Going into a holiday as a new vegetarian or vegan can be very disconcerting. Especially when your family believes you have lost your mind.

(Insert eye roll here.)

NOW what are we going to feed her?

I’m sure she will be over all this nonsense in a month.

Sigh

Little did they know it would stick. And I don’t miss it one bit.  In fact, all of my alternatives are so easy and delish that I prefer them to some dried out old piece of meat. This year I’m making roasted sweet potatoes and onions, mashed cauliflower and maybe a salad.

For purposes of testing the recipe though, I just threw on a side of edamame.  Let the eye rolling ensue.

These burgers are moist, have all those Thanksgiving-y flavors of thyme and sage and a touch of sweetness from the sweet-tart cranberry sauce….the PERFECT topping to blend with the flavor of the burger and the baked onion rings give it a nice crunch.  It sort of reminds me of the crispy onions some people put on their green bean casserole.

So when your family is cooking their bird for hours upon hours it is your turn to return the eye roll and make these burgers in just a few minutes.

Thanksgiving Bean Burger

Serves 4
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups cooked white beans, such as butter beans or great northern
1/3 cup rolled oatmeal, (Millers Grain)
1 tsp poultry seasoning (salt free)
1/4 tsp salt
1 rounded tbsp mustard

Optional
8 Frozen breaded onion rings, (Alexia)
1 cup Whole cranberry sauce, (Pacific Foods)**
2 Thin bun, (Ozery Baker, 100 calorie)

Directions

1. Cook onion rings to package directions, if using.

2. Preheat broiler to high.  Process the oatmeal to a powder with a Magic Bullet or blender.  Mash  beans and oats together and add seasoning, salt and mustard in a medium bowl; divide into four; shape into burgers by hand.  Spray burgers with cooking spray, place on baking sheet and broil about 5 minutes per side or until browned.

3. Toast thin buns and top half with one burger; spoon 2 Tbsp cranberry sauce over each burger and top with 2 onion rings.

 ***FOR GLUTEN FREE DO NOT USE BUN OR ONION RINGS AND USE GLUTEN FREE ROLLED OATS.

Nutrition Facts – Burger only
4 Servings
Amount Per Serving 

Calories 184.4
Total Fat 0.9 g
Saturated Fat 0.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.2 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 174.5 mg
Potassium 597.3 mg
Total Carbohydrate 33.8 g
Dietary Fiber 6.9 g
Sugars 0.2 g
Protein 10.3 g 

Vitamin A 3.2 %
Vitamin B-12 0.0 %
Vitamin B-6 5.2 %
Vitamin C 0.1 %
Vitamin D 0.0 %
Vitamin E 0.0 %
Calcium 9.9 %
Copper 15.4 %
Folate 21.4 %
Iron 24.0 %
Magnesium 16.9 %
Manganese 35.0 %
Niacin 0.8 %
Pantothenic Acid 2.4 %
Phosphorus 12.0 %
Riboflavin 3.2 %
Selenium 3.0 %
Thiamin 10.0 %
Zinc 9.9 % 

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.