These delicious Bean & Lentil Veggie Burgers are a now on regular rotation at my house. Veggie Burgers can be tricky to get right. The ones you buy in the store are often dry and crumbly or have odd-tasting seasonings. And, be sure to read the labels on the pre-packaged patties.
Many of those have long ingredient lists with lots of artificial stuff that you can’t pronounce. Although I do love tofu, personally I’m not a fan of soy-based imitation ground beef or hot dogs. If I’m not eating meat, why would I pretend I am? But that’s just me.
Beans and Lentils Make Perfect Patties
There are quite a few great ingredients you can use to make a really good veggie burger. Any combo of beans or pulses, grains, veggies, and seasonings can work to together to bake up or fry a delicious patty.
This burger, made with lentils works well for me every time. And when something works, I just stick with it. Because this is a southwestern veggie burger, with chipotle, cilantro, chilli powder and lime juice, the obvious choice would be black beans. And, of course, black beans work well, too. But I use red beans for these bean & lentil veggie burgers because my carnivorous husband likes how much the red bean burger looks like a hamburger. Also, I like that the red beans are a little heartier for a better texture.
About Chipotle in Adobo
Chipotle in adobo sauce is one of my favourite pantry staples. I love the smoky flavour of the chiles, and the adobo sauce they are packed in is a bonus ingredient. I’m only using one chile in this recipe, along with some of the adobo sauce, but if you like more heat, go ahead and up the ante. You can store the unused portion of the can in a covered container in the fridge to use in other recipes. (Like these: Tequila Chicken Chilli, Sweet Potato & Black Bean Soup, Chipotle Chicken Enchiladas, or Butternut Squash Black Bean Chilli)
One of the best parts of this bean & lentil veggie burger is the chipotle mayo topping. Then add some Mango & Avocado Salsa and some red onion, leafy lettuce and avocado slices. Whatever your favourite fixings, though, this veggie burger is a whole lot of yum in a bun.
Bean & Lentil Veggie Burgers
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 portobello mushroom chopped
- 1/2 cup onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp chilli powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 19 oz can red kidney beans drained
- 1 cup cooked green lentils
- 3/4 cup rolled oats not instant
- juice of one lime
- 1 chipotle pepper
- 1 tbsp adobo sauce
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
- 1 large egg beaten
- 6 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp adobo sauce
- 6 buns I used brioche
Instructions
- Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large pan over medium-high heat
- Add mushrooms, onion, and garlic, and saute until onions and mushrooms are softened, about 3 minutes
- Stir in chilli powder and cumin, cooking until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside
- In a food processor, add beans, lentils, rolled oats, egg, lime juice, chipotle pepper, adobo sauce and cilantro
- Pulse in the processor until mixture is combined but still chunky. Stir in the onion mushroom mixture.
- Over medium high, heat a large pan with enough vegetable oil to cover pan
- With your hands, form 6 fairly large patties into balls, flattening between your palms.
- Fry patties until crisp, about 5 minutes per side.
- In a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise and adobo sauce to make chipotle mayo.
- Serve topped with chipotle mayo on buns with fixings, (avocado slices, lettuce, red onion, pickles, and salsa)
I love a good veggie burger. I would choose a hearty veggie burger over a beef burger any day of the week! You can’t go wrong with the smokiness of chilis in adobo – one of my favourite ingredients, too!
Hi Nicole! I love veggie burgers, too. There are so many ways to do them. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
This looks delicious! I love all the southwest flavours in here, especially that chipotle mayo. With Mango salsa, too, that would be incredible.
Hi Natalie! Thank you, these were yummy for sure!
We are aways playing with our homemade veggie patties, trying what pulse works best and adding on, or subtracting, ingredients. Love that you used lentils, red beans and portobello mushrooms. And that smoky flavorful sauce,… well done!!
Thank you Nicoletta. Veggie patties are fun to experiment with, aren’t they? And they’re so underrated.
These look wonderful – you had me at chipotle mayo! I love southwestern flavours and I will definitely be adding these to our weekend menu plan!
Thanks Jessica. We really love southwestern flavours, too.
Ooooohhhh this looks so good! Nicely done! I love a big flavourful veggie burger, and this looks perfect! Chipotle mayo is a nice touch!
Thanks Gabby, they were so good! 🙂
These look delicious! I love a messy burger, and I agree, better when pan fried. Yum!
Hi Alison! Messy burgers are the best, aren’t they? Thanks for stopping by! 🙂