Just felt like some ‘smoked’ flavoured grub. Bacon has been off the menu for a long time now – but flavours remain deep-seated in the mind, and have unconscious dialogue with the taste buds. This is an undetected method whereby memories filter through the conscious mind to the palette, and try to have their way. They never do in the literal sense – but creative thinking is very much part of my genetic code – and I put it to good use whenever I can. Yes, I am guilty of making bacon-flavoured, nutritious and delicious burgers, fit for a very hungry and discerning king indeed. They were consumed in minutes !!!
Makes 3 large Burgers
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups pre-cooked black-eyed beans (you may use tinned)
- a handful of flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
- 1 small onion, roughly chopped
- 1½ cups coarsely chopped walnuts
- 2 cups breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup wholemeal flour or gluten-free flour, such as rice flour
- 6 slices of vegan smoked bacon (I used Redwoods) – or other faux smoked bacon, 4 slices roughly chopped, the other 2 cut lengthways (keep those two and put them aside)
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tsp curry
- salt to taste
- ½ cup corn or bran flakes, processed
- conventional golden bread crumbs for a light coating (I used Paxo)
METHOD
Place all the ingredients in a food processor, starting off with the beans, and pulse 2 or 3 times – the mixture must be thick and on the dense side. Transfer ingredients into a large bowl, and refrigerate for an hour or so.
Remove from fridge, and mash the contents with the fingers. Then shape into 3 large burgers, get the slices of fake bacon and mould a few pieces on the sides of the burgers (as in the pic), making sure they hold. Then sprinkle some golden breadcrumbs on top and bottom of it.
Place in fridge for a further hour, then take out and fry in a little olive oil on both sides on a medium to low heat for around 5 minutes (you also have the option of frying until golden on both sides). Then bake in the oven for a further 15 minutes.
Serve with a crunchy green salad and a good old dressing – kids love this with ketchup ! Enjoy !!!
All recipes, content & design © Miriam Sorrell www.mouthwateringvegan.com 2010
These are free recipes for your pleasure – all we ask in return is that you take a few moments to leave a constructive comment !
It looks very tasty.
Hi Mel, it’s delicious, hope you get a moment to make it ! Cheers !
Oh this dish looks scrummy!
I will have to buy some fakon bakon this week and try it for myself.
Thanks for the recipe. 🙂
Got to try this one…..my husband does miss that bacon flavor!
Nina Hi there, and welcome to my site – let me know how it goes and enjoy ! Cheers to you !
Diane Hi there, this is sure to fulfill your husband’s ‘bacon’ buds – let me know how it all goes, and cheers to you !
Thanks dear Miriam, for inspiring us to be more creative in the kitchen!
I’ve always been reluctant to buy the “bacon” varieties of faux meats, but after seeing this appetising way in which you have used “bacon”, I now feel confident to go out and get a packet and make your interesting burger recipe!
Hi Veroni, and thanks for your constructive comment. It’s just one of those tastes that is rather addictive – to be able to replicate that aspect in a vegan way, cruelty free and of course cholesterol free too is a bonus – a win-win situation for all (including the taste buds of course). Best to you ! Let me know how it goes once you try it (as and when). Thanks.
sounds amazing I’ll have to find this vegan bacon and make this some time
Rebecca Hi there, hope you have some luck with finding vegan bacon – some countries have it, others don’t it seems. If you don’t find it, try something that is smoked and a slightly salty as a substitute. Good luck and cheers to you !
Need to make this for hubby when craving for bacon burger:) Looks tasty! How you come up with such great recipes?
Yes, Alma, it’s a great one for those ‘bacon cravings’ and does a wonderful job – serve it up with his favourite sauce and some fried onions too !
Hi Miriam. Can I substitute any other bean for the black eyed beans? Thanks
Hi Maraika, thanks for your comment – yes, you can use other beans, cannellini, flagolet, kidney beans – take your pick. Cheers !
Hi Miriam,
I will have to try it…..I generally make a “DLT” sandwich for my “bacon cravings”….Dulse, Lettuce and Tomato! This will be a nice change.
Hi there Deb and thanks for your comments – hope you make and enjoy these – cheers to you !.