I inherited distinct genes from my mom: my dark blonde hair, fair skin, and tendency for food crazes. Yes, we both suffer from food addictions. Some last a week, some last a lifetime (dark chocolate comes to mind…), and some last somewhere in between.
A couple of years ago, Mom discovered MorningStar’s black bean burgers. She ate one for lunch or dinner almost every day, and when I visited and smelled its spicy southwestern aroma wafting out of the kitchen, I teased her about her obsession.
And then she made me try one.
I was hooked. I ate them like regular burgers on buns, inside of my grilled cheese sandwiches, and even plain with a little bit of mustard.
After a while, the addiction faded, but I recently saw a package in the frozen food aisle at the grocery store and decided to try to make my own. I conveniently forgot to buy black beans, so I made do with the white ones in my cupboard. Although not quite the same, I still devoured my rendition just as quickly as the original!
Instead of three small patties, make one large and serve it on a bun with lettuce and mustard for a vegetarian (or vegan!) hamburger. Or serve over greens for a summery salad.
- Dice the tomato, and add it to a bowl. Carefully cut the corn kernels off of the cob, and add to the bowl. Stir in the onion and salt, and let the relish sit for 30 min. (Refrigerate if you’re leaving it longer.)
- In a food processor, add the beans, garlic, salt, and pepper. Whirl until the mixture sticks to the blades. Add the water, a teaspoon at a time, until a mixture forms with the consistency of refried beans.
- Spoon the bean mixture into a bowl, and stir in the oats. Shape into six small patties.
- Lightly coat a large pan with nonstick cooking spray, and cook three patties at a time over medium heat, 3-4 min on each side. Repeat with the remaining patties. Place three burgers on each plate, and top each with 1 tablespoon of the corn relish.
Note: The Sweet Corn Relish recipe makes 2 cups, but you'll only need about 6 tablespoons for the burgers. I eat the leftovers plain (shh!), but they would be delicious over toasted bread as an appetizer as well.
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