burgers

Meatless Monday: Pumpkin Black Bean Burgers

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / Leave a comment

I somehow missed most of the pumpkin baking season this year. Between work, traveling and who knows what happened, I barely baked with pumpkin this year. Which means that I still have one large jar of pumpkin puree in my pantry just begging to be used. Seriously, its TALKING to me, guys. Yes, I have a problem.

So, I used half of the giant can to make this amazing pumpkin bread. But I still have some left. Instead of immediately baking with it – I decided to try something not-so-sweet based on what I had in my pantry. I didn’t tell B these had pumpkin in them until after he tried (and enjoyed) them – so that should tell you something. Success? Yes!

pumpkin black bean burgers i crashed the web

Pumpkin Black Bean Burgers

Here’s what you need:

  • 1/2 c canned pumpkin
  • 1/2 c. cooked grain of your choice – e.g. rice, quinoa, freekeh, etc. I used freekeh which has a similar texture to rice but more whole grain, protein and fiber
  • 1 15-oz can black beans, rinsed and drained (about 1 1/2 c. black beans)
  • 1 green onion, diced
  • 1 diced carrot
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon ground flax seed
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 Tablespoon cumin

Here’s what you do:

  1. Saute the diced carrot and green onion in olive oil until softened.
  2. Divide the rinsed and drained canned beans in half. Mash half of them with a fork – not so they become a paste but enough so that they become mushy.
  3. Put it all together! Mix together pumpkin, cooked freekeh (or quinoa or rice), whole beans and mushy beans, cooked veggies and flax seed. Combine until everything is evenly distributed.
  4. Add spices (cumin, garlic powder and chili powder) and continue to mix well.
  5. Create 4-5 patties, about 1/3 – 1/2 cup in size and place in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour. This will help the patties harden somewhat so they keep their shape while cooking.
  6. When hardened, cook the patties! I put them on a pan sprayed with Pam and cooked on medium until each side was somewhat browned.
  7. Enjoy! I like mine with avocado on top of a salad.

pumpkin black bean burgers i crashed the web

Some questions for you:

  • What’s your favorite way to use pumpkin? Do you have any savory recipes to share? Please? 🙂
  • Do you like veggie burgers?
  • Have you tried freekeh yet? If you’re looking for inspiration, I have a few recipes to share here and here.

Meatless Monday: Quinoa Hummus Patties

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 5 Comments

I may have a hummus problem. The other day I realized I’d eaten hummus, as part of a meal, 4 days in a row.  I know there are worse things to claim, but 4 days in a row? That’s nearly a week. Wonder if I can keep the streak going (I’ve also eaten chocolate about 40 days in a row) …

Anyway, I digress. The other night for dinner I was happy to have enough time to put together something vegetarian-friendly, flavorful and also that would serve as a side dish for B. I’d seem some recipes for hummus/quinoa tabbouleh and quinoa burgers and decided to combine both. They are somewhat crumbly but mine held together pretty well and were pretty flavorful without too many spices.

Warning – I took these pictures with my phone, per usual. They came out pretty gnarly (yes, worse than some of the other food pics I take) but the recipe was so delicious I had to post it. B asked I could make these again so I declare that a success 🙂

QUINOA HUMMUS PATTIES i crashed the web

Here’s what you need:

  • 1 c quinoa (cooked)
  • ½ c hummus
  • ½ c finely diced red pepper
  • 3 green onions, finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 TBS flaxseed
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1-2 TBS olive oil

Here’s what you do:

  1. Combine quinoa, hummus, red pepper, garlic and green onions in a bowl. Mix well.
  2. Add in flaxseed to help bind the mixture. Add in crushed red pepper flakes (optional if you like heat).
  3. Form mixture into four to five even sized patties and place on a well-greased plate. Store in refrigerator for 30 minutes to one hour. (I put it in the freezer for about 20 minutes) This will help the patties harden.
  4. Heat a pan with olive oil over medium to medium-high heat and add olive oil once heated. Carefully add patties to pan and brown each side for about 4-6 minutes. Be careful when flipping – patties are crumbly and you may need to reshape them if they start to come apart.
  5. Enjoy!
  6. Serving suggestion: I had 2 as a main meal and served with spinach, roasted red pepper, more hummus, tomato, and hot sauce. They’d also be delicious with a garlic yogurt sauce. B had his as a side dish to some chicken with Greek spices. I’ll be doubling the recipe next time!
I swear it tastes better than it looks

I swear it tastes better than it looks

Some questions for you:

  • Are you on any food-eating streaks?
  • Are you a hummus fan? Yes! I also really love baba ghanoush, its smoky eggplant cousin. 
  • Do you make your own hummus? Actually, most of the time I find it easier and just as tasty to just buy it. If you find a brand you like – stick to it! The hummus from the recipe above was from a stand at the West Side Market and it was delicious.
  • Favorite veggie burger recipe? Come on, I’m looking for a new one!

Tuesday is the new Friday

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / Leave a comment

I don’t know what it is, but it seems like every Tuesday I have happy hour plans this summer. Not that there’s anything wrong with happy hour on Tuesday (or Wednesday, or Thursday, or Friday), but lately, Tuesdays seem to be rocking. Taco Tuesday? $1 Burgers? Bogo Burgers and trivia? It seems like Tuesday’s where it’s at. Looking for something to do tomorrow night? Here’s a quick roundup of some of the fun things I’ve been up to and hearing about Tuesdays:

Hodge’s: Happy Hour specials (like every other day) PLUS Tuesday is 2 for $40 (1 starter, 2 entrées & bottle of wine)

Zocalo: Taco Tuesday! Stop by for $5 margaritas (all night!) and $1 tacos. They also have a whole specialty taco menu that’s slightly more than $1 but so delicious!

Tacos and Margaritas at Zocalo!

Bar Louie: Tuesday means $1 burgers at Bar Louie! Toppings are extra, but it’s easy to still get a decent burger for under $5. Another plus? You can sub chicken breast or turkey burger for beef with no added charge!

Bob Golic’s: Tuesday is Trivia Night at Bob Golic’s! It’s free to play and other specials include $3 large domestics and buy one get one free burgers. There are two trivia games, starting at 7 (and finished by 9:30), and two winners of the $15 Bob Golic gift card. Guess who won game #2 last week?

Trivia Champs – Half of Team Airplane

What’s your favorite way to spend Tuesday evening in downtown Cleveland?