Fork and Beans

Making food fun for the family

Western BBQ Veggie Burgers

by

The old man pointed to a baker standing in his shop window at one corner of the plaza. “When he was a child, that man wanted to travel, too. But he decided first to buy his bakery and put some money aside. When he’s an old man, he’s going to spend a month in Africa. He never realized that people are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.”

Western BBQ Veggie Burgers

“He should have decided to become a shepherd,” the boy said.

“Well, he thought about that,” the old man said. “But bakers are more important people than shepherds. Bakers have homes, while shepherds sleep out in the open. Parents would rather see their children marry bakers than shepherds.”

The old man continued, “In the long run, what people think about shepherds and bakers becomes more important for them than their own Personal Legends.”

Western BBQ Veggie Burgers

“Why are you telling me all this?”

“Because you are trying to realize your Personal Legend. And you are at the point where you’re about to give it all up.”

“And that’s when you always appear on the scene?”

“Not always in this way, but I always appear in one form or another. Sometimes I appear in the form of a solution, or a good idea. At other times, at a crucial moment, I make it easier for things to happen. There are other things I do, too, but most of time people don’t realize I’ve done them.”

–Paulo Coehlo, The Alchemist

Western BBQ Veggie Burgers

I have been on the road to figuring out my Personal Legend and what perfect timing to get my groove back, for I have felt like giving up several times as of late. But yesterday, the old man appeared to me in the form of some of the most beautiful, supportive friends over here at Fork and Beans. Thank you for allowing to have time to breathe, settle in, and for giving me a safe place to heal. You guys push me closer towards my Personal Legend.

Red Bean and Tempeh BBQ Veggie Burger Recipe

Gluten, egg and dairy free

Makes 4 patties

Print
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How Cara Got Her (BBQ Veggie Burger) Groove Back…

  • Author: Fork & Beans
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 25 mins
  • Yield: 4 Patties 1x
Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 can red kidney beans
  • 3 oz. tempeh, steamed for 10 minutes
  • 1/3 c. gluten-free bread crumbs
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh spinach, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1/4 onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1/4 tsp. sea salt
  • 1 flax “egg” (1 Tbsp flax seed meal + 2 Tbsp. water, set for 5 minutes)
  • 1 tsp. vegan worchestershire sauce

Garnish with:

Instructions

  1. In a food processor, blend steamed tempeh and beans until roughly smooth. Combine remaining ingredients together until fully mixed.
  2. With you hands, form four even patties. Cook the patties on a skillet or grill (I used the George Foreman grill) and cook on each side for 3-4 minutes.

 

 Namastasty

About Cara

Based in Chicago with her husband and son, Cara is the creator behind the site Fork and Beans: A place where kids can have fun with their food.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. bppawloski

    Hi Cara,

    I tried making the veggie burgers, but mine turned out to wet to form into patties. I was really hoping they would turn out because they look delicious. Help! What did I do wrong?

    • Cara

      Eek! So sorry to hear this 🙁 Next time this happens (with any recipe) add more oats or flour to the mix to soak up the liquid. Hope this helps for next time! xo, Cara

  3. Heather

    You and this onion ring topped burger are pretty special and amazing- the perfect little package of all things good 🙂

  4. courtneyraejones

    Awe, that is one of my favourite books! 🙂
    This burger looks incredible! I’m on a huge veggie burger kick these days! The onion rings as a topping = genius!
    So glad to hear you are getting your groove back. *hugs* Life certainly tests us, hey? Just keep telling yourself that you are love and a ton of people think the world of you. And there are soooo many people cheering you on fully knowing you are going to kick some serious ass in the world 🙂 *HUGS*

  5. Gabby @ the veggie nook

    Hands down one of my favourite books and the fact that you wrote out a passage from it is pretty much the most awesome thing I’ve seen in a long time 🙂

    Glad you are finding your groove Cara! The burger looks fantastic. Onion rings on burgers are flippin’ unreal 😉

    • Cara

      It is the best book, isn’t it? I cannot believe it took me this long to read it! I finished it today, crying like a baby in a coffee shop 🙂

  6. Amanda

    a. This looks delicious and perfect for a summer BBQ
    b. I’m seriously thinking about eating my screen as I am craving your onion rings. You are a genius for coming up with that recipe. What I wouldn’t give for an onion ring.
    c. where did you get such amazing looking gf/vegan burger buns? I would like one now, please! 🙂

  7. frugalfeeding

    You come up with the maddest quotes/stories… I can’t cope with them. I just want to look at the food. I adore veggie burgers so much… I’ve made a few myself. I’m making veggie meatballs tomorrow I think… You’ll like that post.

    • Cara

      That is because I read sophisticated books, Nick. You should try it once in awhile…
      Veggie meatballs tomorrow?? You know I will be over, plate in hand 🙂

  8. Kristy

    I love the texture of the burger! It looks so perfect, and under those onion rings, it looks even better (Soooo hungry now!). 🙂

  9. Willow

    Great post – glad to hear you’re finding your legend!

    These burgers sound so good right now. I could use something hearty, filling, and delicious!

    • Cara

      Thank you Willow 🙂 I would offer you a leftover burger but I ate them all… ha. They were rather tasty, if I do say so myself.

  11. iatelunch

    Baked onion rings! I tried to make some the other day and the batter just wouldn’t stick. I’ll have to try it your way. And add a burger. And bbq sauce. And some fakin’ bacon. So hungry.

    • Cara

      Probably because I am just NOW reading it. How did I wait this long??? You are a bad friend for not telling me about it sooner 🙂 17 days!!! DARKEST SKETCH! DARKEST SKETCH!

      • Jan

        you are SO right, and that is the first thought i had when i saw you posted it! ill blame it on mold brain but really there is no excuse. deepest apologies 🙁 Alex read it too and loves it. perhaps this is the moment in time it wanted to be in your life however. Let’s bring it and war of art and read to each other at night in our bunk beds!!

  13. Shira

    Gorgeous! Loving this burger and drooling over the onion rings! Yum! Heading over to your last post to get caught up on all things Cara… 😉

  14. Caitlin

    man..i read that book several years ago and when i was reading your post i’m like, “why does this sound so familiar??” then when i read “personal legend” i knew. 😉

    i’m so happy to hear you are finding peace and settling in <3

  15. Laurel

    Ooh, getting all metaphysical on us just because you posted two days in a row? Seriously, very cool quote except I looked up ‘curecial’ in the dictionary and all I can figure is it’s gotta be some kind of healing agent, like these tempeh burgers. Pass the onion rings please.

    • Cara

      Curecial means what happens when you write a post later than normal and after a glass of wine 🙂 Passing the onion rings. Oops wait, let me steal one from the plate first….

  16. Brooke

    D’awwww… I’ll be your old man any day, sweetie! I know your legend is going to have a happy ending! I love the idea of spinach inside these burgers, too, btw…

  17. Somer

    Dude, the onion rings on top of the burger?!? Your the shiz! Glad to see so many loving and uplifting comments on your last post. You are well loved Cara! Don’t forget it! xoxo!!!