One of the most wonderful things about being a Balancing Act Community Blogger is that they like to challenge me to develop recipes with a new to me ingredient like Rothbury Farms croutons.
It’s even better when that challenge email hits my inbox after I found out about it after watching a segment on The Balancing Act and before a planned look for it at the grocery store trip.
Why? Because RothBurby Farms croutons are one of the rare brands that are transfat free, high fructose corn syrup free, hydrogenated oil free, AND are made with whole wheat flour.
As a Budget Chef, I could most certainly make my own croutons without all of the nasty stuff I don’t want my family to eat. As a Lazy Chef with real world responsibilities, there isn’t always time to do so. As a result, every burger and meatloaf I make is soupy because it lacks a trans fat free crouton binder.
Let’s change that, shall we?
Spicy Shawarma Black Bean Burgers with Rothbury Farms Croutons
Sometimes I like to make a meatless meal to keep things interesting. It’s easier on the budget and my waistline after binging on holiday cookie for the last month. I haven’t found a black bean burger recipe that truly satisfies. I decided this is the perfect opportunity to create one!
Spicy Shawarma Black Bean Burgers
2 cups cooked dried black beans or 1 16 oz can of drained and rinsed black beans
½ chopped onion
1-2 cloves minced garlic
1 egg
3 tablespoons Shawarma spices
1 cup crushed Rothbury Farms Organic Seasoned Croutons
1.Crush the croutons in a blender, food processor, or with a rolling pin in the Rothbury Farms bag. Guess which one I did? Yep. Rolling pin. OK, I really smacked the bag with the stainless steel measuring cup I pulled out of the cupboard to measure the crushed croutons. Rooting through the lower cabinet for a rolling pin was too hard. Use whatever method you like that crushes your croutons.
2. Use a potato masher to mix the black beans, onion, garlic, egg, Shawarma spices, in a large bowl while mashing the beans.
3. Mix the crushed Rothbury Farms Organic Seasoned Croutons into the bean mixture.
Optional: Allow the mixture to sit for an hour in the refrigerator to allow the Shawarma spices to marinate for a stronger flavor. I didn’t do this while I was developing the recipe and my burgers tasted great. However, the extra burgers I froze for later, tasted a bit better. Let your taste buds and cooking timeline be your guide.
4. Roll the mixture into ball and flatten it to make a patty.
5. Grill the black bean burgers or fry them in light oil on stove over medium heat.
6. Chow down!
I buy my shawarma spices premixed at a local international grocery store. Most of those little local shops have better price and selection on spices than my traditional chain grocery store. If you can’t find premixed shawarma spices for sale, use this shawarma spice recipe to make your own.
Disclaimer: I am a Balancing Act Community Blogger and received samples of Rothbury Farms products to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
