A versatile and tasty veggie burger with a good grating of chocolate to give extra richness and flavour. Although quick and cheap to make, these chocolate bean burgers contain egg so are not suitable for vegans.
To call these vegetarian patties, chocolate bean burgers, is perhaps a bit of a misnomer. Leftover burgers would be a more apt name. It was hot, I wanted to eat something with salad and there were a few things in the fridge that needed using up. I’ve never added chocolate to burgers before, but if it works in chilli and in these falafels, I reasoned, why not in burgers?
Garlic Scapes
One of the things that needed using up was our last remaining bunch of garlic scapes. In case you’re wondering, scapes are the unopened flowering tops of garlic. If you grow your own, it’s best to pick these off the growing plants to allow energy to concentrate in the bulb rather than the flower.
Good news for us, as it means we have garlic to eat before it’s actually time to harvest the crop. They taste mild and fresh and I’ve been slicing them up and cooking them in any number of dishes. Spring onions, wild garlic or leeks would all make good substitutes in these chocolate bean burgers.
Chocolate Bean Burgers
Burgers are a lot easier to make than you might think. These are versatile and tasty veggie burgers with a little chocolate for added richness and flavour. As well as the garlic scapes, I also had a sweet yellow pepper that needed using up. These both went into the chocolate bean burger mix along with an egg and a few other ingredients.
Turns out, chocolate works really well as a bean burger ingredients. It adds additional depth and also colour.
The chocolate bean burgers are delicious served with chilli sauce and a load of veg. This simple griddled asparagus is a perfect accompaniment. Take a look at the chilli sauce review below or have a go at making my “best chilli sauce ever“. Alternatively serve in a burger bun with the usual accompaniments.
Chilli Sauce
Both CT and I like a bit of chilli with our burgers. Normally I’d add some to the mix. However, I’d been sent three mini trial pots of Rugeroni’s chilli relishes to try out and I reasoned that they’d be just the right thing to accompany the burgers. The relishes are made to an ancient and secret family recipe that has travelled from Italy to Argentina and now to England. All contain chilli, garlic, tomato, olive oil and various herbs including oregano.
With their beautiful dark red colour, they are visually very pleasing. The rich umami scent emanating from the newly opened jars made me feel incredibly hungry. As the name relish implies, these are not smooth sauces, but have a slightly chunky texture and include the chilli seeds. All of them are fresh tasting, very lively on the palate and a great hit with both of us.
Original Chilli & Garlic is hot, but not enough to blast you away. However, caution is advised. I’m a bit of a chilli head after all. Mild Pepper Chilli & Garlic feels quite tame in contrast, but the herby flavours come through more readily. Lime Chilli & Garlic was perhaps my favourite as it had a limey zing to it which I’m quite partial to.
Perfect for the BBQ season, I can confirm all three of them go very nicely with a burger. They’re also rather good with a cheese platter, in a sandwich and with pretty much any egg dish you care to mention. I’m not sure if the mini jars I received can be bought. But the full size ones are 200g and are stocked in various farm shops, delis and cafes in Cornwall and beyond. You can also purchase them online.
Smoked Chilli
Whilst we’re on the subject of chilli, I’ve been sampling some chilli products from Gran Luchito. They use rare smoked Mexican chillies and the smoking gives quite a different dimension to one of my favourite spices. The smell is rather addictive and the flavour is complex and lingers long on the palate.
I’ve completely fallen in love with the mayonnaise (180g). I was pleased to note it was made with free range eggs. And wow, it makes a mean cheddar and salad sandwich.
The smoked chilli honey (250g) is almost indescribable, but so, so good. It’s smokey and sweet and hot and completely confuses the senses. I used it in these Smoked Chilli Energy Bars and was particularly pleased with the result.
The smoked chilli paste (110g), I am using in all sorts of ways. It is hot and flavourful so a little goes a very long way. This is very pleasing as I don’t want to run out. It worked delightfully in this Three Allium Smoked Chilli Tart and now I’ve finished the mayonnaise, I add a bit of the paste to normal mayonnaise and enjoy it all over again.
Not only am I impressed with all three of these products, but I was won over by the charm of the gift box the products came in. Tied up with string and a smoked chilli on top, I really wished to savour the moment. But I also wanting to dive straight in. Tough decision.
