Butternut Black Bean Burgers

First off, these are totally veggie burgers. I was forced to leave the veggie bit out of the title because I suffer from severe AA. Alliteration Addiction: it’s legit, Google it. No wait don’t, I’m totally lying. But I’d never lie about food; these burgers are borderline bitc– oh gosh, maybe I really DO have AA!

Secondly, I totally have spinach on my finger in the above photo and while it’s making me positively twitchy to look at it, I can’t photoshop veggies out of my photos. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.

Lastly, I ate these so fast I’m fairly certain I stopped breathing for the entire duration of this veggie burger. After that first glorious bite it became imperative that I smash that sandwich into my face as fast as possible. I really need to work on my speed eating issues, huh? I’ll tackle it right after I figure out how to nix that pesky AA.

Phew! I feel so much better! Now that my dirty laundry has been aired, let’s eat!

Butternut Black Bean Burgers

• 1 flax egg (1 TBSP ground flax 3 TBSP water) or 1 egg
• 1 cup mashed black beans (refried black beans work too!)
• 1 cup pureed butternut squash
• ⅓ cup diced onion
• ⅓ cup diced celery
• 2 cloves of garlic, smashed and minced
• 1 TBSP olive oil (or butter)
• ¾ tsp salt-free Italian seasoning blend (like mrs. dash)
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp dried parsley (or fresh if you have it!)
• ¼ tsp salt
• ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
• 1.5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant)
• 
  
• the toppings:
• 4 burger buns (I used a bakery poppyseed onion bun - amazing!)
• 4 slices of pepper jack cheese
• romaine lettuce
• fresh baby spinach
• mayo (store-bought or homemade) mixed with sriracha chili sauce
• 
  
• note: Most weekends I'll cube and roast an entire butternut squash and use it for soups, salads, and even these burgers! You can puree roasted butternut squash at home for this recipe or opt for a store bought puree, totally up to you!

1. Whisk together 1 TBSP ground flax with 3 TBSP water and pop it in the fridge to set.
2. Next mash black beans in a large bowl and set aside. Alternatively you can use refried black beans, I've made it both ways! Measure to ensure you have a cup and you're good to go.
3. Add your butternut squash to the beans and set aside.
4. Next saute onion and garlic in olive oil until tender and near-translucent, adding the minced garlic towards the end to prevent burning.
5. Season the veggies with your Italian seasoning blend, salt, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and parsley and stir to coat.
6. Add the freshly sauteed veggies to your beans and squash and stir in your oats.
7. Remove your flax egg from the fridge and add it to the bowl.
8. Stir to fully incorporate and roll mixture into four balls.
9. For optimal burger shape, cup each ball in your hands and squeeze tightly, rotating as you gently, but firmly, press it into a disc.
10. Giggles aside, pop your burgers onto a plate, cover with foil or cling wrap and refrigerate as you prep your buns (or lettuce wraps!) and toppings. This will give them a little while to set. You can even leave them overnight and cook them up the following day. I often make one after 15-30 minutes of chill time and cook up the rest the following day.
11. Ready to eat?
12. Pour a tablespoon or two of oil in a skillet and heat to medium-high, so the burgers sizzle when you add them to the pan!
13. Cook for a few minutes on each side until you're left with a golden crust. and a warm center. Repeat for each burger, or cook two at once if you have a big enough pan! I'd skip crowding all four together just because they're a pain to flip when all up in eachother's business. A tip for perfectly shaped veggie burgers? While sizzling away in the skillet, I use my spatula to gently help form the sides into a perfect disc. Works like a charm!
14. Slather your buns with sriracha mayo, pile them high with lettuce, spinach, pepper jack and top each with a yummy butternut burger. Enjoy!

A certain someone couldn’t keep her paws off them. I won’t point fingers… but she will!

so… how were they!?

In a word? Awesome! Need a few more words than that? They’re flavorful, filling and f– I should stop before the alliteration takes over again! Yikes!

I’ve made these so many times in the past few weeks that my freezer is like a shrine to butternut burgers. I’ve been pacing myself, having a veggie burger every few days so I don’t have a repeat episode of the time I made no less than 5001 Sweet Potato Burgers and Paul held an intervention. To be fair I was eating sweet potato burgers like a madman. It was glorious. I should make more and just alternate between the two until I have a rockin’ beta carotene tan. Or I could be normal and eat a varied diet like a civilized human being. Let’s pretend I’m the latter. We’ll all get gold stars for imagination use on that one.

I’ve rambled oodles, let’s part ways so you can frolic into your kitchen and make these. I’ll whip another up too and we can cheers veggie burgers over the ordeal. Too weird? Nah!

Still hungry?

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