Saturday, August 30, 2008

Southwest Brown Rice and Black Bean Burgers

Oh, it's been a busy week. They're all busy weeks, but some are just frenetically busy. Keep reading for one of my new favorite recipes, inspired by a post from Cookie Madness. On Sunday evening, we got a phone call that the Quiet Man's grandpa was in the hospital and wouldn't be around for much longer. We hopped in the car and drove 4 and 1/2 hours, straight to his bedside.
Grandpa is a 90 year old South Dakota farmer and cowboy. I met Grandpa for the first time the summer the Quiet Man and I married when we drove by his farm on our cross country/ honeymoon/ road trip to Nantucket. Since we were visiting in the summer, we thought we could help Grandpa out with his farm chores for a couple days. Grandpa has only one functioning hand, due to an accident about 50ish years ago when he fell down a well in the winter. Well, Quiet Man and I were supposed to help him toss bales of hay into the back of his truck. Grandpa at age 75 was faster and stronger than Quiet Man and I in our young 20s. We were out of breath and useless, and Grandpa kept right on working, and cracking jokes in between. We were ashamed of our college-educated wimpiness, but even more amazed at Grandpas gritty strength. This week, I'm amazed again at Grandpa's gritty strength. And tenacity. And wit. As he lay on his hospital bed, earmarked for death and white as a sheet, he continued to slowly toss out his clever one-liners, all the while quietly assuring us that he'd be home in a couple of days. The nurse took us aside and explained that he would surely be gone in a couple of days. But this is True Grit Grandpa we're dealing with. So sure enough, a few days later, he has amazed doctors and nurses and family and cheated death yet again. Grandpa, please stick around a little longer so you can continue to amaze the next generation, too. This is a great healthy "burger: to have in your arsenal for your frenetically busy weeks, but it's also delicious enough for a family barbecue. It's about as uncowboy as you can get-but I bet even Grandpa Bud would love it. You can use mostly pantry staple, like canned beans or even minute rice. I made these for a family get together last week, and they were a huge hit with vegetarians and meat eaters alike. The vegetarians were having to fend off the supply from the scavaging carnivores. (Party goers have been chomping at the bit for me to get them posted-sorry- and here they are at last.) I like them bunless, with some guacamole, but my dad loved his on a bun, as if it were a real hamburger. Enjoy your weekend! Money Saving Tips: These burgers are cheap to make, no matter what you do. When you cook brown rice, make extra and freeze it in 2 cup portions. You can use any bean you have on hand, but you may want to mash them down if they are large. Use canned jalapenos or green chilies, if you don't have fresh.
Southwest Brown Rice and Black Bean Burgers
Estimated Cost: $2.50 for five patties
2 cups brown rice, cooked
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
scant 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1-3 tablespoons minced jalapeno or green chilies, (canned is fine)
1/4 cup salsa
1 egg white
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup flour (I used whole wheat)
2 tablespoons olive oil
cheese, if desired
Mix rice, beans, chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic, onion, cilantro, chilies, salsa, and egg white in large bowl. Mixture will be very moist. Add flour, using only enough so that you can shape the mixture into patties. Dust the outside of the patties lightly with flour. Heat a medium skillet over medium high heat. Add olive oil and warm. Add patties and cook until nicely browned, about 3-4 minutes per side. Sprinkle with cheese, reduce heat to low and cover with lid to melt cheese. Serve with guacamole, if desired. Coming Tomorrow:
Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns

51 comments:

Eleganza Strings/ The DeLadurantey Family said...

WOW! These looks so good! We are going to have to make these some time!

Tanji said...

Yummo! What a super gritty grandpa story! I just love spunky older folks. You have sooo many family get-togethers. I can only imagine how fun it is to be a member of Prudy's fun, big, and amazing family. Can I be your sister . . . pretty please? What's another one, right?

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy to get my hands on this recipe. It was so delicious. I love how even the meat eaters thought they were eating a regular hamburger.

I hope Grandpa B is able to go home soon. I don't know him, but I feel like I should go visit him.

Prudy said...

Catherine:
Isn't it funny how much we all love the in law grandparents? I loved Grandpa Gute-never met him but loved him, I really love Grandpa and Grandma Brisco, Abuelo and Abuela, Its and Grou, Mavi and Abraham, Linda Grams and Ted, Mamasan....I love um all...
Thanks for loving Grandpa Bud. He is really a one of a kind, true blue loveable cowboy.

chocolatechic said...