Other Bean Recipes You Might Like
- Aduki bean dip (vegan)
- Black bean & bulgur wheat salad with feta
- Bunny chow – bean curry in a bread bowl (vegan)
- Corn spinach polenta with refried beans & Mexican salsa (vegan)
- Egyptian falafel (vegan)
- Mexican bean soup
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make these chocolate bean burgers, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. And do please rate the recipe. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
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If you’d like more savoury chocolate recipes, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious, of course.
Choclette x
Chocolate Bean Burgers. PIN IT.
Chocolate Bean Burgers – The Recipe
Chocolate Bean Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp rapeseed oil
- 1 handful garlic scapes chopped (or use spring onions, leeks or wild garlic)
- 1 large sweet pepper seeded and finely chopped (I used a yellow bell pepper)
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 400 g tinned red kidney beans washed & drained
- 10 g dark chocolate grated (I used 100%)
- 1 small egg
- 1 dash soy sauce (I used shoyu)
- 1 handful fresh parsley
- 1 tbsp flour plus extra for shaping (I used wholemeal spelt)
Instructions
- Fry the scapes and pepper gently in 1 tbsp of oil for a few minutes until soft.
- Add the cumin seeds and fry for another couple of minutes.
- Mash the beans up in a bowl using a potato masher.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir. If possible leave in the fridge to firm up for half an hour.
- Divide the mixture into four. Flour your hands and shape into flat (ish) rounds.
- Fry the burgers in the remaining tbsp of oil, turning them after a few minutes.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Sharing
I am entering the burgers into Cooking with Herbs with Karen at Lavender and Lovage. I used a large bunch of parsley and whilst the scapes may not strictly be herbs, I reckon they count as such. It’s being hosted this month over at Lancashire Food.
Cumin is the spice of the month, so I’m submitting this to The Spice Trail over at Bangers & Mash.
Barbecues, Picnics and Outdoor Eating is the theme for this month’s Family Foodies which is hosted by Lou of Eat Your Veg and Vanesther of Bangers & Mash. These veggie burgers would of course make excellent BBQ fare for the vegetarian in your life.
June is the season for scapes, so I am entering the burgers into Simple and in Season with Ren Behan.
I made these chocolate bean burgers with home grown garlic I also used a tin of budget kidney beans and a pepper which would have gone over if I didn’t use it right then. So I’m sending them off to Credit Crunch Munch. Linzi over at Lancashire Food is hosting this month.
Bean burgers don’t need to have any Extra Veg in them, but it’s always good to get some in if you can and these ones had a yellow pepper included so they are making their way to Utterly Scrummy Food for Families and Fuss Free Flavours.
As the Scapes came from our plot, you can’t shop much more local than that. The egg is also very local and free range too of course. So these are also going to Shop Local over at Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary.
Janice Pattie says
I’d forgotten about your clever chocolate and bean burgers. Chocolate, chilli and burgers sounds like a brilliant combination.
Choclette says
Chocolate is really good in some savoury dishes for adding a bit more richness and depth, without being at all identifiable.
Hannah Webster-Sudborough says
I’d have never thought to put chocolate in a burger before but the idea of chocolate at dinner has definitely got me excited! I love the look of your recipes so much 🙂
Choclette says
Thank you Hannah and please do excuse the very long wait for a reply! I try to respond to all my comments as I really do appreciate it. But as you can see, I don’t always manage it. Have you tried chocolate for dinner yet?
Johanna GGG says
choclette, I am late to the party but these burgers look so good I had to leave a comment – I always love your savoury chocolate recipes and this is just my sort of thing (Sylvia recently said she wished she could have chocolate for dinner – if only she knew what I could give her she might decide perhaps chocolate for dinner is not really her thing 🙂 )
Choclette says
Always better late than never – well on my blog anyway! I do so appreciate your comments Johanna, thank you for leaving them.
Haha, you should try Sylvia with something similar next time she asks – how can she fail to enjoy?
Linzi_Barrow says
Thanks for linking up to Credit crunch munch and cooking with herbs, no ideas what the gremlins have done with your posts. Anyway now added to the respective round ups 🙂
Choclette says
Thank you Linzi, that’s very kind. I don’t know what was going on as I’m sure I did both of them!
London Unattached says
gosh I never knew there was such a range of luchito…and they all look fab! I love a little chilli with chocolate, classic!
Choclette says
My trouble is I like a bit of chilli and chocolate with everything Fiona 😉
Angie Schneider says
What a creative burger recipe! I love garlic scapes.
