Move over ketchup, mustard and mayo – there are other ways to liven-up a burger! Whether you are enjoying a veggie burger, a grilled Portobello mushroom (my favorite) or a regular ‘ole hamburger, why not have a little fun with your burger toppings?
Here are three spreads, each is easier to make than the last, and I’ll let you in on a little secret: They are not just for burgers! Try them on sandwiches and wraps!
1. Easy Burger Topping: Black Bean and Cilantro
If you love cilantro you’re going to enjoy this quick and easy recipe. This spread combines black beans with the clean flavors of:
- Lemon
- Garlic
- Cilantro
- Onion
Folks who are feeling especially daring could add a little chili powder, sweet corn and black olives to the mix for some Southwest flair…
Black Bean and Cilantro Spread
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz can of low sodium black beans
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ wedge of fresh lemon
- 1 small clove of garlic
- ¼ medium red onion
- 6 large sprigs of cilantro
Instructions
- Rinse and drain black beans and add to a food processor fitted with an S-blade.
- Add garlic and squeeze juice from wedge of lemon into the beans.
- Place lid on processor and turn on highest speed.
- Slowly pour water into the chute while processor is running – adding just enough to create a smooth consistency. (You may not need to use all of the water.)
- Add onion to processor and pulse until the onion is chopped and mixed through the spread.
- Rinse cilantro and pat dry. Strip leaves from the stems and add to food processor. Discard stems.
- Pulse processor until cilantro is chopped and mixed through spread.
- Scrape spread into a serving bowl or storage container.
- Serve immediately or store in sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 or 5 days.
2. Easier Burger Topping: Chick Peas and Roasted Red Pepper
Jarred roasted red peppers are a real time saver in this simplified, low-fat version of hummus. This spread is comprised of just a few simple ingredients:
- Chick Peas (garbanzo beans)
- Roasted red pepper
- Garlic
- Black Pepper
Try adding a little ground cumin if you want to kick the flavor up a notch.
Chick Peas and Roasted Red Pepper Spread
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz can of low sodium Chick Peas garbanzo beans
- ¼ cup water
- 1 small clove of garlic
- 1 large roasted red pepper from a jar, packed in water
- Ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse and drain Chick Peas and add to a food processor fitted with an S-blade.
- Add garlic.
- Place lid on processor and turn on highest speed.
- Slowly pour water into the chute while processor is running – adding just enough to create a smooth consistency. (You may not need to use all of the water.)
- Add roasted red pepper and pulse until the pepper is roughly chopped and mixed through the spread.
- Scrape spread into a serving bowl or storage container.
- Stir in ground black pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately or store in sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 or 5 days.
3. Easiest Burger Topping: Quick Guacamole
If you are feeling especially lazy, it doesn’t get much easier than this quick guacamole recipe. All you need is an avocado and some jarred salsa.
- 1 avocado
- ¼ cup jarred salsa (I like [url href="http://www.chichis.com/Salsas-Dips/39-Thick-Chunky-Salsa-Mild" target="_blank"]Chi-Chi’s thick and chunky[/url])
- Peel avocado and remove pit.
- Mash avocado with a fork and then stir in salsa.
- Serve immediately or store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. (Store guacamole with avocado pit to help prevent browning.)
Mix and Match Ingredients
These are just a few examples of the different kinds of burger toppings and sandwich spreads you can make with beans or avocados. I encourage you to explore other ingredients or seasonings you might add to the mix. And don’t be afraid to use more than one burger topping – for example, the black bean and cilantro spread pairs nicely with the quick guacamole.
Do you have a favorite burger topping/sandwich spread recipe? Feel free to share it in the comments section below.
Looking for an easy veggie burger recipe? Check out our Sweet Potato Veggie Burger!
Note: I do not include nutrition information with my recipes because I subscribe to the theories presented in the book Whole and believe we should focus on eating a variety of whole foods instead of counting calories or keeping track of individual nutrients.
steven
I can't wait to try all of these - who doesn't like flavorful healthy spread/sauce on their burger!? YUM! I've done the guac. and salsa - that's the best. This blog has so many great ideas!
Margaret
Thanks Steven! Glad to hear you are feeling inspired! 🙂