Houston's Black Bean Burgers (Copycat Recipe)
Valentina P
Homemade veggie burgers that are hearty, flavorful, and meaty (without the meat)! Made with black beans, brown rice, beets, and smoky seasonings. Inspired by Houston Restaurant's iconic veggie burger.
How To MakeDiet Type: Plant-based
Shopping List
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For the Burgers
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 1/4 cups cooked brown rice
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1 small cooked beet, chopped (Note 1)
- 1/4 cup oat flour
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley (optional)
- 4 prunes, finely chopped
- 1/2 chipotle pepper packed in adobo sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon EACH cumin, paprika, and salt (Note 2)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander For the Glaze
- 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon molasses Optional Fixings
- 4 butter-toasted burger buns
- finely shredded lettuce, tomato, monterey jack cheese, pickles, and/or yellow mustard
Instructions
- Step 1: Stir together the glaze ingredients and set it aside.
- Step 2: Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped garlic and onion and cook for 5 minutes, or until softened. Add the cumin, paprika, salt, and coriander to the onions. Continue cooking for another 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
- Step 3: Place the onion mixture in a food processor along with the chipotle pepper. Pulse everything until a chunky mixture is formed. Stir in the chopped beets and drained beans. Pulse a few times until the beans begin to break down, but do not lose all their shape.
- Step 4: Use a spatula to stir in the oat flour, cooked rice, chopped prunes, and 2.5 tablespoons of the prepared glaze.
- Step 5: Refrigerate the burger mix for at least 30 minutes up to overnight to firm everything up. Once ready to cook, shape the mixture into 1 patties.
- Step 6: Heat a large, lightly oiled skillet over medium heat. Add the patties and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on one side. Flip with a spatula and baste with the remaining glaze. Cook an additional 3 to 4 minutes on the other side. Add the optional cheese slices during the last minute and cover the pan with a lid until melted.
- Serve: Transfer the patties onto plates and quickly toast the optional burger buns in the frying pan with a smear of butter or plant-based butter. Once golden and lightly crisp, place each patty on a bun and stack with your favorite fixings. Enjoy.
Recipe Notes
Note 1: For the best flavor and most vibrant color, roast a fresh beet instead of using pre-cooked beets. To roast a beet, trim off the stalk and peel the skin. Slice the peeled in half and wrap each half in aluminum foil, like a ball. Place the beet on a foil-lined baking sheet and roast at 410 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until fork tender. Remove the beet from the foil and let cool up to several days in advance. Note 2: For additional smoky flavor, use a smoked salt and try sprinkling the outside of the formed patties with an extra pinch of smoked salt. Note 3: Keep in mind that this is not the exact Houston's Restaurant secret recipe. But nonetheless, this recipe comes pretty close to those flavors.
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