This burger has become my new best friend! Not just because of the fact that it is so darn good, but also because we have been spending a lot of time together lately.
I’ve been wanting to make a veggie burger for a long time now, but I was convinced that it would be really complicated to make and I would have to go through a lot of trial and error over it either being too dry or too wet. Because of that, I put it off for a while, a really long while. This veggie burger has been on my to-do list for a few months now and I can finally cross it off!
To make things less intimidating for myself, I decided I was going to start out really simple with just some sweet potatoes, black beans, and brown rice. I would mix them up and then check the consistency of the mixture and decide how much bread crumbs and/or other binder ingredients I would need. I was trying really hard not to have to use eggs in these so that they could also be vegan.
I roasted the sweet potatoes, cooked the brown rice, and added them into the food processor with the black beans and a few herbs and spices. I gave it a whir, as Ina would say, and to my amazement when I tried to form the mixture into a patty it worked perfectly! It wasn’t crumbly, it wasn’t too soft, and it stuck together in a patty shape perfectly. I guess sometimes less is more!
When I said before that I have been spending a lot of time with these burgers lately, it is because I made them three times in one week. I not only wanted to make sure I was giving you a delicious, fool proof veggie burger recipe, but I also couldn’t get enough of them. And, my husband loved them too, which is always a big plus when it comes to the food I cook on this blog. As you can see below, you will get 6 nice sized burgers out of this recipe. Not all my burgers were equal sizes, but you can easily make 6 that are all equal sizes and they will be the perfect size to fit on a bun. I just wanted to make a few huge ones and a few tiny ones!
I have experimented in all different ways with these burgers and each time they are equally amazing, if not better than the first time. I have added cheese to the mixture, I have grilled them (Yes, these veggie burgers are grill-able!), I have crumbled them up and added them to taco salad, and I have also eaten them raw, without heating them at all, and you can do that too because they don’t have any egg in them. Feel free to put your own spin on them if you would like, this version that I am sharing with you today was my absolute favorite and the smoked paprika really took them to another level, as did the curry cilantro mayo!
Smokey Sweet Potato, Black Bean & Brown Rice Veggie Burgers with Curry Cilantro Mayo {gf+v}
- Yield: 6 1x
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz can of black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 3 cups roasted sweet potatoes, see recipe below
- 2 tablespoons chopped red onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- Olive oil, for cooking
- 6 hamburger buns, gluten free or regular
- Burger toppings of your choice: lettuce, tomato, cheese, onion, etc…
- Jalapeno, to taste. I used pickled jalapenos
Roasted Sweet Potatoes:
- 3 cups diced sweet potatoes
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Curry Cilantro Mayo:
- 1 cup veganaise or mayonnaise
- 1 and 1/4 teaspoons curry powder
- 2 – 3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro leaves
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 pinch of salt
Instructions
- Make the mayo: add all of the mayo ingredients to a medium sized bowl and stir until combined. Set aside.
- Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees F. On a large sheet pan, place the diced sweet potatoes, olive oil, and all the spices. Toss until sweet potatoes are coated and place into the pre-heated oven. Roast for about 25 minutes, flipping once, or until sweet potatoes are fork tender. Let cool for a few minutes.
- Place all of the veggie burger ingredients into a food processor and process for about 3 – 5 seconds until everything is mixed together but still has some texture to it. Form patties (you should get about 6 of them depending on the size you make) and place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Chill in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes.*
- Heat a large pan over medium heat and coat the bottom with a thin layer of olive oil. Place burgers in the hot pan and cook for about 10 minutes, flipping once, until burgers are heated through.
- If grilling the burgers, grill over medium heat and rub a little bit of olive oil on the grill to ensure that the burgers don’t stick.
- Top veggie burgers with curry cilantro mayo and enjoy on a bun with toppings of your choice!
Notes
*This step is especially important if you are grilling the burgers, you want them to be as firm as possible before you put them on the grill.
- Category: Entree, Sandwich, Gluten Free, Vegan
I have made a lot of veggie burgers and I have to say these are the best I’ve ever had hands down!!! Even my husband, who is not vegan, said I could go vegan eating these burgers. Thanks so much for the recipe, I will be making them often and sharing.
Hi Cynthia! Thank you so much for commenting! You just made my day š I’m so glad you and your husband loved them! My husband is a huge meat eater and he loved these too! I’m currently working on a very similar roasted beet burger that I hope to share soon!
Hey Isadora… this is such a gorgeous looking burger…. so delicious.. the curried cilantro mayo is just amazing… Too good.. will definitely give it a try… š
Hi Arpita! Thank you so much! You will love the curried cilantro mayo! I hope you love these if you try them š
Okay, I have SO got to hop on the veggie burger bandwagon. Izzy, these burgers look totally amazing! I love anything sweet potato so these are right up my alley! And that cilantro mayo? Um, YUM! Hand me a spoon! These would be so perfect for the 4th! š Pinned.
There is tons of room on the veggie burger bandwagon and you must get on! I do eat meat burgers also, but there is something about veggie burgers that is just so good! And, since you love sweet potatoes you will most def love these! Also, you will want to put this cilantro mayo on all the things! Thanks for pinning š
Oooo I need to try these! Good veggie burger recipes can be hard to come by! I hate it when they are dry or just bland! Love love love that you used smoked paprika – I’m obsessed with it!
