Lazy Vegan Burgers

Vegan burgers with creamy cilantro dressing, beet noodles, avocado, and cucumbers.

Vegan burgers with creamy cilantro dressing, beet noodles, avocado, and cucumbers.

Here’s the thing, a lot of veggie/vegan burgers have a gazillion ingredients or are super complicated to make. These are straightforward ingredients and lazy (in the best way possible). I also wanted to highlight a few meal planning suggestions when you are focusing on this recipe.

Tip 1 - Make more rice than required. This can later be used with another protein base, added into a grain bowl, or made into “fried” rice.

Tip 2- When you are baking the sweet potato, add more vegetables on to the baking sheet. Just make sure to coat with oil of choice and some sea salt. Cut veggies around the same size so that they will cook evenly. If they are about 1 inch size, cook for 20-35 minutes at 400F. One of my favorite things is to “cook once and eat twice” ie leftovers!

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Makes 6 patties.

INGREDIENTS:
1 large sweet potato, with skin (about 1 cup equivalent)
3/4 cup cooked rice (white or brown)
1/2 cup salted canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup finely chopped onion or scallion greens (if following low FODMAP)
1/4 cup oat flour (blended oats)
1 1/2 tsp of @fodyfoods taco seasoning (or a mix of cumin, oregano, and paprika
1 whole egg (optional! Avoid if you want to keep vegan)
1/4 tsp of sea salt
Black pepper or red pepper corn flakes to taste

TO MAKE:

1) Preheat the oven to 400F degrees. Cut sweet potatoes in half, length wise, and rub with olive oil and sea salt. Place face down on a baking sheet. Bake sweet potato until soft and tender, about 30-40 minutes.

2) Reduce oven heat to 375F. While potatoes are baking, cook rice or simply use leftovers.

3) Add black beans to a mixing bowl and mash them as best you can. Then add sweet potato and mash. If the skin isn't coming apart - just use a knife to cut up.

4) Add rice, onion, oat flour, and spices. Mix to combine. If you are using an egg, add here. This will make the mixture more "wet" but it does make the finished product crispier.

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5) Use 1/4 cup measuring cup to make the burgers. Scoop the sweet potato mixture on to the sheet and shape into a burger- about 1/2 an inch thick. They don’t expand.

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6) Bake burgers for 20 minutes and then flip for another 15-20 minutes. The more you cook, the dryer they get. You can store it in the fridge ~3 days. Pair with Creamy Cilantro Dressing. Enjoy!

FODMAP Modifications: Use scallion greens rather than onion. Each burger has less than the allotted threshold of both sweet potatoes and black beans, so it shouldn't promote any unwanted symptoms. Tread slowly if you've been avoiding beans altogether.

Recipe on Instagram.

Chocolate Banana Loaf during COVID19

chocolatebananaloaf

I've lost count of how many times we’ve made this banana loaf since all this started (ie quarantine).  It's so good, simple, low sugar, and completely good for you. Let me know if you make it and tag @lazynutritionist on Instagram. Inspired by Weelicious.

INGREDIENTS:

  • Olive, coconut, or avocado oil cooking spray

  • 2-3 ripe bananas (dependent on size)

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1/2 cup of milk or milk alternative (unsweetened)

  • 1/2 cup old fashioned oats (not instant)

  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar (okay to use white)

  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour or GF flour

  • 1 tsp baking powder

  • 1/2 tsp baking soda

  • 1/4 tsp salt

  • 6 tbsp seeds or finely crushed nuts - I used a combination of chia/hemp seeds and coconut

  • 1/4 cup semi-sweet (or darker) mini chocolate chips

  • Ground cinnamon, to taste

1) Preheat oven to 350F and coat loaf pan with cooking spray.

2) Place the bananas, eggs, milk, oats, vanilla, sugar, and butter in a blender for ~1 minute. I like it to have some oat pieces remaining. Another options: just blend by hand! I personally like it chunkier.

3) In a separate bowl, blend the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

4) Slowly pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir to combine.

5) Add nuts/seeds and chocolate.

6) Pour the batter into the loaf pan.

7) Sprinkle cinnamon to taste over the top.

8) Bake for 50-60 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.

Serve as part of breakfast with a smoothie (this has been a staple!), as a treat after lunch, or an afternoon snack with a decaf.

HEALTH BONUSES:

  • Oats, bananas, seeds, and nuts are all amazing sources of fiber and prebiotics. Prebiotics feed healthy bacteria and therefore are key to a healthy gut.

  • Cinnamon and dark chocolate (>70%) are loaded with antioxidants.