Bean Burgers

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I'm not a gambler, and have very low expectations when it comes to winning contests or giveaways. For years I'd enter and have nothing to show for my efforts, but it seems my luck has changed. Last week I received a package containing the Real Food Diet Cookbook by Dr. Josh Axe, some Equal Exchange Fair Traded coffee and vegan Snapdragon cookies made by Liz Lovely. The gifts were part of a giveaway sponsored by The Foodie Blogroll which is administered by Jenn Campus, its creator. I was thrilled with my windfall. I hope that all of you will take a look at the contests and giveaways that can always be found here. The Foodie Blogroll is also a great place to network and meet fellow bloggers.You won't regret your visit.


Dr.Ash is a wellness physician and radio show host. The real food diet he supports is not a fad or quick weight loss plan. His interest is in real, unprocessed food that will improve overall health. He is a proponent of counting nutrients rather than calories, fats or carbohydrates. His focus is on recipes that use unprocessed food and the book contains a wealth of information for those seeking a better diet and healthier lifestyle.


My regular readers know that my husband is a committed carnivore. He views meatless meals the same way a vampire views holy water or a cross. While this is not a strictly vegetarian cookbook, I wanted to try at least one of the meatless entrees for this post. My theory being, if the Silver Fox would eat it, it had to be good. I decided to go with the recipe for bean burgers. You'll probably have to shop for some of the ingredients needed to make these. Most kitchens don't have coconut oil or gluten free breadcrumbs lying around, but it is important to remember that these are recipes designed for a new way of eating, and that requires an openness to new ingredients. The burgers are very easy to assemble and they are quite good. Next time I make them I'll use less lime juice, but I was generally happy with the recipe. Oh, and yes, the Silver Fox ate his. He slathered it mayonnaise and buried it in a bun, but he ate it without complaint. If you are a proponent of "real" food, you'll like this book a lot. Here's the recipe for the bean burgers.

Bean Burgers...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Dr. Josh Ash and the Real Foods Diet Cookbook

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked garbonzo beans, rinsed and drained if canned
1-1/2 pounds sweet onions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons coconut oil, divided use
1/2 cup gluten free breadcrumbs
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, minced
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, minced
2 tablespoons tahini
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
Black pepper to taste

Directions:
1) Heat 1 tablespoon coconut oil in a large pan and saute onions until they are soft and begin to caramelize. Season with sea salt and pepper to taste. Place caramelized onions in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
2) Place garbanzo beans in a blender or food processor and mix until smooth. Add bean mixture to bowl containing onions.
3) Add all remaining ingredients and combine thoroughly. Form into patties. (I used a third cup measure to make 6 patties.)
4) Heat remaining coconut oil in pan and cook burgers until done, flipping once. (I cooked mine over medium heat, 5 minutes per side.) Serve with avocado slices and sprouts. Yield; 6 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Black Bean Burgers with Mango Salsa - Culinary in the Country
Turkey Bean Burgers - Real Mom Kitchen
Vegan Bean Burgers - Elle's New England Kitchen
Asian-Style Bean Burgers - Finger Licking Food
White Bean Burgers - Rachel Hearts Food
Vegan Mung Bean Burgers - Jeena's Kitchen
Gluten-Free Bean Burgers - Gluten Free Gobsmacked

Green Curry Turkey Burgers with Asian-Style Cucumber Relish - Outdoor Wednesday

Blue River Oregon

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This was intended to be a competition burger but our travel plans assure that, even if chosen, we'll be no where near the Napa Valley when the Build a Better Burger cook-off is held. A person younger than myself might decide to save the recipe for another year, but I've reached an age where that doesn't make a lot of sense, and I'd rather share it with you now than see it sit in limbo for another year. This is really easy to do. While the relish is best made several hours before assembling the burgers, their actual construction takes minutes and uses ingredients that can be found in any large grocery store. While the burgers look all-American , they are really Thai-inspired and capture the hot, sweet, sour and salty tastes that are the hallmark of Thai cooking. I have fudged a bit here and have used a range of measures for the green curry paste that's used to flavor the sauce and add heat to the burgers. Commercially made curry paste tends to be very hot and can kill the taste buds very quickly. If you are not familiar with it, start with the smaller amount and taste carefully as you go along. The goal here is a warming heat, not fire. The burgers can be cooked stovetop or on a grill. They should be turned only once. They are moist burgers and will fall part if you play with them too much. I usually serve these on a brioche-type roll, but any bread with a soft crust can be used. I think you'll like these burgers. Here's the recipe.

Green Curry Turkey Burgers with Asian-Style Cucumber Relish...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1 large English cucumber, cut in 1/4 to 1/2-inch dice
1/4 cup finely minced red onion
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh hot green chilies
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt, divided use
1 cup mayonnaise
1 to 3 teaspoons Thai-style green curry paste
1-1/4 pounds ground turkey meat (I prefer thighs)
4 lightly toasted brioche-style rolls
Garnish: Cilantro sprigs

Directions:
1) Combine vinegar, water, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium sauce pan and cook, stirring occasionally, over moderate heat until sugar dissolves, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
2) Combine cucumbers, onions and chiles in a small bowl. Cover with cooled dressing and chill for several hours.
3) Combine mayonnaise, green curry paste and reserved 1 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Mix well. Remove 1/4 cup of sauce to another small bowl and stir 1/2 cup drained cucumber relish into it.
4) Add relish mixture to ground turkey and mix just until combined. Shape into 4 patties. In a large nonstick skillet set over medium-high heat, cook patties for 4 minutes on each side. Spread reserved mayonnaise mixture on top and bottom of warm rolls. Place a pattie on bottom half of each roll and cover with relish and sprigs of cilantro. Set roll tops in place and serve. Yield: 4 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes;
Salmon Burgers with Chipotle Aioli and Pineapple Salsa - One Perfect Bite
Grilled Pork Burgers Indochine - One Perfect Bite
Chimichurri Turkey Burgers - One Perfect Bite

This is being linked to:
Outdoor Wednesday - A Southern Daydreamer