Hi Ashley! These ones are neither dry nor bland and I think you would love them!! This is the first time I’ve used smoked paprika and I am completely obsessed with it too now! Don’t be surprised if all my recipes from now on have smoked paprika in them š
Veggie burger is the best especially with sweet potato. Those look awesome! : -)
Thanks Olivia! I agree, they are so delicious with sweet potatoes!
I am looking forward to trying the curry cilantro mayo. It sounds just perfect.
Thanks Kathy! I hope you love it! Warning: you will want to put it on everything!
Izzy! These are perfection! I love sweet potato in anything. At the beginning of the week, I buy pounds of them because a day without some roasted sweet potato for me, is a crappy day! Love all of the flavours going on in here. And they look like they hold together so well, which is always hard to do with a good veggie burger. Totally trying this one, girl!
Oh and smoked paprika and curry mayo. STOP IT. Be still my heart. You are amazing in the kitchen, in case you didn’t already know. I want to stop by for a burger sometime! I will just be the friend who invites herself over, if that’s okay š LOVE these. And your photos are droolworthy. *drool*
PS. Hi Cheeto! What a cutie š
Al!! Thank you so much!! I’m so glad you are excited about these! I agree, I could eat roasted sweet potatoes everyday and I think I need to start that tradition right now! I was so nervous to make veggie burgers because I was scared they would be dry and fall apart, but I really think that roasting the sweet potatoes helped a lot because they are soft on the inside, but kinda crispy on the outside.
I was totally thinking about you when I used the smoked paprika!! Honestly, I had never tried it before but after seeing you use it in your hummus, I was inspired and intrigued by it! Sadly, mine didn’t come in an awesome container like yours did though. And, now I’m going to be putting it in everything, you might just see some smoked paprika popsicles in the next few days, haha! You are always invited to stop by for a burger and some cheeto lovin! I was just thinking how great it would be if we could throw a dinner party together! Someday!
Veggies burgers are the best. I love all your ingredients. That curry cilantro mayo sounds so amazing! I too will make some recipes over and over just to be sure it is a really good recipe. Thankfully, my husband doesn’t mind trying the same things several times. If he says something is really good more than twice during a meal I know I’ve got something good. š
Thank you Cindy! I’ve been making this curry cilantro mayo almost everyday this week and putting it on everything! It is nice when a recipe turns out perfectly the first time, but this one was so good that I couldn’t stop making it! I’m the same way, if the husband gives it his approval I know it is a good dish because he is pretty picky š
I never have veggie burgers, but I love the black bean/rice combo and I loooove anything cilantro. A must-try! š
Hi Medha! You should try these! I bet you would love them! I also love anything and everything with cilantro š
O.K. I have to be honest. I have never eaten a veggie burger before. My doctor recently told me that I have high LDL cholesterol and I do need to make some changes. After seeing your pictures I’m ready to dive into that burger!
You definitely need to try a veggie burger! My meat loving husband loved these burgers and didn’t miss the meat at all! This is a great first veggie burger for you to try! I hope you enjoy it š
Yummm!! I was a vegetarian for years and years and actually prefer veggie burgers to real burgers! Love how simple this is!
Thanks Annie! I do eat real burgers sometimes, but I think I prefer veggie burgers too! They have so much flavor and you can really make them anyway that you want! I love that they are simple too, just a few ingredients and some spices, but they are so good!
I love making all kinds of veggie burgers. My biggest problem is that they often don’t stay together that well… but these look perfectly formed! And the curry cilantro mayo sounds awesome!
Hi Jess! The reason I put making these off for so long was because I was scared it was going to be hard to get a good consistency, but I think the roasted sweet potato really helped hold them together! I want to make veggie burgers all the time now!
These burgers sound amazing! Love the curry mayo- delicious!
Thanks Jess! The curry mayo is addicting! You will want to put it on everything!
I love veggie burgers. The sweet potato black bean combo sounds perfect! I’m glad you got out there and tried them with such great success.
Thanks Bri! I love them too! I’m so glad these worked out well too, I will definitely be making more soon š
Love this curry cilantro mayo!! Crazy good looking burger too!
Thank you so much, Ami! The curry cilantro mayo is totally addicting! I’ve been slathering it on everything!
Love that you made a burger out of sweet potato and black beans, two of my favorite foods. I know the flavors in this are amazing even without trying it first!
Thank you, Katie! They are two of my favorite foods too!! You will really love this veggie burger š
That is one incredible looking burger! I don’t know if I’m more excited about the veggie burger or that curry mayo. Loving all the flavors in this!
Thank you so much, Leah! The curry mayo definitely makes it so much better! I’ve been putting it on everything lately!
Those look awesome! I love veggie burgers, a sweet potato variation sounds amazing. Sweet potatoes are the best š
Thanks! I completely agree, sweet potatoes are the best! Especially when they are in veggie burgers š
Oh these look so delicious! I’m giving these a try when I get a chance. Beautiful pictures too!
Thank you Danielle!! You definitely should give them a try, I was amazed at how easy they were to make! I bet they would go really well with your crispy potato wedges š