Kidney Bean Burger
This is the BEST kidney bean burger you’ll ever try! This is an American-style burger with traditional Indian spices. Indian spiced kidney bean & sweet potato patty is topped with delicious, creamy yogurt sauce and caramelized onions & peppers. This is the keeper recipe, try it yourself and see!
Amazing recipe, sooo tasty! Have been using it for 3 years now 🙂
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Pari
About This Recipe
Vegetarian burgers have a bad reputation for being bland and dry – flavorless patties, lack of seasoning, dry and not-so-exciting toppings. But wait, NOT here at Spice Up The Curry!
This Indian Style Kidney Bean Burger is
- Loaded with flavors from cilantro, onion, ginger, and garam masala.
- Not overly spiced. It has a subtle flavor of spices.
- Golden, crispy exterior and a moist, juicy center.
Ingredient Notes
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make delicious, non-dry kidney bean burger patties. Note: Panko breadcrumbs, salt, and oil aren’t shown in the photo.
Step By Step Photo Instructions (With Tips)
- Cook & Mash Beans, Sweet Potatoes:
- Rinse: Place dry kidney beans in a bowl and wash with cold water 2-3 times, massaging with your fingers until the water is not cloudy anymore.
- Soak: Soak the beans in enough water (2-3 inches above the beans) for at least 8 hours or overnight. Discard the soaking water after.
- Cook in Instant Pot:
- Place the soaked beans in the Instant Pot’s “Pot-in-Pot” container and add fresh water and salt.
- Pour about 1 inch of water into the Instant Pot insert, place a rack inside, and set the beans container on the rack. Cover the beans with a lid.
- Place a whole sweet potato on top of the beans container lid, then close the Instant Pot.
- Cook on Manual (High Pressure) for 8-10 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.
- Mash:
- Peel and mash the sweet potato.
- Drain any remaining cooking water completely from the kidney beans and mash them as well.
TIP: If you’re short on time, use canned kidney beans instead of soaking and cooking dry beans. It’s a quick and easy shortcut!
- Sauté Onion:
- Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Once hot, add onion, ginger, and green chili. Sprinkle a bit of salt to help the onion cook faster.
- Sauté until the onion becomes soft and light pink or translucent.
- Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, and garam masala. Mix well and cook for another minute. Turn off the stove.
- Mix Everything & Shape:
- In a large bowl, combine mashed beans and sweet potatoes. Add the sautéed onion mixture and cilantro. Mix everything together.
- Gradually add breadcrumbs and mix until the mixture is firm and not too soft or sticky. You should be able to form patties.
- Grease your palms with a little oil and shape the mixture into round patties. This recipe will make about 8 medium-sized patties.
- Shallow Fry Kidney Bean Burger Patties:
- Heat a generous amount of oil in a cast-iron skillet on medium-low heat. Once hot place patties and let them cook.
- Once the bottom of the patties turns golden brown and slightly crisp, flip them and cook the other side until golden and crispy as well.
TIP for a Perfect Golden Crust: Cook the patties on medium-low heat to achieve even browning without burning. Unlike meat patties, these vegetarian patties won’t dry out, so take your time to get that perfect, crispy golden crust!
- Toppings:
Onions & Peppers: Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Once hot, add sliced onions and peppers. Sprinkle with salt and Italian seasoning. Sauté until soft and lightly browned.
Yogurt Sauce: In a bowl, mix Greek yogurt, ketchup, hot sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir until well combined, and your sauce is ready!
Freezing Kidney Bean Burger Patties
- Place the shaped patties on a parchment paper-lined tray and freeze until solid.
- Once frozen, transfer the patties into a ziplock bag, placing parchment paper between the patties to prevent them from sticking together.
- The patties stay good for up to 3 months in the freezer.
- When you’re ready to eat, shallow fry the frozen patties on low-medium heat. Cover the pan with a lid to ensure the patties are heated through evenly from the inside.
