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Western BBQ Veggie Burgers

July 11, 2012 by Cara

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
Pin 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:

  • Baked onion rings
  • Vegan Tempeh Bacon
  • BBQ sauce
  • vegan mayo
  • sliced tomatoes
  • sliced red onions
  • lettuce

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.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @forkandbeans on Instagram and hashtag it #forkandbeans

 

 Namastasty

YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:

  • Black Bean SlidersBlack Bean Sliders
  • The Ultimate Tempeh SandwichThe Ultimate Tempeh Sandwich
  • Homemade Vegan BBQ SandwichesHomemade Vegan BBQ Sandwiches
  • Spicy Chipotle Blackened Tempeh WrapsSpicy Chipotle Blackened Tempeh Wraps

Filed Under: Kid-Friendly Tagged With: dinner, entree, Food, gluten free, recipes, vegan, vegetarian, veggie burgers

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.

Previous Post: « Vegan Ice Cream Snickers Bars
Next Post: Bloody Mary Popsicles »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. bppawloski

    October 21, 2012 at 7:17 pm

    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

      October 22, 2012 at 7:14 am

      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

  2. Richa@HobbyandMore

    July 12, 2012 at 11:16 pm

    drooool.. those onions rings are calling me name! with a side of the burger!

    • Cara

      July 13, 2012 at 8:45 am

      “Riiiicccchhhhaaaa, Riiiiiiiiiccccccccccccchhhhhhhaaaaaaa!!!!” –Onion Rings

  3. Heather

    July 11, 2012 at 7:48 pm

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

    • Cara

      July 12, 2012 at 6:35 am

      I come wrapped nicely in a pretty bow too 🙂

  4. courtneyraejones

    July 11, 2012 at 4:33 pm

    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*

    • Cara

      July 11, 2012 at 6:04 pm

      The part where “soooo many people cheering me on” is truly what is carrying me. I cannot thank you enough, Courtney… xo

      • courtneyraejones

        July 11, 2012 at 8:23 pm

        Anytime sweetie. Always here if you need to chat, vent, or just request baking be delivered to your home. *hehe* xoxo

        • Cara

          July 12, 2012 at 6:36 am

          Wait, that was an option??? How fast can you get here with brownies in tow?

  5. Gabby @ the veggie nook

    July 11, 2012 at 3:35 pm

    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

      July 11, 2012 at 6:06 pm

      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

    July 11, 2012 at 3:15 pm

    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! 🙂

    • Cara

      July 11, 2012 at 6:07 pm

      a. Come over and I will have a BBQ in your honor!
      b. Be careful. Static electricity is a bitch 🙂
      c. Local bakery around here.

      • Amanda

        July 15, 2012 at 9:00 am

        I’ll be over soon for some BBQ! 🙂 I wish we had a local bakery that made buns like that!

  7. frugalfeeding

    July 11, 2012 at 2:37 pm

    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

      July 11, 2012 at 6:10 pm

      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

    July 11, 2012 at 2:05 pm

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

    • Cara

      July 11, 2012 at 7:32 pm

      Well, you should come over to the new pad and I will make you a burger, friend 🙂

  9. Willow

    July 11, 2012 at 9:00 am

    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

      July 12, 2012 at 6:37 am

      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.

  10. Rachel

    July 11, 2012 at 8:47 am

    and they were bomb. go on with your bad self girl!

    • Cara

      July 11, 2012 at 6:10 pm

      Play on, playa.

  11. iatelunch

    July 11, 2012 at 8:36 am

    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

      July 12, 2012 at 6:37 am

      And then invite me over when you have built that burger so I can eat more 🙂

  12. Jan

    July 11, 2012 at 8:22 am

    Genius! And I loveeeee the Alchemist. How have we not discussed? 17 days til C-day!

    • Cara

      July 11, 2012 at 8:33 am

      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

        July 12, 2012 at 3:08 pm

        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

    July 11, 2012 at 7:26 am

    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… 😉

    • Cara

      July 12, 2012 at 6:37 am

      Hi friend! I have missed you… xo

  14. Caitlin

    July 11, 2012 at 7:04 am

    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

    • Cara

      July 12, 2012 at 6:38 am

      Isn’t that book wonderful? Holy cow, it came at just the right time in my life to read it! xo

  15. Laurel

    July 11, 2012 at 6:46 am

    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

      July 12, 2012 at 6:39 am

      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

    July 11, 2012 at 5:05 am

    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…

    • Cara

      July 12, 2012 at 6:41 am

      Old man, I was hoping my legend involved chocolate too, no? 🙂 ha.

  17. Somer

    July 11, 2012 at 3:16 am

    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!!!

    • Cara

      July 12, 2012 at 6:40 am

      It really has been one of the reasons why I have been able to keep going–so much love, I just don’t know what to do with all of it…except hoard it 🙂 Especially yours… xo

      • Somer

        July 12, 2012 at 8:39 am

        Hoard it baby. It’s all for you.

        • Cara

          July 12, 2012 at 9:11 am

          HOARDING!!!

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