This is my all time favorite veggie burger, now that I’ve perfected it. I think that veggie burgers are one of those things that you’ll never buy again from a box because they’re quick and taste so much better when you make your own. This is, of course, if you have a food processor. I apologize now if you don’t, because this burger is really good.

As I mentioned in the Black Bean Avocado Cilantro Lime salad post, I cook my own black beans because it is dramatically cheaper to do it that way. It’s not difficult, it’s just that it takes some planning. What I do is soak about 3 cups of dried beans overnight, and boil for an hour and then I put them in individual packages in the freezer and the fridge for later use. 3 cups dried makes 2-3 times as much cooked and it costs about $2 a pound (when dry). You can also very easily use canned beans.

I like to put this over fresh greens because I’m trying to limit my refined carbohydrates (because I get to eat more that way!) but you can also put this on a burger bun. I’ve done this before on a bun with vegan mayo mixed with some chipotle powder and liquid smoke smothered on diced super ripe avocados. This is for when I feel like being bad 🙂

Ingredients

• 1/2 c roasted salted sunflower seeds
• 1 1/2 c or a can of black beans
• 1/2 c mushrooms (Baby bella or plain button mushrooms pre-washed. Don’t waste your time washing mushrooms.)
• 1/3 c diced onion
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/3 c vital wheat gluten (This is what gives it the great consistency and holds everything together. This is not the place to skimp.)
•  1/4 tsp salt or you might be able to skip it if your sunflower seeds are salty enough.
• Small splash of macadamia oil (or canola or olive if that’s what you have)

How to:

1. Put the sunflower seeds in the food processor and try to chop them down for about 60 seconds. Set aside in a bowl.
2. Put mushrooms in the food processor and chop them for a few pulses.
3. Put the sunflower seeds back in the bowl and add everything else to the food processor and pulse a few more times. It should be chunky.
4. Heat a small splash macadamia oil on a frying pan at medium heat.
5. Form into patties and let cook for about 4 minutes on each side so you can get to the middle.
6. Put on your favorite greens with your favorite salad dressing or assemble into a monster sandwich.
7. Bon Appetit!