I feel like my life is at a serious turning point. I'm not sure how, exactly, or when, or why, or even what is turning, but I feel the winds of change blowing through. Sometimes those winds feel melancholy and foreboding, but this time they feel charged and transformational.
Perhaps this is my way of feeling optimistic about what has been a very uncertain time in my life, mostly in relation to my career. I'm in a location which has forced me to think outside the box and look for alternative options to my quasi-career plan: something I'm 100% okay with, but still adjusting to. I didn't have anything set in stone in Colorado, but I had a few ideas kicking around. Now, those ideas seem unobtainable — a feeling that has been hard to come to terms with. That said, I'm realizing this might be for the best.
I'm thinking of new paths which, ultimately, will allow me the flexibility in life to pursue the things I really love — whether that be people, places, or experiences, I'm embracing the idea that I should be able to be where I want to be, with the people I want to be with, and not be financially constrained for doing so.
I'm also scared to death that I'll fail, be ridiculed, go broke, and end up doing something I don't enjoy. While my generation was encouraged to do whatever we wanted, and assured we could succeed in any venture we took on, there seems to persist a stigma in breaking from the beaten path and taking a risk for happiness. I'm hoping I can not only jump the fence, but land on the ground running.
These quinoa black bean burgers have been calling to me for a while — and they did not disappoint! As an easy alternative to hamburgers, these were healthy, tasty, flavorful patties! I added some bread crumbs to make them a bit less sticky, but for those gluten-free followers: I think you could leave them out and still have delicious burgers! I also added some cheese straight into the patty, because we all know I love cheese IN my burgers! I used gouda, but I think almost any cheese would be delicious here. Fontina. Cheddar. SMOKED GOUDA. I served these on my brioche burger buns, made without the egg wash (and in a bit more rustic shape).
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Quinoa Black Bean Burgers
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 burgers 1x
Description
Healthy but not lacking flavor, these burgers make a perfect vegetarian alternative to the typical burger.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of cooked quinoa
- 1 (15-ounce) can of black beans, rinsed and drained
- ⅔ cup grated gouda
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon of turmeric
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup dry bread crumbs (optional)
- salt & pepper
- olive oil
- guacamole
- toasted burger buns
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup thinly sliced green onions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a food processor (or with a fork), pulse the black beans, grated cheese, cumin, turmeric, and garlic until incorporated. Add the mixture to the prepared quinoa and mix by hand. Add in bread crumbs, salt, and pepper to taste.
- With your hands, form the paste into patties (the size of a hamburger) and set on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 24-30 minutes, depending on the thickness, flipping over halfway through.
- While the patties are baking, combine the sour cream and green onions in a small bowl, and prepare your guacamole. When the patties are ready, serve on toasted buns prepared with the sour cream mixture, guacamole, and spinach. I added some mustard to mine, too!
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