The whole world loves a good burger, and there are more veggie options than ever. This recipe uses protein-packed black beans, so you won’t be missing meat!

Cutting down on meat is such an easy and healthy change. I love that I no longer feel the need to rely on meat for meals. I’ve also seen incredible changes and growth in the meat-free market over the past few years, and the variety is amazing!

As someone who’s grown up eating meat (except for 3 years as a teenager), I’ve found that my cooking is way more creative thanks to meat-free recipes, which I love sharing on here. These black bean burgers are another favourite of mine and, as always, they’re super easy!

Black beans are versatile, cheap and delicious. They’re a staple in Mexican cuisine, and I love throwing them into a veggie chilli or using them as the base for an amazing burger. Some people might wonder how good a bean burger can really be, but trust me, these beans are packed with both flavour and a serious nutritional punch.

Here’s what you can get from half a cup of cooked black beans:

• Energy – 114 kilocalories

• Protein – 7.5 grams

• Fat – 0.5 grams

• Carbohydrate – 20 grams

• Fibre – 7.5 grams

• Sugars – 0.25 grams

• Calcium – 20 milligrams

• Iron – 1.8 milligrams

As you can see, black beans are full of protein, fibre and complex carbs. This means they’ll keep you fuller for longer! They bring a meaty denseness to the burger and believe me, you’ll feel like you’ve had a ‘proper’ burger after having one of these.

The best thing about this recipe is that they only take 10 minutes to make. They’re perfect for a mid week dinner and if you’re cooking for one, you’ll have a spare for another time. Meal prep FTW!

Ingredients

Serves 2

• 230g cooked black beans (I use these ones from Sainsburys)

• Half a red onion

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 1 tablespoon breadcrumbs

• 1 table spoon fresh parsley

• Salt and pepper

• Brioche burger buns

• Cheese (I use sharp cheddar)

• Your favourite burger toppings (I like caramelised onion chutney and lettuce)

Recipe

1. Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat.

2. Place all the ingredients into a food processor and blend. You don’t want to blend it into a smooth paste, so pulse it to a course texture you can mould into a burger.

3. Tip the mixture out and form into two even sized burgers.

4. Slice your brioche buns in half and toast under a grill until golden.

5. Fry the burgers for 2-3 minutes on each side until they are crispy and heated through.

6. Assemble your burger and tuck in!

   

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