Sweet Tater Black Bean Burgers

Yields 8 burgers

·       15 oz black beans, drained + rinsed

·       3 cups cubed sweet tater, cooked + skin on [~1.5lbs]

·       ½ cup frozen or fresh corn

·       2/3 cup finely chopped onion [1/2 medium onion]

·       2 large garlic cloves, finely minced

·       ½ cup cooked quinoa

·       6 Tbsp. rolled oats, partially ground

·       2 Tbsp. sunflower seeds

·       ½ tsp. salt

·       Black pepper

·       1 tsp. cumin

·       1 tsp. oregano

·       ¼ tsp. coriander

·       1 tsp. chili powder

·       ¼ tsp. cayenne [optional]

·       1 Tbsp. olive oil

1. Preheat your oven to 375* once you finish cooking the quinoa + potato.
2. Mash half of the beans in a bowl until paste-like.
3. Add in the rest of the beans and give a very light stir/mash to combine.
4. In a large bowl, mash the sweet tater. Each cube should be mashed, but you don’t want it creamy.
5. Stir in the salt, pepper, oregano, coriander, chili powder, cayenne [if using] and olive oil, until combined.
6. Mix in the onion, garlic, corn, black beans, quinoa, sunflower seeds, and ground oats, until just combined.
7. Taste, and adjust seasonings to your liking.
8. Form into balls, between your hands and flatten into 1/2”-3/4” thick patties. This should make 8 medium/large patties.
9. Place on a pan lined with parchment paper [or lightly greased pan] and bake on each side for 15min, flipping once, half-way through.
10. Remove from oven and serve!

*To freeze them – Place in a sealed container for the fridge, or wrap in saran, then foil, then in a bag for the freezer. If reheating a frozen burger, let it thaw completely. Re-heat in a greased pan, over medium heat for ~3-5min per side, until hot throughout.

*To make the ground oats – Pulse your blender on + off, until you have the consistency about half way to flour. Instead of ground oats, feel free to sub – millet flour, oat flour, quinoa flour, whole-wheat flour, etc.

*To pan cook – Heat a pan to medium and lightly grease. Cook on each side for 5-8min, flip + cook another 5-8min until golden brown.

*For the grill – Bake burgers for 15min on one side, flip burgers once and bake another 10min. While baking, preheat your grill slightly above medium [~350-375*] Grease the grates and cook burgers for ~3min per side.