black bean cali burger.
this vegetarian burger made with seasoned black beans and topped with chipotle aioli and smashed avocado is both healthy and delicious.
Serves: 2 Cook time: 25 minutes
I posted a black bean burger way long ago that involved a fried egg and a few too many steps. I used to think it was vital to include cooked onion and garlic in the burger, but after some thought (and a fresh start on this site) I decided to rewrite the recipe without breaking out the frying pan. Yep, one sheet pan is all you need here- besides a few mixing bowls and some forks, of course.
So here’s the rewritten burger: super easy, super tasty, and covered in spicy aioli and avocado. I still included the first step of drying out the beans because I still find it important, but feel free to omit it and continue on with regularly drained beans. It won’t hurt the burger much, really.
The reason behind draining and drying the beans, though, is to prevent that so-common soggy texture that black beans fall victim to. Baking them dry first allows the egg to do it’s binding magic and the breadcrumbs to hold it all together without causing a super-wet burger. As I said, it’s not the end of the world if you skip it, but it’s an easy step to incorporate because it only takes a few minutes in the oven. And you can reuse the parchment paper for the patties later.
This burger really hits the spot on these beautiful spring days we’ve been having, and it’s especially great that it is a super healthy, quick meal to make any day of the week. I listed some pairing options below in case you need ideas- enjoy!
black bean burger ingredients
black beans: I use any standard can of black beans for this, and I drain and rinse them using a colander before baking them in the oven. While we are drying the beans out, we aren’t totally drying them to the point of dried beans: they’ll still be soft and malleable, they just won’t be as mushy and wet. So, even if you buy dried beans, you’ll have to hydrate them before cooking. Easiest just to use canned beans! If you are doubling the recipe, simply use a second can.
garlic: I find it important to add a lot of flavor to black bean burgers, so I love a few cloves of fresh garlic. If you prefer, you can use garlic powder instead.
breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs help hold the burger together and firm up the wet texture that the egg creates. I used plain breadcrumbs, but you can opt for seasoned or panko, as well.
egg: Eggs are the binding agents in burgers, and you’ll really want the egg in a bean burger. Beans tend to break apart and the egg will help keep the patties together. I used a standard large egg and incorporated with my hands.
cumin, chili powder, salt: You can change the seasonings up to suit your tastes, but this combination goes really well with the chipotle chilies and avocado. It’s very tex-mex! Other great seasoning options would include seasoning salt, garlic and onion powders, chipotle powder, and paprika.
pepper jack: Pepper jack, for some added zing. I’ve also used and enjoyed monterey jack, the very delicious and non-spicy relative of pepperjack. Any cheese will do!
mayonnaise: We don’t make real aiolis here - our base is a simple mayo base mixed with adobo sauce. Super easy and still so delicious.
chipotles in adobo: These come in little cans located in the international section near the enchilada sauces. The can contains about 6-8 wet chilis nestled into an adobo sauce. Use the sauce first, then dive into the chilis. The chilis breakdown super easily, so just mash them with the back of a spoon while combining into the sauce.
avocado: The cherry on top. This just makes all that spicy flavor complete. I sprinkle just a little bit of red pepper flakes (I actually use crushed maras, if you can find it!) but you can also sprinkle a little bit of salt and a squeeze of lime for a more refreshing, guacamole-like flavor.
black bean cali burger pairing options
I mean, think summer here: anything you serve at a cookout can be a great side dish for this! I also included some drink options, because it’s just not summer without a good margarita.
baked potato chips or sweet potato fries
spinach and red onion salad
fresh-made potato salad
macaroni salad
kale caesar salad
classic lime margarita, or blood orange margarita
prosecco or pinot grigio