(Almost) Bean-Less Vegan Burgers

What's a veggie burger without beans?

Delicious. That's what.

Let's get something straight first: You know I love my bean burgers. I like 'em with Great Northern beans, chickpeas, and kidney beans. I devour them with homemade buns, and sometimes just crumbled over a salad. And don't even get me started on homemade condiments. Fresh guacamole can bring bliss-filled tears to my eyes.

Basically, if it's bean-y, I'm loving it.

But tonight we went with a novel concept for our veggie sandwich filler: bean-less burgers. Check out the star ingredients of these palatable patties:

• Edamame (As soybeans, I suppose they technically count as beans. But I'm not splitting hairs here.)
• Chopped apple
• Toasted sunflower seeds
• Brown rice
• Soy sauce
• Superstar condiment: Peanut Sauce

The peanut sauce put these over the top...in the best possible way. It's pretty much the condiment of my dreams. We enjoyed our burgers perched atop a slice of homemade bread, and buried under a mountain of sauteed onions and peppers, with a drizzle of peanut sauce.

Burger it up, friends! And for a side dish? I definitely recommend a bowl of beans.

Edamame & Apple Burgers with Peanut Sauce

(adapted from a recipe in Veggie Burgers Every Which Way by Lukas Volger)

As with most veggie burgers, you may have to work with your ingredients to reach the right consistency (e.g., adding more liquid or dry ingredients as needed). Just do me one favor: Don't forget the peanut sauce!

Burger Ingredients:

• 1 cup frozen edamame
• 2 TBSP ground flaxseed
• 3 TBSP water
• 1 - 1/2 cups cooked brown rice
• 1/4 cup toasted sunflower seeds
• 2 TBSP toasted sesame seeds
• 1 apple, diced
• 2 TBSP bread crumbs
• 1 TBSP molasses
• 1 TBSP soy sauce
• Plenty o' salt and pepper
• Sauteed onions and bell pepper for topping

Peanut Sauce Ingredients:

(from Cooks Recipes)

• 1/3 cup all-natural peanut butter
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 TBSP lime juice
• 2 TBSP reduced sodium soy sauce
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1/3 cup water

Directions:

1) Bring a small saucepan of water to boil; add edamame and cook for 5 minutes, or until tender.

2) Whisk together the ground flaxseed and water. Pour into a food processor with the edamame, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds. Pulse until the mixture is chunky.

3) In a large mixing bowl, combine the edamame mixture with the apple, rice, bread crumbs, molasses, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Season to taste. Shape into 6 patties.

4) Heat a dash of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Ad the patties and cook for about 4 - 5 minutes until nicely browned on the bottom. Flip burgers and cook for an additional 4 - 5 minutes on the other side.

5) To prepare the peanut sauce: Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until well-combined. Serve burgers with peanut sauce and sauteed onions and bell peppers.