These look wonderful.

Clumbsy Cookie said...

Yes I remember seeing similar ones at Anna's. I'm hopping to have rice and bean leftovers so i can give them a try, they look to go not to! Hope grandpa stays arround for a while!

Anonymous said...

Erin, those look beautiful!

The Houston's version is sweet, though. I'd love to hear your opinion on a version made exactly like you did, but with the addition of a tablespoon of chopped beets, 3 tablespoons of barbecue sauce and a tablespoon of molasses brushed on top. Yours have a nice shape to them. We should combine the two recipes and make a "Better Than Houston's" copy cat.

vanillasugarblog said...

Grandpa sounds like a truly remarkable man. You're lucky to have him in your life and know his stories & past.
This recipe here is one that I will be making soon. As I am always in dire need of a good veggie burger recipe since I'm slowly, but surely phasing meats out of ours lives. I'm so glad that veggie recipes have come such a long way; this one you have here looks soooo full of flavor.

Prudy said...

Anna:
I'm on it this week. I would have tried the beets if I would have had some around. The glaze sounded so good but I had an avocado that needed using up and a smidge of leftover salsa, so that's the direction I went.

Anonymous said...

I am SO printing this recipe. I am always looking for creative recipes for brown rice and this looks like a delicious and healthy one. (and cheap!)

So sorry to about your grandpa.

Aunt Spicy said...

It sounds like your grandpa and my grandpa (cattle ranch outside of Vegas) would have gotten along great! I'll keep you all in my prayers!

Aggie said...

Grandpa sounds like a wonderful man. God bless him.

I love Houston's veggie burger, and this reminds me of them. I will surely try this, it looks so delicious!

Esi said...

I love vegetarian burgers!! I gotta try this too :)

Anonymous said...

I got teary eyed reading this post. It is so hard to see someone with so much life in a hospital bed with the possibility of dying. I'm so sorry.

Seems silly to say something about those burgers now, but I have to. They look soooooo good! I love black beans, and the cheese on top? Mmmm!

Unknown said...

These look yummy! :-P

Astra Libris said...

These sound SO delicious! I am so grateful to have just discovered your incredible blog - I am delighted with all your economical recipes! Hooray!

Jenny said...

Mmmm, not these look great! Your grandpa is adorable! Have a great rest of your weekend!

Mary Ann said...

What an inspiring story. Isn't it interesting to be reminded how strong the human spirit is? I love the picture of grandpa. This is the burger I am most excited to make. These look delicious and I love "burgers" that are made out of something besides meat. Yummy. I already know I am going to be pleased with the outcome!

Deb in Hawaii said...

I am glad your grandpa is doing better! These look so good. I was just thinking I need to have some black beans and rice--what a great way to make them. Can't wait for the whole wheat bun recipe tomorrow! ;-)

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

This is a great non meat burger. Glad Grandpa is doing better!

Jaime said...

wow, those look so great!

glad grandpa is doing better :)

Proud Italian Cook said...

I love the spunkyness of "Grandpa" and I want to try making these burgers! They sound so good!

Marie Rayner said...

Ohh, I'm so glad that Gritty Grandpa pulled through! Hopefully he will be home soon and able to enjoy one of these delicious looking burgers!! These look wonderful Erin. I am always on the look out for a good veggie burger and these look like they might fit the bill perfectly!

grace said...

two things that never fail to make me happy are black beans and grandfathers. i love the idea of these burgers and i love that you appreciate the true grit grandpa. :)

Deanna said...

Much love to your Grandpa. I miss my Grandparents sooo much.

These burgers look wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Prudy, my goodness I wish I had known you were going through this. I'll keep Grandpa in my prayers for a full recovery. It seems just like a good ol'boy to defy odds and break out of the hospital.
The burgers look great. I'll have to give them a try.
~Cat

The Blonde Duck said...

What a wonderful tale. Reminds me of my grandfather, who was a rancher as well. And that burger looks pretty tasty too!

The Blonde Duck said...

You were nominated at my blog for Culinary Appreciation Day! Come by to see the results!

Prudy said...

