Fancy Friday: Black Bean Burgers with Sweet Potato Fries

This recipe is seriously healthy and seriously delicious. Especially since I got some Canola oil spray, it's lightened up even my recipes a bit. I think the most fun and surprising part is the buns for this burger. Check it out, see if you can figure out what they are: 

It's been a while since I've posted a Fancy Friday. The thing about this recipe that makes it "fancy" is just that it has a bunch of steps. I don't think it's particularly tricky, but you might need a bit of time to make it all come together.
original recipe via blogilates.com

Grocery list items:
1 can black beans
1 yellow bell pepper
carrots
dry rolled oats
8 large portabella mushroom caps
2 large sweet potatoes

You're going to start by making the sweet potato fries for your healthy burger and fries. That's why this is a bit lengthy - two recipes in one meal! I like my fries "dirty" so leave the skins on for extra nutrition.

Sweet Potato Fries
2 sweet potatoes
1 tbsp olive oil OR spray with canola oil

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Rinse and scrub sweet potatoes well if you're going to use the skins, otherwise you can peel them. Slice them into french fry shapes - approximately 3-4 inches long, 1/2 inch wide. Toss fries on a baking sheet with oil or spray them with canola oil. I lined the sheet with foil for ease of clean up, but it's optional.
Bake for 10-15 minutes and then flip them and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until they are roasted well. I like mine with some nice blackened caramelized spots. Mine did not turn out super crispy though. Done!

While your sweet potatoes are cooking, you can start prepping your burgers. This makes four large patties. 

Black Bean Burgers 

1 1/2 cups canned black beans, drained and rinsed 

1/2 yellow pepper, diced 

1/3 cup onion, diced 

3/4 cup carrots, minced 

1/3 cup dry rolled oats 

1 tsp cumin 

1 tbsp olive oil 

Canola oil spray

8 portabello mushroom caps, rinsed clean and patted dry

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Put beans, yellow pepper, onion, carrots, oats and cumin in a food processor.

Pulse until combined, but still chunky. Using your hands, form them into a patty shape. You should get 4 large patties.

At the same time (or when your sweet potato fries are done), spray your mushrooms with canola oil, and bake in the oven for about 10 min, 5 min a side until they are cooked through.

Now, while your mushrooms are cooking, you can cook your black bean patties. Go gently with them, as they are a bit wet and may fall apart a little bit.
In a large pan, heat the olive oil and spread it evenly around (or you could spray the pan). Cook your patties well, until they are browned and fragrant, about 5-10 minutes a side.

Now all your components are ready! Assemble your burgers carefully, with one patty between two mushrooms as a your "bun" and a nice heap of sweet potato fries on the side. Serve with cheese, ketchup, mustard, sriracha, or any other condiments you like. 

Final note - I think these are "fork and knife" burgers, because the mushrooms and the patties together are rather difficult to pick up. What do you think? 

Black Bean Burgers with Sweet Potato Fries 
Sweet Potato Fries
2 sweet potatoes
1 tbsp olive oil OR spray with canola oil
Directions: 
1. Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Rinse and scrub sweet potatoes well if you're going to use the skins, otherwise you can peel them. 3. Slice them into french fry shapes - approximately 3-4 inches long, 1/2 inch wide.
4. Toss fries on a foil-lined baking sheet with oil or spray them with canola oil.
5. Bake for 10-15 minutes and then flip them and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until they are roasted well.

Black Bean Burgers 

1 1/2 cups canned black beans, drained and rinsed 

1/2 yellow pepper, diced 

1/3 cup onion, diced 

3/4 cup carrots, minced 

1/3 cup dry rolled oats 

1 tsp cumin 

1 tbsp olive oil 

Canola oil spray

8 portabello mushroom caps, rinsed clean and patted dry

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

2. Put beans, yellow pepper, onion, carrots, oats and cumin in a food processor. Pulse until combined, but still chunky.
3. Using your hands, form them into a patty shape. You should get 4 large patties.
4. Spray the mushrooms with canola oil, and bake in the oven for about 10 min, 5 min a side until they are cooked through.
5. While the mushrooms are cooking, make black bean patties. Go gently with them, as they are a bit wet and may fall apart a little bit. In a large pan, heat the olive oil and spread it evenly around.
6. Cook your patties well, until they are browned and fragrant, about 5-10 minutes a side.

Assemble your burgers carefully, with one patty between two mushrooms as a your "bun" and a nice heap of sweet potato fries on the side. Serve with cheese, ketchup, mustard, sriracha, or any other condiments you like.