Choclette says
Thanks Angie – they are a life saver for us in late spring.
Elizabeth says
Yum! I’ve never heard of scapes before, will have to try them! Thank you for linking your gorgeous recipe up with Shop Local 🙂
Choclette says
Thanks Elizabeth, expect you can only get them if you grow them yourself, but I could be wrong.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Nice idea Choclette and chocolate and chilli do go well together, I always think the chocolate deepens the flavour and I do love homemade burgers.
Choclette says
You are the queen of veggie burgers Jac, so really pleased you think this is a good idea. I find with chocolate in savoury dishes that less is usually more.
Alida says
Chilly and chocolate is just like an aphrodisiac. This combination of ingredients in these burgers is really interesting. Love what you have done here. Very original Choclette.
Have a nice and relaxing weekend X
Choclette says
Thanks Alida – I do love developing recipes, I just can’t help myself.
Janice Pattie says
I find it incredible how you manage to get chocolate into every recipe! The chilli relishes look delicious, so many things you could use them with and in!
Choclette says
Haha, if only Janice. I only manage to get chocolate into the recipes I blog about – I think even I might get fed up with it if I put it in everything 😉
Madeleine Morrow says
If I show this recipe to my kids I am done for! Mind you they would be lucky to find any chocolate left over once I have had a go at it
Choclette says
Just by the 100% chocolate Madeleine and then none of you will want to eat it 😉
Caroline Taylor says
Why not with burgers indeed! This sounds like such an interesting combination.
Choclette says
Thanks Caroline – I’m just wishing I cold sit down and eat some more tonight, but sadly on a fast day 🙁
thelady8home says
Wow, what an idea!! Love it.
Choclette says
Thank you, I like it! And thanks for visiting too
Vohn's Vittles says
These sound incredible Choclette. They feel very Mexican to me & I adore Mexican food. Definitely going to be trying this recipe out, thanks.
Choclette says
Oh yes, me too Vohn, I’m a big fan of Mexican food 🙂
Aunt Bee says
These sound so delicious!
Choclette says
Thanks Brandi 🙂
Jennifer Ferris says
I love everything about this recipe! I also love your wonderful product reviews! Well done.
Choclette says
Thank you Jennifer – always nice to get some appreciation 🙂
Kate Glutenfreealchemist says
Great combination of ingredients. They sound yum! I have never heard the term ‘scapes’, and I didn’t know you were supposed to cut them from the garlic either. I have just learnt something… Thanks!
Choclette says
Thanks Kate. Do you grow garlic?
Galina Varese says
Scapes is a new word for me. I’m growing garlic this year, the variety which I planted in spring, so far no flowers. These are unusual burgers, I imagine they were full of flavours
Choclette says
We plant our garlic in late autumn which seems to work better than in Spring. Hope you get a good crop and use those scapes – you don’t want flowers Galina.
Kate Hackworthy says
This sounds unusual but great! I love that you use scapes!
Choclette says
Hate being without garlic Kate, so scapes are my lifesaver during May / June.
Heather Haigh says
Ooh, that’s unusual but sounds delicious. I do put cocoa in my chilli and it tastes great – I have to try this.
Heather x
Choclette says
I find chocolate works well with beans Heather – as long as you don’t overdo it.
Lilla Goatcher says
These sound lovely, I am trying to encourage one-two vegetarian meals a week, unsuccessfully as Hubs is a meat man! But I think I could get Hubs to eat this!!!
Choclette says
Worth a try Lilla – good luck 🙂
Shaheen says
I love the sound of these and hope to make these if I can lay my hand on the ingredients, otherwise you’ve inspired me to have a go at making my own variation but with chocolate. I didn’t enjoy my Chocolate Chilli years back, but am willing to give these a go for sure, your selling them to me, plus summer is a time for burgers, and I haven’t had a veggie burger since this time last year when we met for the first time. Thank you for inspiring.
Choclette says
Hello Shaheen. I find with chocolate in savoury food that less is more. You don’t really want to taste it, but it is there for extra depth and richness of flavour. I don’t think the egg is at all necessary if you want to stay vegan, I just had one that needed using up.
Laura Denman says
These sound lovely and very different, something I could see myself liking especially as I love the chilli/chocolate combination =)
Choclette says
Thanks Laura. Homemade burgers are so much nicer than bought ones.