These air fryer black bean mushroom burgers are homemade vegan patties made with black beans, sautéed mushrooms, red onion, lentil flour, chia seeds and simple seasonings. The mushrooms are cooked first to reduce their moisture before being combined with the beans, helping the patties hold their shape.
The patties are cooked in the air fryer until firm and browned on the outside. Serve them in burger buns with lettuce, tomato and vegan mayo, or serve the patties on their own with a salad, soup or a side of air fryer French fries.
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Ingredients
These patties use a short list of plant-based ingredients. Refer to the recipe card for the exact quantities.
- Black beans: Use canned black beans that have been drained well. Excess liquid can make the burger mixture too soft.
- Mushrooms: Chop the mushrooms before cooking. They are sautéed with the onion so that they soften and release excess moisture before the patties are made.
- Red onion: Adds flavour and is cooked before being mixed with the remaining ingredients.
- Lentil flour: Helps bind the beans and mushrooms and gives the mixture a firmer consistency.
- Powdered chia seeds: Used as an additional binder in the burger mixture.
- Ginger-garlic paste: Adds flavour to the patties.
- Seasoning: Salt and paprika or red chilli powder can be adjusted to taste.
- Vegetable oil: Used for cooking the mushrooms and lightly brushing the patties before air frying.
If you enjoy cooking mushrooms in the air fryer, you can also try these air fryer mushrooms.
mushroom burger recipe| vegan black bean mushroom burger recipe
Equipment
- can opener
- Frying pan or skillet
- Food processor
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil divided
- 1 medium onion chopped, about ½ cup
- 1 cup canned black beans drained and rinsed
- 5 cups mushrooms finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- ¾ cup lentil flour plus more if needed
- 3 tablespoon chia seed meal or flaxseed meal
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat about 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened.
- Add the chopped mushrooms, salt, paprika and ginger-garlic paste. Cook over medium heat until the mushrooms soften and most of the moisture they release has evaporated.
- Remove from the heat and allow the mushroom mixture to cool.
- Add the drained and rinsed black beans, chia seed meal and lentil flour. Mix well.
- Transfer the mixture to a food processor and pulse until it comes together. Do not process it into a completely smooth paste.
- Check the consistency. The mixture should be moist but firm enough to shape. If it feels too wet or sticky, add a little more lentil flour.
- Shape into patties. Lightly oil your hands if the mixture sticks. Arrange the patties on a parchment-lined tray and freeze for 2-3 hours, or until firm enough to handle easily.
- Preheat the air fryer to 190°C / 375°F for 5 minutes.
- Lightly brush the patties with the remaining oil. Arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 190°C / 375°F for 10-12 minutes.
- Carefully flip the patties, brush with a little more oil if needed, and air fry for another 4-5 minutes.
- The patties are ready when they are firm, browned on the outside and release easily from the air fryer basket.
- Serve the patties on their own or assemble them in burger buns with lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion and your favourite sauce.
Notes
Cooking the mushrooms until most of their moisture has evaporated helps prevent soft or fragile patties.
Chia seed meal or flaxseed meal acts as a binder.
If the mixture feels too wet, add a little extra lentil flour before shaping.
The uncooked patties can be frozen. If cooking them completely frozen, allow approximately 5 additional minutes, checking for doneness rather than relying only on time.
How to make black bean mushroom burgers
The key to these homemade bean burgers is controlling the moisture in the mixture. Cook the mushrooms before combining them with the beans, and check the consistency before shaping the patties.
1. Cook the onion and mushrooms
Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and red onion and cook until the onion begins to soften.
Add the chopped mushrooms. Continue cooking over medium heat until the mushrooms soften and the excess moisture released by them has reduced.
Add salt, paprika or red chilli powder and the remaining seasoning. Mix well.
2. Make the black bean burger mixture
Allow the mushroom mixture to cool slightly. Add the drained black beans, powdered chia seeds and lentil flour. Mix well and cook until the mixture thickens.
Allow the mixture to cool before transferring it to a food processor. Process for about a minute until the ingredients come together. Avoid processing it into a completely smooth paste.
3. Shape and chill the patties
Check the consistency before shaping. The mixture should be moist but firm enough to form a patty. If it feels very wet or sticky, add a little more lentil flour. If necessary, lightly oil your hands while shaping.
Shape the mixture into burger patties and arrange them on a parchment-lined tray. Cover and freeze for 2-3 hours so the patties become firm enough to handle easily.
4. Air fry the black bean mushroom burgers
Preheat the air fryer to 190°C (375°F) for 5 minutes.
Place the patties in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a little space between them. Lightly brush the tops with oil.
Air fry at 190°C (375°F) for 10-12 minutes.
Flip the patties carefully, brush with a little more oil and air fry for another 4-5 minutes at 190°C (375°F). They are ready when the patties are firm, browned on the outside and release easily from the air fryer basket.
How to serve the patties
The black bean mushroom patty is the main recipe, so you do not need to turn it into a complete burger. Serve it with vegetables, salad or soup for an easy meal.
To make a burger, place a patty inside your favourite burger bun and add lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion, cabbage, vegan mayo or your favourite burger sauce. For a simple side, pair it with homemade air fryer fries.
Tips for burgers that hold together
- Drain the beans well. Extra liquid from canned beans can make the mixture difficult to shape.
- Cook the mushrooms first. Mushrooms release moisture as they cook, so reducing that moisture before mixing them with the beans helps create firmer patties.
- Check the mixture before shaping. It should feel moist but should hold together when pressed into a patty.
- Add more lentil flour if required. If the mixture feels too wet to shape, add a small amount at a time until it becomes manageable.
- Chill or freeze soft patties. Firm patties are easier to transfer to the air fryer without breaking.
- Flip carefully. Wait until the first side has started to firm before turning the burgers.
Variations and substitutions
- Adjust the seasoning with paprika, chilli powder, Cajun seasoning, taco seasoning or garam masala according to your preference.
- Bread crumbs can be used as an alternative binder if required.
- The patty can be served without a bun as part of a salad bowl or alongside vegetables.
Storage
Store cooked burger patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
You can also freeze the shaped uncooked patties. Arrange them on a parchment-lined tray so they do not stick together. Once frozen, keep them covered until required. The original recipe allows the patties to be cooked from frozen; allow approximately 5 additional minutes of cooking time and check that they are hot and firm before serving.
More air fryer patties and vegan recipes
If you enjoy homemade patties, try these air fryer rajma cutlets, air fryer beetroot cutlets or air fryer falafel.
If you are specifically looking for a burger made with a whole mushroom rather than a bean-and-mushroom patty, see this separate air fryer portobello mushroom burger recipe.
FAQs
Excess moisture is usually the main problem. Drain the canned beans well and cook the mushrooms until the moisture they release has reduced. The mixture should be moist but firm enough to shape. If it is too wet, mix in a little more lentil flour.
Yes. In this recipe, the mushrooms are sautéed with the onion before they are combined with the black beans. Cooking the mushrooms first softens them and reduces excess moisture.
Yes. Shape the patties ahead of time and keep them chilled or frozen until you are ready to air fry them. Chilling also helps soft patties become easier to handle.
Yes. Place the shaped patties on a parchment-lined tray and freeze them. Once firm, keep them covered in the freezer. They can be air fried from frozen, although they will need additional cooking time.
The patties can also be cooked in a pan or oven, but this recipe has been written around the air fryer method. Cooking time will need to be adjusted for another appliance.
Reheat the patties gently rather than repeating the full original cooking time. Use a lower air fryer temperature and check them frequently, removing them as soon as they are heated through.
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