Vegan Sweet Potato Black Bean (Print version)

Hearty burgers with roasted sweet potatoes, black beans, and creamy avocado lime sauce for a satisfying vegan meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Burgers

01 - 1 large sweet potato (about 12.3 oz), peeled and cubed
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 can (14 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
04 - 1/2 cup rolled oats
05 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
13 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

→ For the Avocado Lime Sauce

14 - 1 ripe avocado
15 - 2 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
17 - 1 garlic clove
18 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
19 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ To Serve

20 - 4 vegan burger buns
21 - Lettuce leaves
22 - Tomato slices
23 - Red onion slices

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - Toss the sweet potato cubes with olive oil and spread on the tray. Roast for 20-25 minutes until tender. Let cool slightly.
03 - In a food processor, pulse the oats into a coarse meal. Add roasted sweet potato, black beans, onion, garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, pepper, cilantro, and lime juice. Pulse until just combined but still chunky, avoiding overmixing.
04 - Shape the mixture into 4 equal burger patties. Place on a plate and refrigerate for 15 minutes to firm up.
05 - Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Lightly oil the surface and cook the patties for 4-5 minutes per side until crisp and golden brown.
06 - Blend all avocado lime sauce ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth. Adjust seasoning as needed.
07 - Toast the burger buns if desired. Assemble the burgers with lettuce, tomato, red onion, the sweet potato black bean patty, and a generous dollop of avocado lime sauce. Serve immediately.

# Tips from the pros:

01 -
  • They hold together beautifully without any weird binders, staying crispy outside and tender inside with real substance that satisfies.
  • The avocado lime sauce is so creamy and bright it makes you forget you're not drowning these in mayo.
  • You can make the patties ahead and just cook them when you're ready, which is honestly a lifesaver on busy evenings.
02 -
  • Don't overmix the burger mixture—this is where most people mess up—because you want texture and structure, not a smooth paste that falls apart.
  • Your avocado needs to be genuinely ripe, not hard and not brown inside, or the sauce will either be grainy or taste slightly off in a way you can't quite place.
03 -
  • If your patties keep falling apart on the first flip, chill them longer and make sure your skillet is actually hot enough—a cool pan means they'll fall apart before they develop a crust.
  • The avocado lime sauce works on basically anything else you make for a week, so don't hesitate to make extra and save it for grain bowls or sandwiches.
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