Anyway, not only have I "met" and actually met cool people, but we've been able to share the best of the place we live. This post is a case in point. The amazingly awesome Laura, of the blog Peace by Pastries, is not only a fellow CoMo dweller (I really owe you a cup of coffee or something!), but she is a chef at the lone vegetarian restaurant in town called Main Squeeze. Main Squeeze used to serve this amazing, I'm talking amazing Southwest Black Bean Burger. Brett and I would go there at least once a week just so I could have the burger. Then they stopped serving it. Sadly, they also stopped serving Brett's dish of choice and my "second option", so we haven't even been there in awhile.
But I never forgot about those burgers. When I first "met" Laura, I indicated that I wanted to weasel that recipe out of her somehow, but I didn't have to do that. She provided it herself. Oh. My. Spicy. Black Bean. Goodness. I love you Laura (and I can't believe we have still never met in person). My mouth and heart are very happy campers right now. I have missed these burgers so much, and now not only can I make them at home, but I was able to tweak the recipe based on what we had on hand and our tastes. We also didn't use canned beans or corn, so I had to adjust the ratios just a bit.
We had these for dinner last night, Brett and I liked them so much, we didn't bother to freeze the extra patties, we're having them for lunch!
The local booty legend (aka revealing my sources):
no asterisk = grocery store
+ = local produce from The Root Cellar
++ = The Peace Nook (will denote whether product is local or just from the Nook)
* = farmer's market
** = CSA
*** = Container or Community Garden
**** = the non-profit buying club, Blue Planet or Purcell Mountain Farms
Our Take on L's Black Bean Burgers
2 1/2 cups black beans, cooked ****
1 1/2 cup frozen sweet corn
1 tbsp. canola oil
1 red onion, peeled +
8 cloves of garlic, peeled
3 jalapenos, stems removed *** (frozen from last year)
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour + (local MO flour!)
1/4 cup regular rolled oats
2 tbsp. ground flax seed mixed with 1/4 cup hot water
2 tbsp. lime juice
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. cumin
1 heaping tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. Spanish paprika
1 tbsp. dried cilantro flakes +
2 tbsp sriracha
2 tbsp. shoyu
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour mixed with 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper + (the flour is local)
Preheat oven to 375.
In a food processor, lightly blend beans, corn, and oil. Add the remaining ingredients (except the whole wheat pastry flour/cayenne mixture) and blend well.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Form batter into 1/2-2/3 cup balls and roll in flour mixture.
Press down on the ball to form desired shape and thickness.
Bake for 20 minutes. Flip about half way through the cooking time.
Let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes and serve with your choice of fixins'.
We had our burgers with veganaise, organic ketchup, and baby salad greens. These are so easy to make, and so good. I encourage everyone to check out Laura's blog and make these burgers SOON.
Well, I'm off to enjoy a beautiful Mid-Missouri Saturday. Brett and I now officially have a quarter veggie share CSA with Danjo Farms, and I am going to spend the rest of the day starting seed and doing a little apartment clean-up.
I also got the awesome news this morning that the place making Brett and I's wedding cake also makes vegan cake. Selina, that means you and I are getting our very own vegan chocolate layer. w00t!
'Til next time!
12 comments:
The burgers look and sound great! But spicy...I wonder if leaving out the sriracha and cutting back on the chili powder would make them a little more manageable for my mid-western palate?! I know you have said Brett isn't quite as spice tolerant as you--could he handle them?
That a awesome that they will make you a vegan wedding cake! Everything is really coming together--I am so happy for you :o)
Courtney
Aaggh thank you! Andrew and I also were die-hard lovers of the Main Squeeze black bean burger. I didn't know the cook there has a blog--thanks for introducing that to me as well! And OMG the RECIPE! I've made black bean burgers of my own over the past, but I can't wait to try this one out....I was just thinking about Main Squeeze the other day and how Andrew and I haven't even been there since we've been back in town. :(
rock on chocolate cake!!
those burgers sound marvelous. i'm just sad i'm not there to steal them.
Mmm! I love black bean burgers, but then I'm still drooling over that wrap you made earlier in the week. Would you be interested in honeymooning at my house for a little cooking escapade? I mean, we're cool with the whole newlywed thing if you're up to cooking every once in awhile :)
awwww thanks jennifer!!! i feel like i might cry right now, for reals. yeah, the blogging community is amazing...why in the world have we not met?? dinner, soon, please??
Oh, yum! This burger recipe sounds delicious! And right now, (I promise its true) I have black beans soaking now for cooking up later today as a stock for this week's meals. And this is the first thing I'm making with the batch :-)
I don't have oats, do you think it'll work if I just up the flour accordingly?
i will have to remember that recipe--i have tried making veggie burgers before but they never stick together well. now i have flour, vital wheat gluten, and ground flax seeds as my weapons. any other tricks?
Thanks for this recipe! I haven't had good luck with the flax seed + water thing in burgers, but I'm going to try again. Have a good weekend!
Its definitely getting to be burger season... those look scrumtious, especially the way you put them together!
how cool that you get a layer of vegan cake to enjoy at your wedding, Jennifer! mmmmmmmmmm! those burgers sounds AMAZING! something dan & i would love, love, LOVE!!!!!! already printing out the recipe - thank you so much! isn't it awesome how blogging brings you in to this really awesome community of gloriousness! i just love it, too!
These sound absolutely wonderful!
Courtney - They actually weren't too spicy, but if you want to make sure they are mild, I would use a milder chili sauce in place of the sriracha. You could also reduce the jalapenos to just one and I think you would be just fine. Brett was able to handle them just fine, he really liked these!
I thought so too. I really don't care for cake too much, but now I know that Selina will be able to eat the cake!
Thank you, we are getting very excited.
Callina - Don't thank me, thank Laura! I just made these a little more to Brett and I's tastes.
I know, I haven't bee to Main Squeeze in a long time. Brett recently went there for a smoothie.
Selina - I know!
Well, you can make up a big 'ol batch and freeze the extras, then you can have them whenever you want.
Heather - You really drive a hard bargain! It could be like a destination honeymoon!
Laura - THANK YOU SO MUCH LAURA! The blogging community IS amazing and it is a shame, we live in the same city! Yes, I think dinner sounds great. Drop me an email and we will work out some details.
Living in a Local Zone - Don't you love cooking up a large batch of beans and then having them ready to go for the week ahead? It makes meal planning so convenient.
I think you could use more flour, or bread crumbs - that might be better if you have them.
Veggie Vixen - I think the biggest trick to these burgers is the baking and the rest time. In the end, I really think it is the ret time.
Lisa - I really think the resting time is what helps hold these burgers together. I didn't have any problems at all.
T - I am excited about burger season myself!
They were tasty!
Jessy - I thought so, and it is chocolate, so how can you go wrong there?
I bet you guys would really love these burgers, they are fantastic!
I think so, I am so happy I started this blog, I have learned so much and have met some really great people.
Erin - Thank you!
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