I'm not gonna lie, I love a big juicy hamburger. Go ahead and top it with bacon while you're at it, and I'll be a happy girl. But carnivorous tendencies aside, because they by no means negate the deliciousness of this veggie burger. So if you're thinking to yourself 'why would I bother making a meat-free burger when I eat meat?' - don't. This burger doesn't deserve such blatant discrimination. In fact, it won't stand for it! It's too good for that.
Top this flavor packed patty with a dollop of (vegan) chipotle/cilantro/lime cream and a few slices of avocado and you are just asking for tasty, tasty trouble.
(Unleash your inner vegan... you know you want to.)
Yamburgers with Chipotle Cilantro Cream and Yam Fries
(Vegan and gluten-free - makes 8-10 patties)
2 large sweet potatoes (about 2 lbs.), cut into 1/2 inch cubes
15 oz. black beans, drained
1 cup sweet corn
1/2 onion, finely chopped
3/4 cup quinoa, cooked
1/2 cup rolled oats (or almonds)
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 TBSP cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. coriander
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4-1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, or cayenne (more or less to taste)
1/4 tsp. cracked black pepper
Oil for pan frying.
For the chipotle/cilantro cream:
2 cups raw cashews, soaked in water (can be replaced with 1.5 cups vegan sour cream or mayonnaise)
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
2 limes, juiced
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, packed
Pinch of salt
For the fries:
2 sweet potatoes
2 TBSP olive oil
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne
a few grinds black pepper
(Note: for those who are anti-sweet potato - blasphemy! - you could always replace them with regular spuds.)
Method:
Cube your potatoes (leaving the skin on) and either oven roast (400f.), steam, or microwave in a large heat-safe bowl with a couple TBSP water until tender - I find the microwave to be a real time saver, and takes about 6-8 minutes. Stop to give them a stir every minute or two, until mashably soft.
Meanwhile, cook your quinoa. A 1/2 cup of dry will make enough for the burgers, but feel free to make extra. Add the quinoa to a small pot over medium heat, and let it toast for a minute or two. Add double the amount of water, bring to a simmer, and cover. Let cook 12-13 minutes, turn off the heat, and let it sit without removing the lid for another 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, meanwhile... Add your oats (or almonds) to the bowl of your food processor and pulse until it looks like very coarse flour. About 30-40 pulses.
In a large bowl, combine about 2/3rds of the beans, and 2/3rds of the sweet potato. Mash with a potato masher until slightly chunky and not quite smooth. Add in the rest of the beans, sweet potato and all of the seasonings. Give it another mash or two, keeping some of the texture.
Add all the other ingredients, and stir to combine.
Heat a skillet over medium-high, and add a drizzle of oil. Form about 1/2 cup of the mixture into a tight ball, then press it between your hands into a patty. Place patties in the hot skillet and cook 4-5 minutes per side. Remove to a plate in the oven to keep warm, and repeat with the rest of the mixture. Add oil and adjust the heat on the pan as needed.
For the chipotle/cilantro cream:
If you're using vegan sour cream or mayo, simply combine all ingredients in your food processor.
If not, drain the cashews and dump them to the food processor. Add the juice of both limes, and blend until smooth. Slowly add 3/4 - 1 cup water, until the cashews are about the consistency of a thick sour cream.
Add the peppers and garlic, blend until smooth, and then add the cilantro. Pulse a few times to combine, and season with a pinch of salt to taste.
For the fries:
Preheat the oven to 400f.
Cut the sweet potatoes into thin, uniformly sized matchsticks. Toss with the oil, then the spices, and spread on an aluminum-foil covered baking sheet. Keep them spaced so they don't steam themselves.
Bake on the lower rack of the oven for 12-15 minutes, then take them out and stir/flip them over.
Return them to the oven, reduce the heat to 350f., and continue to bake for another 12-15 minutes.
Turn off the heat, and crack the oven door open. Let them sit in the heat of the oven to lose some of their steam for another 5-10 minutes before serving.
(Tip: extra chipotle/cilantro cream makes a great dip for the fries!)
You know what I love about these? Besides the taste. And how easy they are to make. And how good for you they are. And... sorry... you know what I love about these? They aren't trying to pretend to be meat! They aren't made of overly processed soy, or "textured vegetable protein" - and they don't taste like a hamburger. They taste like... well, yamburgers! Really, really delicious yamburgers!
I'm pretty sure the only way you could not like these is if you don't like sweet potatoes. Which I can only imagine is like your taste buds being color blind, and they can't see red - you're missing out on a whole world of flavor! But, as I said... they can easily be substituted with regular potatoes for a (less awesome) but still delicious, burger.
Perfect for a meatless monday, or any day of the week!
I'm a big fan of sweet potatoes - as burgers, fries, chips, grilled, skewered, in soup, pies... the list goes on and on. What's your favorite way to use these sweet spuds? Let me know in the comments!
By Will Cook for Friends
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