Do I have to refrigerate the cooked beans?

Yes, you'll need to refrigerate the cooked beans, uncovered, for at least 2 hours. Don't skip this step, as this is what helps these burgers stick together and gives them the most incredible texture.

If I like spice, how can I make this bean burger recipe spicier?

Those beans are just waiting to absorb all the good flavors in this simple recipe. The scallions, garlic, onions, jalapeños and spices really add a delicious Southwestern flair. However, you can play with the spices as much as you'd like! To make these burgers spicier, keep the seeds in the jalapeño pepper (be careful, the seeds are really hot!).

How much should I mash the bean mixture?

Watch the mixture carefully when you're pulsing in the food processor. You still want to see some whole beans intact, as this will help hold the burgers together. If you pulse the mixture for too long, you'll be left with a bean paste, which won't fry up well. It'll still taste good, but your bean burgers will be too crumbly to stay in your bun.

How do I ensure these Southwest bean burgers have the perfect browning?

After dropping the bean patties into the pan, cook them undisturbed until the bottoms are browned. This will make them easier to flip and will make these burgers look even more appetizing. If you gave the beans enough time to dry properly in the fridge, your bean burgers should brown up nicely without issue. Feel free to add a little more oil in between batches of burgers to keep them from sticking to the skillet.

Southwest Bean Burgers

Description

These fall-apart-tender bean burgers have a Southwest flair. We love them loaded with homemade classic guacamole on a whole grain bun. If you are gluten-free, find gluten-free buns in the freezer section of your health food store. Or simply serve along side slaw and potato salad.

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 cup dry kidney beans, sorted
1 tablespoon plus 4 teaspoon avocado oil or organic canola oil, divided
4 scallions, chopped, whites and greens divided
3 large cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 jalapeno, minced, seeded if desired
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons chili powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 4.5–ounce can diced green chilies
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup almond meal or almond flour
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice

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Instructions

Soak beans in cold water 8 hours or overnight. Drain, rinse and place in a large saucepan. Cover with a generous amount of cold water and bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook, uncovered until the beans are tender, 40 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes. This will vary depending on the freshness of the beans and length of soaking time. Drain beans and refrigerate, uncovered, until cold and dried out, at least 2 hours.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add scallion whites, garlic, onion and jalapeno and cook, stirring often until starting to brown and soften, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in chili powder and salt and remove from the heat.
Place the beans, green chilies, egg, almond meal, cilantro, lime juice, and the onion mixture in a the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade attachment. Cover and process in quick pulses to form thick coarse paste, about 25 quick pulses. There will still be some whole beans intact. Stir by hand to mix any undistributed ingredients throughout the mixture.
Preheat oven to 325ºF. Lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Heat 2 teaspoons canola in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Drop bean mixture into the hot oil by a scant 2/3 cup to create 3 mounds and cook, undisturbed until the bottoms are browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully flip the burgers and continue cooking, gently pressing down with a spatula to flatten into patties. Adjust the heat as necessary to prevent scorching until the patties are hot all the way through and browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the patties to the sprayed baking sheet and place in the oven to keep warm while the other batch is browning. Wipe out the skillet with a clean towel and return to the heat. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons canola oil and heat. Cook the remaining 3 burgers in the same manner as the first batch, adjusting heat as necessary to prevent scorching.

Notes

Make-Ahead: Wrap the uncooked bean burgers individually and store them in the fridge for up to 4 to 6 days. Just make sure to place the wrapped burgers in a sealable plastic bag or container as well. You could also freeze them for up to 3 months.

Prep Time: 38 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 230
Sugar: 4 g
Sodium: 380 mg
Fat: 11 g
Saturated Fat: 1 g
Carbohydrates: 26 g
Fiber: 7.5 g
Protein: 11 g