Recipe Time

I have some requests for my Black Bean burger recipe so here we go. I will include my Whole Wheat Focaccia recipe as well so you have buns for your burgers as well.

The burgers are easy if you have a food processor. This is what you need.

1 can Black Beans (Costco now has S&W's organic black beans for cheap)
1/3 cup onion
1/3 cup carrot
2-3 Cloves Garlic
1/3 cup oats
1/3 cup bread crumbs
Spices ( Later we'll go through different ideas here)

I start by using the grating attachment on my food processor to grate the carrot and the onion. Then I switch to the blade and add the beans (rinsed and drained )and garlic. I process them until they are together and then add the oats and bread crumbs. You also add spices at this time. The trick is to decide what flavors you want.

Regular old burger flavors.

Salt and pepper to taste
Worcestershire sauce to taste. (start with a tsp)
Cumin to taste.

Spicy Burger

Add some hot or chili sauce to the regular burger or some chili powder.

Italian Style

Switch the Worcestershire sauce for balsamic vinegar and switch the cumin for some oregano and some basil to taste. Also add to the processor with the beans 1/4 cup of ready to eat sundried tomatoes (not the ones in oil).

This recipe makes 4 patties.

Focaccia Buns

4 -4 1/2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
1 pkg yeast
1 tsp salt
1 tsp honey or agave nectar
2 cups water between 100 and 110 degrees
2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Add yeast to warm water and honey or agave and allow it to bloom for 10 minutes. Add salt and 1 cup of flour to a large bowl. When the yeast has bloomed add it to the flour and salt and stir. Now add the olive oil and any herbs if you want herbed focaccia. stir in and then add 1 cup of flour at a time until the dough barely comes together. This dough should be too sticky to handle by hand. When that level is reached transfer the dough to a bowl that has been oiled with olive oil and then make sure that the entire surface is coated with oil. Cover with a towel and allow to raise about an hour until double in bulk.

It will still be hard to handle when risen. Add a dusting of organic blue corn meal to a large cookie sheet and make 8 equal balls of dough. Set the balls on the cookie sheet and press them into a 3/4 inch flat round. Allow to rise for 1/2 hour. Heat oven to 450 and bake for 15 - 20 minutes.

For more variations add some sundried tomatoes to the dough or some Italian cheese. The possibilities are many. You need to play with your food.

Be very well and more soon....