Guest Author - Robin Rounds Whittemore
Here are some different ways to top these burgers using food color categories. These suggestions are more on the mild side. Black bean burgers are usually on the spicy side, so combining mild items with the spiciness creates a very palatable balance.
Sautéing mushrooms, minced garlic, and onions are also a good way to top this burger. Sautéing them in butter or olive oil will produce different results. Don’t be afraid to add spices to the butter or olive oil before sautéing. Think of the spices you add to vegetables and pour them in.
Hummus is another excellent choice and it is available in many varieties and tastes in your local grocers. Try spreading hummus on the burger and topping that with crumbles of feta cheese.
Some toppings in the green food category include: cucumbers, pickles, avocado slices, spinach leaves, and lettuce. Toppings in the red food category could be: red onions, radish slices, tomatoes, ketchup, and mild salsa. Orange, yellow, and white come into play with cheese slices, cream corn, onions, mayonnaise, mustard, cheese spreads, and ranch dressing.
Chutneys and salsa can have one or more of the ingredients previously mentioned. They are all quite colorful as well as tasty. It certainly makes for an interesting combination in many cases. Spicy or mild, chutneys and salsas provide great appeal.
If you like it really spicy, try topping the burgers with a spicy salsa, or a chipotle sauce. Quite a few companies make marinades as well as barbecue and other sauces with a lot of spice in them. Even if you are heating the burger on the stove or in the microwave, barbecue sauces are not out of the question.
Here is a recipe for making your own chipotle sauce to top your black bean burger.
Raspberry/Chipotle Sauce
Chipotle peppers in adobe sauce (you will use 2)
Raspberry jelly, jam or fruit spread in a 15 ounce jar
¼ cup cider vinegar
½ teaspoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon onion powder
First: When working with peppers, wear disposable gloves, and do not touch your face; especially the mouth and eye areas.
Take two of the peppers out of the sauce. Cut them open and scrape out the seeds. Using a knife or a food processer, finely chop the peppers.
Using a small bowl, combine the chopped peppers and the rest of the ingredients. You can serve it right away, or better still; cover the container and let it absorb the flavors for a few hours or overnight.
Easy cooking hint: Some grocery stores will chop the peppers for you if asked. Perhaps they even have pre-chopped peppers.
