Homemade Black Bean and Mushroom Veggie Burger

on October 16, 2008

Eck! It’s just turning into one of those days at world…. when simple tasks take 4 times longer to do than you expected, and anything that can go wrong does! But, luckily for me, I have tomorrow off. Woo Hoo!

I was so wrapped up in work that I couldn’t eat lunch at my normal time (11:30). My stomach felt like it was eating away at itself! I finally broke for lunch around 1:00. It was such a relief to get some food in my belly!

Lunch – Homemade Black Bean and Mushroom Veggie Burgers

If you’re like me and always end up with three cans of leftover beans in the fridge, homemade veggie burgers are an EXCELLENT way to use up those beans!

Ingredients (makes 1 serving):

1/4 cup black beans, canned and drained
1/4 cup red beans, canned and drained
2 tablespoons WW flour
1/8 cup bella mushrooms, sliced
Pepper to taste

Preparation:

Mash beans, flour, and pepper together using a fork (or your hands).
Rinse and microwave mushrooms for 30 seconds to soften.
Add mushrooms to bean mix and form a patty.
Flatten on griddle and cook for 7 minutes on the first side. Flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
Enjoy!

I had my burger on top of a piece of WW toast and sprinkled with some melty Italian cheese.

I also ate a small side salad…

And a bowl of grapes…

It was a delicious lunch that I’m still picking at as I type this. 🙂

Mid-Morning Snack

OK – I have one Z-Bar left after today. I’m never buying these again (that’s probably a lie, but you know what I mean). I think I’ve had a Z-Bar 10 days out of the last two weeks! 🙂

Plans, Plans

After work (please end soon!), I’m going to do some cleaning and then I have a YOGA class tonight. My class is at 8:00 PM, and I can’t decide if I should eat dinner before or after I go. I may split my dinner up into two portions.

Thoughts?

Enjoy your day!

{ 27 comments }

VeggieGirl October 16, 2008, 10:43 am
FABULOUS BURGERS!!! Your recipes always rock.

I’m eating grapes as I type out this comment :0)

I vote for splitting up dinner into two portions – one fore pre-yoga, one for post-yoga.

Enjoy!!
RhodeyGirl/Sabrina October 16, 2008, 10:50 am
i say eat most of your dinner before (at like 6), and then have a small snacktype dinner after…. when i used to teach dance (stopped in June) I would eat 3/4 of dinner before, and 1/4 after when I got home around 9.
Gina October 16, 2008, 10:51 am
the burger looks delicious!
i would have a tiny bit beforehand (maybe 100 cal snack– yoga doesn’t burn very many calories) and have the majority of dinner afterwards.
yoga on a full tummy is NO FUN… especially cobra pose- yikes!
enjoy your day!
jenngirl October 16, 2008, 10:54 am
yummy lunch for sure!!

As for tonight, I would probably eat dinner before (7pm at the latest), and then have a small snack when you get home. Hope you figure it out! 🙂
tfh October 16, 2008, 11:00 am
Brilliant! I have black beans, mushrooms, and not much else in the house– and it’s going to be a late night at work. Now I can stop stressing about dinner. (They’re even baby bellas.)

I can’t eat before yoga, but would definitely have a snack (or something easily digestible).
sharon October 16, 2008, 11:02 am
That burger looks so good! I will be making that real soon! I got some sweet potatoes at the store yesterday so I could try the delicious looking wrap you had for lunch yesterday. You are so, so creative with your lunches. The best part is that they are full of nutrition, too! I also bought some z-bars. I couldn’t resist when I finally found the peanut butter ones! They are definitely dangerous, though!

Good luck at Yoga tonight-sounds like it will be a fun workout. I would probably eat before and have a snack afterwards. Otherwise you will be ravenous when you get home!
amanda October 16, 2008, 11:07 am
see how you feel around 6ish! but give yourself at least an hour to digest!! i always think late dinners are more fun … you can anticipate the deliciousness, but you don’t want a growling tummy at yoga 🙂
Anonymous October 16, 2008, 11:58 am
hey! love the blog! i’d say eat dinner before, after yoga i always feel in “the zone” and don’t really have an appetite but afterwards have some fruit or yogurt! that’s what i’d say 🙂
*Andrea* October 16, 2008, 12:06 pm
oooh i always have left over beans in my fridge! and 7 minutes to make a patty seems quick and delicious!

