A Super-Easy Black Bean Burger You’ll 😍

Plus, 3 beach reads, a DELISH drink, and a YouTube channel I can’t quit watching

Jul 16, 2024

Summer cooking - it’s all about leaning into the season and staying cool in the process.

I LOVE to plan my meals based on what I’m finding at the farmer’s market. If it’s local, if it’s in season, I’m buying it. Which is why I got a little excited (okay, a LOT excited) when I finally found organic corn on the cob at my local market.

I only buy organic corn. It’s the most heavily GMO crop, so I made a decision long ago that when we eat corn, it’s organic. Which means I can only find corn-on-the-cob a few weeks in the summer. And last week … it’s HERE!!!

What goes better with corn-on-the-cob than burgers! But I haven’t had beef in thirty years. So when I think “burger,” black bean burger instantly comes to mind. I’ve been making this for years.

I’ve tried a lot of recipes, but this one is super easy. It’s the “secret” ingredient that adds a bit of crunch that I love. Plus, you can whip this up any time you have a spare few minutes, stick it in the fridge to chill, and pull it out when you’re ready to make.

I’ve made standard-sized burgers for years, but this year, we’ve been changing things up a bit. My daughter made slider buns this last time, so I made the black bean burger patties even smaller, and I like them even more! You get more of the crunch all the way through the burger, and I just really love the smaller size.

However you make them, large or small, this is one recipe you’re gonna want to keep around all summer long. And into the fall. And the winter. And spring …

Black Bean Burger

Ingredients

1 15-ounce can black beans
2 tablespoons flour
4 scallions, minced
3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
2 garlic cloves
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons sriracha
1 teaspoon coriander
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 ounce tortilla chips, crushed

Directions

Rinse black beans. Place between two towels for 10 minutes to remove moisture.

Place tortilla chips in the food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add black beans and pulse a few times until a rough mixture forms.

In a bowl, mix all other ingredients. Add the black bean mixture and mix until combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour, or up to 24 hours.

Divide into 4 to 8 portions, depending on how large you want your burgers. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Cook until both sides are well browned.

Serve! Get as creative as you desire. We make our own buns, and put on fresh tomatoes, red onion, microgreens, and maybe a little guacamole. Yum!

What To Serve With Your Burgers … This Drink!

I had my meal planned out, and really didn’t have drinks on my mind. Iced tea, rosé wine, and a big pitcher of water are my go-to drinks. But a frosé recipe came through my feed, and I changed course.

What could be better than a fruity, boozy drink on a hot summer day? Frozen watermelon, a little gin, a few splashes of grapefruit juice, and one of my favorite rosés - voila!

The perfect drink while sitting outside on my patio! (You’re gonna love it, no matter what fruit you include.)

Family Friend by Lukas Volger

A Frosé-Adjacent Honeydew & Cucumber Quencher

The things that scream “summer” to me are: The sun being up before 6am Going for swims in an ocean or a lake And sipping through a few glasses of this icy, fruity, more-quenching-than-boozy frozen drink over a hot summer afternoon of a long weekend If you’ve been following me for a while, you may already be familiar with this drink. You don’t really need a…

a year ago · 18 likes · 3 comments · Lukas Volger

And while you’re relaxing, check out these books …

Oh, you should see my reading stack right now. A stack of fiction over here, a stack of nonfiction over there. I have books everywhere!

And I read it all. But I do find in the summer, I lean a little more toward picking up a good beach read. Something I can relax with and really get into. Check these out:

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

I love the way these two women write. I experienced their books for the first time after a writing convention I attended years ago, and have been hooked ever since. What could go wrong when two people have a pretend marriage? You’ll have to read to find out.

Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack

Is it a mystery? Is it a comedy? However you look at it, it’s a fun beach read. I adored the twists and turns, and couldn’t wait to find out “who done it.”

Designing With Dried Flowers by Hannah Rose River Muller

This may not be your typical beach read, but I love photo books with lots of color. Picture this: Drink in hand. Lounge chair. And a gorgeous book to thumb through and dream. Yep, flowers are involved! 💐 I picked up this book a week ago, and can’t put it down! I’m going to need a bigger plot of land for all of my flower dreams … 😉

And now, the YouTube channel I can’t stop looking at …

I have been cooking with Gaz Oakley since he released his first cookbook. (He’s on number three.) But for some reason, I’d overlooked his YouTube channel until recently. Now I’m obsessed. There’s something magical about watching him in his kitchen …

Enjoy July!

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