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| You will see later why this is being served on boring wheat bread. |
So most Saturday's between May and October, my wife and I drag the kids kicking and screaming from their beds and we make the long journey to the best farmers market in New Jersey, the Collingswood Farmer's Market. By long journey, I am really only talking about a 5 minute drive. If you do not currently go to a farmers market, I highly recommend you do so as soon as possible. Sure, the produce may be a bit more expensive then what you would buy at a supermarket, but it is totally worth it. You can taste the difference in how fresh the produce is, plus, if you go week in and week out, sometimes, the people working the stands get to know you and may slip you some extras into your order, to reward your faithfulness.You will still have to buy some produce at the grocery store and that is o.k., but why buy lettuce from Chile that was picked two weeks ago, when you could have lettuce form Williamstown that was picked yesterday? Isn't the 20 cent increase worth it to support local farmers who, let's make no bones, are struggling to stay afloat? Get out there and support your local farmers. The links below will take you to some of the local market sites for hours of operation.
Collingswood, NJ
Haddon Twp.
Woodbury, NJ
Medford, NJ
For the Russian contingent that visits the site, here are some in Moscow, Russia
Search markets closest to you
Feel free to throw me some questions about farmer's markets in the comment section. I would be more than happy to help!
Now that I have finished that little diatribe about becoming a local-vore, let's get down to business. When ever making a good meat-less burger, you will almost always find at the heart of the ingredients a bean of some sort. There are a few reasons for this, first, when mashed, beans can be molded and formed into patties much like ground meat. From a practical standpoint, beans are a cooks best friend. Second, legumes in general can take on the flavor of seasonings and other vegetables added to the mix pretty easily, while leaving their own footprint in the finished product. Lastly, beans provide protein like no other plant on earth, so naturally when replacing meat with a vegetable for a hamburger, we look towards something that is going to rival the protein content. The great thing about using beans as opposed to bovine animals as a replacement for the base of the burger is you do not have to use an air gun to slaughter the beans before they go to market. They are also far healthier for you too. Let's dish it up, party people!
Suggested music on Spotify: The Rentals, Seven More Minutes... The former bass player from Weezer started an epic band called The Rentals after leaving Weezer and although not nearly as popular, far greater than anything that Rivers Cuomo publish. Also, the music is always upbeat and fun to dance along to. Good music to get into a rhythm in the kitchen.
Suggested kitchen dance: Whenever I listen to The Rentals, I often end up randomly moving body parts at different times in no particular order. Usually it is a combination of 70's disco, The Tootsie Roll, and The Dip. Yes, The Rentals are THAT GOOD!
Suggested beverage: Burgers always pair well with any liquid that contains the word beer in it. Tonight, however, let's stay away from the barley soda and sip soda from the root. Root beer all the way. Classic Stewart's Root Beer is best.
Kid Alert: During the step of mashing the beans and potato's together, I suggest letting the kids help out with it. It's a lot of fun for them and the more you let them help, the more likely they will eat their dinner without the threat of physical harm from you, the parents.
Ingredients:
2 cans cannellini white beans, drained
1 large sweet potato, baked/peeled/mashed (about 2 cups)
2 tsp maple
1 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
1/4 cup flour
2 tbs. black pepper
2-3 cups Panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup of canola oil
Directions:
1. Bake sweet potato. Peel, place in large mixing bowl.
2. Add drained beans to mixing bowl. Mash beans and potato together.
3. Mash in seasoning, flour and any additional seasoning. Your mixture will be quite soft and moist. But you should be able to form a patty.
4. Heat 1/4 cup canola oil in a pan over high heat.
5. Form a patty from mixture and coat in Panko crumbs. Thick coating. Then drop the patty in the pan. Repeat until the pan is filled. Cook until browned on both sides. If you are looking to cut oil out of your diest you could also bake these. I would say 425 degrees for about 30-40 minutes on a cookie sheet. If baking, use less Panko.
6. Transfer cooked patties to paper towel. Cool for a few minutes.
7. Serve on toasted bun with lotsa toppings or put into a pita pocket.
2. Add drained beans to mixing bowl. Mash beans and potato together.
3. Mash in seasoning, flour and any additional seasoning. Your mixture will be quite soft and moist. But you should be able to form a patty.
4. Heat 1/4 cup canola oil in a pan over high heat.
5. Form a patty from mixture and coat in Panko crumbs. Thick coating. Then drop the patty in the pan. Repeat until the pan is filled. Cook until browned on both sides. If you are looking to cut oil out of your diest you could also bake these. I would say 425 degrees for about 30-40 minutes on a cookie sheet. If baking, use less Panko.
6. Transfer cooked patties to paper towel. Cool for a few minutes.
7. Serve on toasted bun with lotsa toppings or put into a pita pocket.
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| It may look funky at this stage, but bear with me and you will be rewarded with deliciousness |
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| Mashing beans today. 15 years from now, mashing the hearts of men everywhere. |
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| He loved mashing, but the smell of canned beans was really rubbing him the wrong way. |
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| Three phases of cooking. Raw, flipped once, and finished product. |
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| So we planned on putting these on pitas.The organism growing on the bread had other plans. |
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| Boring wheat bread it is. Still mighty tasty. |
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