BBQ SWEET POTATO & BLACK BEAN BURGER

Summer is here at last! I’m craving all the summer foods including veggie burgers. I do buy some store-bought ones but I’m super picky about ingredients so sometimes I just prefer to make my own. I love BBQ flavor so I created this burger to use BBQ sauce. It’s smokey and a tad sweet. Yummm! My favorite toppings for these are tomato, onion (would be great sautéed), avocado, bread and butter pickle chips and yellow mustard. They would also be great with coleslaw on them or on the side.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Yields: 6 patties

Ingredients

• 1  small sweet potato, baked whole and cooled
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed or 1 1⁄2 cups  cooked black beans
• 1⁄2 cup  breadcrumbs
• 1⁄2 cup brown rice
• 1⁄4 cup  finely chopped onion
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 1  tablespoon vegan worcestershire sauce
• 1  tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
• 2  tablespoons barbecue sauce (plus a little extra for glazing)
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1  teaspoon  smoked paprika (optional)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  dried chipotle powder (optional)

Directions

1. Scoop the sweet potato flesh out of the skin into a large bowl. Discard the skin. Add black beans to bowl and use a potato masher to mash everything together. Some whole beans are ok.
2. Add remaining ingredients and stir until everything is well combined. Chill mixture in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Don’t skip this! It will help the patties stay together better.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
4. Form mixture into 6 patties and place on a large parchment lined baking sheet. Brush tops with olive oil. Bake for 25 minutes.
5. Remove from oven. Brush tops with BBQ sauce. Flip over and brush other side with BBQ sauce. Return to oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 5-10 minutes without touching them. This will help them to set.
6. Enjoy on a bun with toppings.