Roasted Pumpkin and Black Bean Burgers
These hearty and flavorful burgers are a great way to use up leftover pumpkin and black beans. They're packed with protein and fiber, and they're full of autumnal flavors like pumpkin, cumin, and chili powder.
I first developed this recipe a few years ago when I was looking for a way to use up some leftover pumpkin from Halloween. I had some black beans on hand, too, and I thought I'd give them a try in a burger. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the flavors worked together, and these burgers have been a family favorite ever since. The key to these burgers is to roast the pumpkin first. This brings out its natural sweetness and intensifies its flavor. I also like to add a little bit of chili powder and cumin to the pumpkin mixture to give it a warm and spicy flavor. Once the pumpkin is roasted, it's simply a matter of combining it with the other ingredients and forming it into patties. I like to use a combination of black beans, onion, and bell pepper in my burgers, but you could also use other vegetables, such as corn, zucchini, or carrots. These burgers are best cooked in a skillet over medium heat. This will help them to cook through evenly and develop a nice crust. I like to serve them on a bun with my favorite toppings, such as lettuce, tomato, and avocado.
Roasted Pumpkin and Black Bean Burgers Roasted Pumpkin and Black Bean Burgers Roasted Pumpkin and Black Bean Burgers Roasted Pumpkin and Black Bean Burgers
Prep time: 15 | Cook time: 30 | Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 medium pumpkin, peeled and cubed
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  2. Toss pumpkin with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes, or until tender.
  3. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  4. Add onion and bell pepper and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
  5. Add black beans, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes more.
  6. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, black bean mixture, and cilantro.
  7. Form into 8 patties.
  8. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  9. Cook patties for 5 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
Why It Works
  • Roasting the pumpkin intensifies its flavor and sweetness.
  • The combination of black beans, onion, and bell pepper adds protein, fiber, and flavor to the burgers.
  • The chili powder and cumin give the burgers a warm and spicy flavor.
  • Cooking the burgers in a skillet over medium heat helps them to cook through evenly and develop a nice crust.