Burgers!

I. Love. Burgers.

I really like experimenting with different flavor combos of veggie burgers. The possibilities really are endless. When I take the time to make veggie burgers, I freeze a bunch of them, so that I always have a bag of burgers in the freezer. Which I have found to be SO HANDY! I don’t know how I ever lived without a bag of burgers in the freezer before. Need some protein for a quick lunch? Grab a burger! Want to make a salad into a meal? Throw a burger on top! Want to grill with your family but don’t want meat? No problem, you have a bag of burgers in the freezer, remember?! You get the point. :)

There really are TONS of recipes out there. Here's one I've recently made and found to be super flavorful, whether cooked on the grill or inside in a pan on the stove. I found the original recipe on tasteofhome.com and modified it slightly. Here is what I did:

1/2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped finely

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 medium carrot, shredded

2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. ground cumin

4 cups cooked pinto beans (or 2 cans)

2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

2 Tbsp. reduced sodium soy sauce

1 Tbsp. ketchup

1 1/2 cups rolled oats, pulsed in food processor a couple of times

Step 1-In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and sautee for 2 minutes. Then, add garlic and sautee for 1 minute. Next, add carrot and spices and cook for 2-3 minutes or until carrot is tender. Remove from heat and set aside.

Step 2-In a large bowl, mash the beans (I like to use the end of a metal whisk to mash them, some people like a fork or a potato masher). Stir in mustard, soy sauce, ketchup and the carrot mixture. Stir well. Then, add the oats and mix everything well.

Step 3-Shape burgers into patties the size you like. (The original recipe says this makes 8 patties that are 3 1/2 inches).

Step 4-Cook burgers until they’re heated through! To grill them, I like to freeze them first and also spray or brush each side with olive oil to prevent sticking. To cook them on the stovetop, I add a bit of olive oil to the pan, then cook until heated through.