Veggie Burgers, Secret Sauce and Sauteed French Beans, Oh My!

Story behind the recipe

I love veggie burgers- they are nutritious and delicious and a nice change from the regular beef patty- but, unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a restaurant in this tiny town with a good one and the ones at Wallyworld are filled with soy and God knows what else! Luckily, a few Sundays ago I woke up and turned on the television for a little and right there was Guy Fieri making them! It was like a sign from above! So, I found his recipe (which I guess was originally his sisters?), adapted it to my liking, added some of my secret sauce and put it with a side of sauteed french beans for the most delicious dinner! Here are the recipes:

Recipe

Ingredients:

For Veggie Burgers:

4 Tbsp Olive Oil

3 Tbsp diced Red Onion

2 Tbsp diced Black Olives

2 Tbsp diced Red Bell Pepper

1 1/2 tsp diced Jalapeno (or Serrano)

1 1/2 Tbsp diced Garlic

1 Tbsp diced Artichoke Hearts (packaged in water, not marinated)

1/2 cup Black Beans (drained)

1/2 cup Chickpeas (drained)

1/2 cup White Beans (drained)

3/4 cup Rolled Oats

1 Tbsp Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs

1 Tbsp Panko Bread Crumbs (or just use 2 Tbsp of on or the other, italian bread crumbs or panko)

1/2 tsp Hungarian Paprika

1/2 tsp chili powder (if you don't have this you can add just a touch more of every other spice to make up for it, I added cayenne pepper too)

1 tsp Dried Oregano

1/2 tsp Red Chili Flakes

1/2 tsp Ground Cumin

1/2 tsp Celery Salt

1/4 tsp Ground Sage

1 Egg

Hamburger Buns for however many patties you plan to eat, or you can use pita bread!

Lettuce, tomatoes, sliced Artichoke Hearts (for condiments on the burger)

For Secret Sauce:

3 Tbsp Ketchup

3 Tbsp Mayonnaise

1 tsp garlic powder

3 or 4 Grinds of Black Pepper

For Sauteed French Beans:

I package French Beans or Green Beans (I get them packaged at Walmart, because the bin ones are usually nasty)

3 Tbsp Olive Oil

2 tsp Sesame Seed Oil (optional)

1 Tbsp Garlic Powder

1 pinch Kosher Salt

4 grinds of Black Pepper

2 tsp Sesame Seeds

Hardware:

For Veggie Burgers:

Food Processor (don't sweat if you don't have one, you can get buy without it)

1 large bowl

Measuring cups and tablespoon/teaspoon measures

Cutting Board

Knife

1 small bowl

1 Heat Safe Spatula 

1 Saute Pan

Saran Wrap

A 1 cup dry measure

Serving Plates

For Secret Sauce:

1 Small Bowl

1 Spoon

For Sauteed French Beans:

1 Cutting Board

1 Knife

1 Saute pan (I prefer nonstick for these)

1 Heat Safe Spatula

Method:

For Veggie Burgers:

1. Dice all of your fresh veggies and in a Saute pan over medium heat add 2 1/2 Tbsp Olive Oil, add fresh veggies (the first 7 ingredients) and cook for about 5 minutes or until they are translucent and soft. Once veggies are done, transfer them (and the olive oil you cooked them in) to small bowl for cooling.

2. Measure out the three types of beans and add them to the food processor. Pulse for about 30 seconds until some of the beans are mused but you still have some whole beans. Move the beans from the food processor to the large bowl. If you don't have a food processor you can mash the beans with a potato masher, your hands or a fork into the large bowl until you get the same texture.

3. Measure out your spices and add them to the large bowl with the beans, add the cooked veggies (with their cooking oil), add the bread crumbs and the egg. Mix with the spatula to mix egg in and finish mixing with your hands.

4. Place a piece of saran wrap in the dry 1 cup measure, add the mixture on top of one half of the saran wrap and fold over the rest of the saran wrap on top. Press the mixture into a patty shape using the shape of the cup measure. You should get about 4 or 5 patties using this method. Place the individually wrapped patties in the fridge and cool for 30 minutes (unfortunately you need the cooling period so the patties stick together for the cooking process).

 Mixture in saran wrap, ready for pressing!

Pressing into patties!

Finished patties ready for cooling!

5. Once the patties are done cooling, add the rest of the olive oil to the saute pan and heat it over a medium heat. Add the patties and cook for about 3 minutes on each side! 

6. Place the cooked veggie burger on a hamburger bun and garnish with special sauce, lettuce tomato and artichoke hearts, or whatever your heart desires! Enjoy!

For Special Sauce:

*Note I prepare this sauce during the cooling period for the veggie patties.

1. Mix ketchup, mayo, garlic powder and pepper in a small bowl with a spoon, taste and adjust as necessary.

For Sauteed French Beans:

*Note I start cooking these about 3 minutes before the patties if I am using two saute pans. If you only want to use one saute pan or only have one, cook these first before heating up the patties.

1. Cut off the tips of the beans and make sure they are washed.

2. Add olive oil to a saute pan over medium heat, add french beans and cook for about 5 minutes or until the beans are mostly cooked on the inside.

3. Once the beans are mostly cooked add the garlic powder, pepper, salt, sesame oil and sesame seeds to the pan and mix to coat the beans in the mixture. Cook for about 2 or 3 more minutes or until the beans are done and flavors have combined. Pour from the pan onto your plate with the burger and enjoy!

This has fast become one of my favorite dinners! Obviously, the veggie patties are slightly work intensive so I prepare them on the weekends when I have more time and freeze or refrigerate the rest for during the week or the next week since they only take 6 minutes to cook! The french beans and secret sauce are super quick so they can be made anytime: weekend or week. If you are looking for a different side for these patties try my oven roasted potato fries (I'll post the recipe soon!).

Also, my hubby is not really a fan of veggie burgers so when I have these he eats a regular burger and everyone is happy!