Check Out Other Burger Recipe – Aloo Tikki Burger
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a review in the comment section below. If you’re sharing it on your Instagram then don’t forget to tag me @spice.up.the.curry
Kidney Bean Burger Recipe
US measuring cups are used (1 cup = 240 ml)
Ingredients
For burger patty:
- ¾ cup Rajma (Red kidney beans), (dry beans), or use 1 (15 oz) can
- 1 medium Sweet potatoes, ~ 1 cup boiled, peeled and mashed
- 1 tablespoons Oil
- 1 cup Red onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon Ginger, minced or grated
- 1 Green chili, chopped finely
- Salt, to taste
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon Red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Garam masala
- ½ cup Cilantro or coriander leaves, chopped finely
- 2 teaspoon Lemon juice or Lime juice
- ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs, more or less
For Yogurt Sauce:
- 1 cup Greek Yogurt
- ¼ cup Tomato Ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder
For Onion Peppers:
- 2 teaspoons Oil
- ½ of large Red onion, sliced thickly
- ½ of large Capsicum (Green bell pepper), sliced thickly
- Salt, to taste
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
For Burgers:
- 3-4 tablespoons Oil, for shallow frying patties
- 8 slices Cheese, Optional
- 8 Burger buns
Instructions
Make Kidney Bean Burger Patties:
- Rinse: Place dry kidney beans in a bowl and wash with cold water 2-3 times, massaging with your fingers until the water is not cloudy anymore.
- Soak: Soak the beans in enough water (2-3 inches above the beans) for at least 8 hours or overnight. Discard the soaking water after.
- Pressure Cook: Place the soaked beans in the Instant Pot's "Pot-in-Pot" container and add fresh water and salt. Pour about 1 inch of water into the Instant Pot insert, place a rack inside, and set the beans container on the rack. Cover the beans with a lid.
- Place a whole sweet potato on top of the beans container lid, then close the Instant Pot. Cook on Manual (High Pressure) for 8-10 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.
- Mash: Peel and mash the sweet potato. Drain any remaining cooking water completely from the kidney beans and mash them as well.
- Saute Onion: Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Once hot, add onion, ginger, and green chili. Sprinkle a bit of salt to help the onion cook faster. Sauté until the onion becomes soft and light pink or translucent.
- Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, and garam masala. Mix well and cook for another minute. Turn off the stove.
- Make Patty Mixture: In a large bowl, combine mashed beans and sweet potatoes. Add the sautéed onion mixture and cilantro. Mix everything together. Gradually add breadcrumbs and mix until the mixture is firm and not too soft or sticky. You should be able to form patties.
- Shape: Grease your palms with a little oil and shape the mixture into round patties. This recipe will make about 8 medium-sized patties.
- Fry: Heat a generous amount of oil in a cast-iron skillet on medium-low heat. Once hot place patties and let them cook.
- Once the bottom of the patties turns golden brown and slightly crisp, flip them and cook the other side until golden and crispy as well.
Make Toppings:
- Onions & Peppers: Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Once hot, add sliced onions and peppers. Sprinkle with salt and Italian seasoning. Sauté until soft and lightly browned.
- Yogurt Sauce: In a bowl, mix Greek yogurt, ketchup, hot sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir until well combined, and your sauce is ready!
Assemble Burger:
- Slice the burger buns in half and lightly toast them in a pan with a bit of oil.
- Spread the yogurt sauce on the bottom half, place a burger patty, and top with the caramelized onions and peppers.
- Drizzle more yogurt sauce, cover with the top bun, and your burger is ready to enjoy!
How would it work with canned kidney beans?
Use 1 can of kidney beans and mash with sweet potatoes.
Can you use canned pumpkin or sweet potato? I have several cans I need to get rid of! Can’t wait to try this recipe. Thank you, MBL
Of course you can use canned pumpkin or sweet potatoes