Tanji:
Of course you can, my little petite choux. You can be sister number 9, OK?

Anonymous said...

I made these this afternoon- they were amazing- and I really just improvised with a couple of ingredients because of some of the left overs I had- I used saffron rice instead of brown, and added some finely chopped leftover charred veggies from yesterdays grill out. They were so yummy and filling- i feel like the beans really made it meaty- while everything else defined the taste, which was delish. Thanks again for another winner! I will be making these again! Actually- have you tried freezing them- if they defrosted well, I would make them in bulk and freeze indiviually...

Prudy said...

Natalie:
I can only imagine how tasty these would be with saffron rice. I haven't tried freezing them yet. If you do try it before me, please let me know. I do know that you can make them at least 36 hours in advance. I made them one afternoon thinking they would be for dinner, and then we got invited out to eat. I was worried, but I shouldn't have been. I'm anxious to see how they would do with a freeze. Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know that they worked out well for you.

Natalie Que said...

Wow, you have been busy!! These burgers look really great, I love brown rice and beans and everything else loaded in them. I am trying to be good this week so this healthy burger may just have to be on the menu.

So glad Grampa is hanging around, he sure sounds like a fire-cracker!

Michal said...

prudy, i am drooling and i just finished dinner, so i'm not even remotely hungry. (okay, i actually logged on for your buttermilk brownie recipe because i couldn't let sunday night pass without a sweet chocolate crumb crossing my lips.) i can't wait to try these, since kimball recently gave up being a hamburgertarian and is now a plain old vegetarian.

Ali said...

You can't go wrong with black beans and rice! I have never made a veggie burger, but this looks fabulous!

gigi said...

I LOVE the picture of your Grandpa! If he isn't the cutest. Hope he's holding his own and daily getting better!

The burger looks good too, but again, I don't think this southern man I live with would go for it :( pretty sad huh?

Beth (jamandcream) said...

Everyone of that generation seems to have an incredible inner and outer strength - something I think most of us lack now. I know my Grandad (who died last year aged 95) could show us a thing or two about hard work!!

These burgers look fantastic - have bookmarked these

Emily said...

I LOVE the grandpa story! He sounds awesome. Way to pull through, Grandpa!

I think I might try these burgers...maybe later this week. They sounds so good.

Chef Jeena said...

These burgers look so filling wholesome and healthy. I love bean burgers and yours are brilliant, I love that you use brown rice.

Sara said...

These look absolutely amazing! I love everything in this burger and will try it soon I assure you! There are so many yummy recipes on your blog that I want to try. You are amazing! God bless your cute grandpa!

Mandy said...

I really want to try these, and I'm not into meatless meals!

Liz said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Liz said...

We had these for dinner last night and they were tasty! We like our food spicy, so we added a little more heat to them. Otherwise, they were perfect. Thanks!

Prudy said...

Liz:
So glad you liked them! I like my food super spicey, so I always tone it down when I write the recipe. I bet I'd like it just how you did it.

Gaengy said...

Hi
I am Hot Garlics mom and she told me about your great recipe blog. I tried the Southwest burgers last night and was feeling sneaky as I was preparing dinner. My daughter and husband kept asking what was for dinner, and I did not want to tell them what I was doing. Anyway, they were so so good! I loved them, my daughter loved them and my carnivor husband liked them. Thanks for the great recipe!

Prudy said...

Gaengy:
Welcome and I'm so glad the burgers went over well at your place. The carnivores over here were positively greedy with them. You must be so proud of your little Hot Garlic, not only is she so talented in the kitchen, she's a hilarious writer too.

Gaengy said...

Hey, I was just going to mention that I had one of the burgers left over and then I froze it after cooking and put it in my daughters lunch the next day. She said it was great! Just mentioned it because someone wondered if they freeze! And yes, I am proud of my little Nat! So glad you are buddies!!

Prudy said...

Gaengy:
Ooh, thanks for letting me know. That means I'm making a double batch next time and freezing the leftovers for a quickie meal.

Ice Cream said...

Thank you so much for this recipe. We have so many vegetarian friends that I'm always looking for recipes for them. I will try these and report back. =)

I've missed reading your blog.

RufflesAndFringe said...

We had these for dinner tonight and they were most delicious! Thanks for the recipe.

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