring 1.5 cups water to a boil along with pre-soaked beluga lentils. Reduce heat and allow to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

You might be wondering why I suggest soaking the quinoa and lentils. Many grains and legumes contain phytic acid which reduces the ability of our digestive system to absorb certain minerals from food. Soaking them overnight with water and a small amount of lemon juice or vinegar can help to reduce the amount of phytic acid, making it easier for our body to digest.

For example, you can soak the 1/2 cup quinoa in this recipe by placing it in 2 cups water with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar and allow it to sit overnight in the refrigerator.

Okay, enough silly talk. Let’s get to work!

Place one can of the black beans and half of the lentils in a food processor and pulse until puréed. Along with the puréed beans, place cooked quinoa and the other can of black beans into a large bowl and stir to combine.

Then add the red onion and garlic, bell pepper, and oat flour to the bowl.

Next add the seasonings: cayenne, cumin, salt, and pepper.

Lastly, add in the cooked sweet potato, hot sauce, and one egg. For the sweet potato, I microwaved a small one for about 5 minutes, allowed it to cool, and then scraped the inner portions into the bowl.

Stir everything together until well combined and refrigerate mix for about an hour. Once the mix has chilled, scoop out handfuls of the mixture and shape into 11 separate patties.

I wrapped the extra burgers in parchment paper and placed them in Tupperware before freezing them for a later date.

When you are ready to cook them, preheat the oven to 375°F and bake for 12 minutes on each side. If you decide to freeze them, they will have to be cooked for about 20 minutes on each side. They can also be cooked in a sauté pan on the stove.

To make the yogurt sauce, place cilantro into a food processer and pulse until finely chopped. Add Greek yogurt, lime juice, olive oil and salt and pulse to combine.

Smear a tablespoon of the yogurt sauce on the cooked burger and top with sliced avocado. Then sink your teeth into an incredibly delicious and healthy burger! YUM!

I also tried putting colby jack cheese on the burger and it was just as good!

I am calling it an early night tonight because I am feeling like something that begins with a p and ends with a p. I think I am still feeling the effects of the time change. The whole doing better with exercise thing has not been happening either. Hopefully a good night’s rest will cure me.

Hope you all have a great Hump Day!

 

Do you skip the gym or exercise when you aren’t feeling so hot?