I'm both excited and a little nervous to be sharing this post because I've never actually created my own recipe...let alone share it in a public forum - but I guess there's a first time for everything!
In our home we enjoy homemade burgers and fries at least twice a month, but most often I use ground turkey or vegetarian ingredients. Portobello mushroom burgers are one of my fav vegetarian options but definitely not a meal my kiddies love. Their favourite (and considered a treat) is when mommy makes her homemade ground beef burgers. It's only been in the last couple years I started venturing into the world of creating my own, but in that time I've created many delicious meals following all kinds of recipes. I've also had a few minor cooking mishaps - but I've definitely learned from those experiences and adjusted the recipes accordingly.
Last summer I came across a recipe that called for black beans and avocados, combined with ground beef and an assortment of other ingredients. To be honest, I'm not sure why I didn't think of it sooner...black beans and avocados are eaten almost daily in our household and I regularly use both ingredients in my vegetarian burgers. That being said, I was so excited to try incorporating the ground beef. The first time we had them I was anticipating greatness, but unfortunately most of the burgers fell apart on the barbeque - complete fail. I didn't give up though...the next time we made them, we tried baking them in the oven and the result was almost perfection! Over the next several months I continued to tweak the recipe, always trying something a little different, but never compromising on taste! They soon became a family favourite, even our friends who had the opportunity to try them agreed they were seriously amazing burgers.
So here it goes...my most current recipe
Ingredients
(this recipe will yield 12-14 burgers - I like to freeze some)
Approximately 2 pounds of extra lean ground beef (my favourite brand is Beretta - https://berettafarms.com/)
2 ripe medium size avocados
1 small can of black beans rinsed and drained (dry beans can be used if prepared ahead of time)
2 large size eggs
3 garlic cloves minced
1 tbsp.. of chilli powder
1 tsp. of ground cumin
1/3 cup of your favourite bbq sauce
1 tbsp. of Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. of chia seeds (ground or whole)
1 1/2 cups of bread crumbs
1/2 cup of dried oatmeal
Salt and pepper to taste
Extra toppings
(this section can cater to your own family...these are some of the toppings we enjoy)
Sliced tomatoes
Sliced pickles
Fried onions or mushrooms
Finely chopped lettuce
Hot peppers
Cheese Slices (we like Havarti)
Homemade guacamole
Ketchup, mustard, relish
Vegenaise (it honestly taste better than mayo!)
Directions
Be sure to rinse and drain your beans if you are using cooked ones from a can. Then in a large bowl mash the avocados and beans until they reach a fairly smooth consistency. I don't mind the chunks in my burgers but if I blend the ingredients well my kids are more likely to enjoy them (my daughter always insists on picking out anything green!).
Crack the eggs and break up the yolk, then pour them in. At this point I simply add all the ingredients into the bowl at once. I throw in the bread crumbs and oatmeal last because sometimes I adjust the amounts depending on the consistency of the mixture. Feel free to add more oatmeal and less breadcrumbs for a slightly healthier alternative. The only thing I find when I use more oatmeal, is that it tends to dry out the burgers a little.
Line 1-2 cookie trays with parchment paper (most likely 2). Set the oven temp to 400 F (200 C). Now be prepared to get a little messy. At this point I dig my hands in and blend all the ingredients together. Once the mixture is at an even consistency you can begin to make your patties. In order to ensure mine are all the same size I use an antique burger patty maker that my grandfather gave me but these days you can buy the more modern ones at any kitchen store (or try the lid of a peanut butter container). I usually make them about 4 inches wide and about 3/4 of an inch thick (they will shrink). If you find the mixture too sticky and difficult to work with, just add a little more oatmeal or breadcrumbs. Transfer the patties directly to the prepared trays - leaving at least a 1 inch diameter around each burger (It makes it easier to flip them).
Place the prepared patties in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping them half way through. They are more delicate than store bought burgers so be careful when flipping them. My hubby always checks the burgers to make sure they are ready by cutting into one of them. If you are adding cheese, add the slices right before you take the burgers out (in order to melt the cheese a little) - it actually helps the burgers stick together too!
Serve the burgers immediately on your favourite hamburger buns with all the extra toppings on the side. One of my favourites is homemade guacamole! You can refrigerate the leftover burgers or freeze them for a tasty meal down the road.
Enjoy and have a wonderful week!
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