Update: Congratulations to Heather from North Carolina, the winner of this giveaway! Her favorite topping is “avocado and a roasted poblano pepper.”
Well today’s the day. Cook without a Book: Meatless Meals
For those who think a thick juicy beef burger is the one dish you could never give up, try my bean burger. Over the years I’ve made many grain, bean, and veggie burgers that just weren’t worth the effort. Not these. The only simpler vegetarian burgers you’ll find are the ones in the freezer case.
You can make these burgers with any small bean–white, black, pinto, black-eyed peas–but since I leave some of the beans whole to provide texture, larger ones like canellini and chickpeas are a little too big. Today I’m offering the simplest of the bean burgers in the book, but as with their meaty counterparts, the bean burger flavoring options are endless.
Now for the giveaway. Tell me your favorite burger toppings. (Mine are bold cheese and some form of onion, either raw or caramelized.) We look forward to hearing your responses by tomorrow night–Wednesday, October 26th at 9 PM ET. Winner will be announced on Thursday morning.
Let the burger brilliance begin!
- 2 cans (15. 5-ounces each) black, white, or pinto beans or black-eyed peas, drained, liquid reserved, 1 can left whole, 1 can fork-mashed
- 1 cup dry breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon coarse-grain mustard
- ¼ cup olive or canola oil
- 6 good-quality hamburger buns
- Toppings: green leaf lettuce, lightly salted tomato slices, red onion slices, ketchup
- Mix beans, breadcrumbs, eggs, pepper, garlic in a medium bowl, adding, if necessary, a little bean liquid for mixture to hold together without being wet. Divide into 6 equal portions and flatten into 4-inch patties. Mix mayonnaise and mustard; set side.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over strong medium heat.(Warm buns in a 300-degree oven, about 5 minutes.) Add patties and cook, turning only once, until a crisp brown crust forms on both sides, about 6 minutes total. Top burgers with cheese slices; cover skillet, turn heat to low, and let burgers continue to cook until cheese melts.
- Spread mayonnaise mixture over warm buns and dress burgers with lettuce, tomato, and onion. Serve with ketchup.
BBQ sauce, onion, lettuce, and fried onion!
Cheddar cheese, ketchup, spicy brown mustard, lettuce and tomato.
Congrats on the book, it looks wonderful!
Avocado, tomatoes, and ANY cheese! Mmm, or cilantro pesto. I’m getting hungry!
My favorite toppings are pepper jack cheese, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, and avocado.
Would love to have this book to try other burger options.
I have two favorites…first: crumbled blue cheese, red onions, and bacon. Second is cheddar, freshly sliced tomato with fresh ground pepper, and cooked diced pancetta.
Congrats on your new book…can’t wait to read it!
Caramilzed onions, bacon and avocado!!! YUMMMM!!!! (now off to see if I have some or have to go to store before dinner.)
caramelized onions. the bean burger looks amazing and thanks for the giveaway!
I like all the usual suspects, ketchup lettuce pickle, but every once in a while I throw on a couple of banana peppers!
Salsa and sweet onions!!
Sliced tomato & fresh ground pepper. Sometimes add blue cheese.
A spicy, chipotle mayo. Yum!
Red onions, tomato and lot’s of avocado!
I like various vegetables, always onions, and a combination of BBQ sauce and mayo.
Bleu cheese!
onion, avocado, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, if they are in season
Avocado and a roasted poblano pepper.
These sound so good! I love cheddar and grilled o rpickled onions on my burgers, but just now I remembered a long forgotten favorite from my college days– boursin, sprouts and sunflower seeds. I’ll have to try it soon and see if it holds up!
BBQ sauce, I love the stuff!!
I would love your book. After having had a recent surgery, I can’t tolerate anything that even comes in contact with a meat product. I love going Meatless. My favorite burger toppings are fairly traditional, Dijon mustard, lettuce, pickles, sprouts, and provolone cheese.
Bacon, blue cheese, and a bit of balsamic vinegar.
Blue Cheese or a wonderful aioli! (you asked for my favorites, not the most healthful!) 🙂
Blue Cheese and Bacon!
Avocaco, bacon and red onion!!
Guacamole & cheddar
At my house our burgers are always turkey, so I like to top it off with some granny smith apple slices and brie~yum.
Cheese and tomato
bbq/mayo sauce, any type of cheese (love them all!), caramelized onions and shredded lettuce.
I love mustard,pickles and onion!! That makes the burger for me….
Guacamole & Salsa!
I love fried onions, sharp cheddar and lots of tomatoes.
A big slice of red onion and some yummy strong bleu cheese.
Cheese and avocado.
Happy bookday!!! I can’t wait to get it, I am sure it will be as fabulous of the rest of your library!! As for burger toppings, pepper jack cheese and diced green chilis!
cheese, lettuce, tomato and a pickle slice or two
A seriously sharp cheddar with a Southwest green chili sauce is my all time favorite. But the butter burgers from the now defunct Short Stop Drive-in of Kent, Ohio with simply butter, sour pickles, grilled onions and mustard got me through a lot of exams during my college years.
Onions, sautéed mushrooms and arugula all sounds good. In summer I’d take a tomato from my garden.
Bacon, BBQ sauce, mayo, onion, tomato, and swiss cheese!
Tzatziki, feta, tomato, red onion and arugula. Or, Guacamole, tomato and shredded cheddar. Great. Now I want a burger!
bacon and caramelized onions! thanks for the giveaway 🙂
Definitely definitely PICKLES!! They just add that wow factor that no other topping can. 🙂
I love, love hamburgers so I can eat them almost any way at all. But I absolutely love mine with lots of dill pickles! Thanks for the giveaway!
Love bacon and blue cheese!
I love my burgers on a whole wheat roll with thousand island dressing, lettuce, home grown tomato, slice of red onion, dejon mustard, dill pickles and cheddar cheese ~ YUM! Best of luck with the book, it looks great – can’t wait to pick it up.
I’d have to say yellow mustard, raw yellow onion dice, and dill
hamburger chips. How original is that?? (sometimes I even add
a bit of slaw if I have some sitting around!)
Depends on the mood but mayo, onions (raw or cooked), sautéed mushrooms, a great cheese, then maybe one or all of the following: a little BBQ sauce, guac., lettuce, tomatoes, and/or creole mustard.
Definitely love avocado on a burger
Definitely avocado
Blue cheese (real, not sauce/dressing) and sauteed mushrooms. Divine.
My daughter, Christine’s, favorite….Lots of Boursin Cheese!
Bacon, cheddar cheese, grilled onions with mushrooms and bell peppers