Allow me to clear this up from the outset: I’m no vegetarian. Or vegan for that matter (& Hon most definitely isn’t). But there have been a couple of times in my life where, for physiological and mental reasons, I have shirked all fattening deliciousnous to reset the system and shed some girth.
During our unexpected sabbatical in Normanville, SA last summer, I spent a few long weeks in Vegan-town sans booze, caffeine and anything that wasn’t grown and ripped from the earth. I actually felt pretty great afterwards, if for no other reason than I could comfortably re-assume prior carnivorous inclinations with renewed aplomb! I also learned that food sans animal could actually be pretty great, some of it maybe even better. Inspired by a vegan-friendly coffee house and cafe in Normanville, we banged together a vegetarian/vegan meal of our own.
Like this thing here – shake hands with the sh.k Black Bean Burger: an all-vegan, egg-free patty that won’t fall apart in your palm or pan, served up in two sensationally tantalising offerings – the Straight Up Classic, and the Sri Ra Cha/Kewpie Asian Crunch Deluxe (slightly less vegan).
Never thought I’d say it, but this health explosion well and truly ‘meets the meat’. Good sober; excellent hungover – whip yourself up a batch of fat patties and dig the bean action below.
- VEGAN BURGER PATTIES
- 1 cup uncooked brown or white rice
- 1 400g can of red kidney beans or equivalent of cooked black beans
- ¼ cup of breadcrumbs
- 4 Tbsp of okonomi sauce (or BBQ sauce)
- 1 Tbsp of cumin
- 1 Tbsp of smoked paprika
- 1 Tbsp of chilli powder
- ½ Tsp of sea salt
- ½ Tsp of pepper
- _________________________
- STANDARD TOPPINGS
- Lettuce
- Sliced tomato
- Sliced red onion
- Fried egg
- Cheese
- Tomato sauce
- Mustard
- Avocado
- _________________________
- ASIAN SLAW TOPPING
- 1 cup of cabbage, shredded
- 1 cup of carrot, shredded
- 1 capsicum, julienned (mixed colours)
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 cm knob of ginger, minced
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tsp soy sauce
- Juice of 1 lime
- Splash of white wine vinegar
- Bunch of coriander
- Kewpie mayonnaise
- Sriracha chilli sauce
- _________________________
- STANDARD PATTIE
- Cook rice according to instructions on packet
- Mash rice and cooked beans in a large bowl
- Add spices, breadcrumbs, okonomi sauce, and mix thoroughly. The mixture should be pliable but not crumbly. If it is too dry add more sauce, if too sticky add more breadcrumbs
- Separate into 4 balls (or 6 for medium sized burgers), and flatten into patties
- Fry burgers on medium-high heat for approximately 8-10 minutes, until hot through
- Meanwhile toast burger bun and assemble desired ingredients (lettuce, cheese, tomato etc.)
- Add pattie, top with sauce, and serve.
- _________________________
- ASIAN SLAW ALTERNATIVE
- Make pattie as above
- Fry sesame oil with garlic and ginger until fragrant
- In a small bowl mix cooked garlic, ginger, vinegar, lime, fish sauce, sugar, and soy
- Add dressing to shredded ingredients in a large bowl and mix
- Fry patties on medium-high heat for approximately 8-10 minutes, until hot through
- Meanwhile toast burger bun, and top with slaw, coriander, kewpie mayonnaise and sriracha sauce
- Serve and enjoy!

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