Current mood:	full
Entry tags:	dorklepork can cook, food porn, vegan

I really have so much else floating around in my head, but I can't bring myself to shake it out just now. So I cook.


Portabella and Black Bean Burgers with Muchos Other Stuffas



For two sandwiches:

In the patties (amounts are approximate):
4 heaping tablespoons black beans
5-6 baby bellas
1 jalepeno
small chunk of red onion
bready stuff... I used 8 saltines and 2 bran crispbreads to get the right consistency
1-2 teaspoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
garlic, dried onion, cayenne pepper, and salt to taste (be liberal, elsewise you risk bland sandwiches!)

Mix all that in the food processor, form into two patties (which will be quite un-patty-like) and drop into a lightly oiled pan (preheated) over medium heat. Cook on one side until the outside is brown and crispy. Flip (they should hold together from cooking by this point). Repeat. Toward the end of the second side's browning, put a layer of fresh cilantro on top of the patties so it just wilts by the time you take them off the heat.

On the (multigrain!) bread, from the ground up:
Vegenaise
arugula
tomato
vinegar-glazed baby bellas (marinate in balsamic and sushi vinegar for 10-30 minutes and then saute over medium heat, dumping liquid as necessary until nicely browned)
thin layer of avocado
patties and wilted cilantro

These were much tastier than I even expected them to be. The patties were just heavenly and full and deep, and the sweetness of the vinegared mushrooms offset the spices and depth well. Texture was... sexy, all-around. They weren't as solid as a traditional burger, but they weren't squishing all over the place, either -- there was just the right amount of give versus hold. Like any good lover, eh?!

I served these with fresh corn on the cob, smeared with a halved avocado (instead of butter!). It's so damn good!

Go make your own and report back, soldiers.