i would definitely split up dnner into 2 portions. i have kickboxing tonight and i usually find its better to have a medium sized snack before and after so i’m not too weighed down but still have energy!
angelcubbie October 16, 2008, 12:32 pm
I’d say eat dinner before so you’re not starving during Yoga class, but give yourself at least an hour to digest. I made the mistake of eating dinner 30 minutes before Yoga a couple nights ago and yeah, Downward Dog and Cobra on a full stomach = not so much fun.
whatiateyesterday October 16, 2008, 12:41 pm
MMMM….black bean burgers

Most yoga teachers will suggest not eating for at least 2 hours and if you must, have something like an apple. With that said, I find that an hours works fine for me as long as I keep it light and keep my portion in check.
Erin of Care to Eat October 16, 2008, 1:22 pm
Yum!
I like going to yoga on an empty stomach. So maybe have a couple bites before and then pig afterwards. Or eat normally afterwards. Your choice!
Anonymous October 16, 2008, 1:31 pm
For me, just personally, I have to have an EMPTY EMPTY EMPTY EMPTY stomach for yoga. I twist and bend ALOT and try to suck in my core the entire time literally as hard as I can (this is an overshare, but I once ended up having my tampon come half out from all my core twisting). It actually is a huge problem for me because sometimes I am hungry but want to do yoga later and don’t know what to do! i try to eat a small snack, but seriously, ANYTHING in the belly is too much for me. I had 6 almonds and 2 dried apricots about 30 minutes beforehand once and almost threw up (overshare #2)!
Leah October 16, 2008, 1:37 pm
I did yoga for the first time in a while last night and I am sore today! It was such a good workout that I didn’t expect. I had dinner before I went, just because I knew that I would be home late and didn’t want to have dinner so close to going to bed. I ate about 1.5 hrs before my class and I was fine. Have fun tonight!
BOBBI McCORMICK October 16, 2008, 1:52 pm
what a great idea for the burger! I always have left over black beans. You should eat half before and half after, have fun at Yoga!
angelcubbie October 16, 2008, 2:06 pm
Hey Caitlin, I saw on one of your posts that you wrote you consider a sweet potato (med) without skin about 180 calories, does the skin add calories? I didn’t think it did.
Caitlin (see bride run) October 16, 2008, 2:22 pm
anon – hahah that tampon story made me LOL!

angel – im not a sweet pot expert, but i do know there are loads of vitamins and fiber in the skin. so i assume that = calories. but it can’t be too many! and its totally worth it for all the yummy nutrients!
Rose October 16, 2008, 3:34 pm
Wow. That burger looks so, so good. I’m so jealous that you get to both work from home AND cook from home for lunch!! That’s such a nice perk of your job 🙂
Caitlin (see bride run) October 16, 2008, 3:46 pm
Rose – YES! I totally agree. I used to cook double dinners and have leftovers for lunch everyday when i worked in the office, but its nice to get som variety.
runningwithfood.com October 16, 2008, 4:37 pm
Awesome veggie burger! Your pictures are beautiful!!
Lyss October 16, 2008, 5:20 pm
I know it's probably a little late to offer my advice, but I would definitely save most of your dinner for AFTER yoga. If you eat too much before, (and if your yoga class is anywhere as intense as mine is…) your downward dogs might turn into upchuck dogs! I take yoga twice a week at 8 am, and normally just have some fruit or yogurt smoothie beforehand, then eat a nice meal combo of protein & carbs afterward to help build those muscles. Let me know how your class went!
Balance, Joy and Delicias! October 16, 2008, 6:23 pm
Creative way to eat beans! Quick, simple, healthy and I bet it’s delicious.
HangryPants October 16, 2008, 6:29 pm
I would say split the dinner.

I feel like that about Z-Bars, but I know when I run out I will run and get more. They’re fantastic!

How did you find the veggie burger held together. My homemade burgers always crumble.
Meg October 16, 2008, 6:43 pm
Those burgers sounds delicious!
Caitlin (see bride run) October 16, 2008, 6:51 pm
lyss – that’s exactly what i ended up doing! LOL awesome!

heather – as long as you drain most of the liquid off and mix some WW flour, it’s fine!
Jordan October 16, 2008, 8:05 pm
I think I might be too shy to go to a yoga class. I really want to though. Maybe you should talk me into it =P
Nicole (anotheronebitesthecrust.wordpress.com) October 17, 2008, 4:34 am
Yum, the veggie burgers look fabulous!

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