Veggie Burger Bites

1 15-oz. black beans, drained and rinsed

1 15-oz. dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 small yellow onion, roughly chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, peeled  

1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

1/4 cup panko bread crumbs (gluten-free works great, too!)

1 egg

2 Tbsp. ketchup

1 Tbsp. low-sodium tamari (or soy sauce)

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

1 head butter lettuce or green leaf lettuce

1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes

1 small jar kosher dill pickle chips

Toothpicks (for assembling bites)

Your favorite burger sauce, for serving

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment or silicone baking mat, and set aside.
2. In the bowl of a food processor, add your roughly chopped onion and garlic cloves. Pulse several times until finely chopped.
3. Add drained and rinsed black beans and kidney beans to the food processor, and pulse several times until roughly mashed, and onions and garlic are incorporated.
4. Scrape down the sides of the food processor, and add remaining ingredients for the burger bites: grated cheddar cheese, panko bread crumbs, egg, ketchup, tamari, and black pepper. Pulse several times until everything is well incorporated, but pieces of beans and cheese are still visible.
5. Using a small scoop (or your hands), scoop bean mixture into golf ball-sized balls and place on lined baking sheet. (This recipe yields about 40 bites, so place them fairly close together.)
6. Bake the burger bites in a 400 degree F oven for 24-26 minutes, until browned and firm.
7. While the burger bites are baking, prep and assemble your toothpick skewers:
8. Drain dill pickle chips on a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Cut pickle chips into halves or quarters, depending on size. Set aside.
9. Slice cherry or grape tomatoes in half, and set aside.
10. Break down lettuce head into leaves, and tear leaves into small pieces (about the size of a credit card). Set aside.
11. Assemble your toothpick skewers: tomato half, pickle piece, then lettuce leaf. Repeat until you have enough small skewers for each burger bite.
12. Remove burger bites from the oven, and let rest for several minutes. (You’ll probably be finishing up your skewers!)
13. Gently loosen the burger bites from the sheet tray using a spatula. Marry the prepared toothpick skewers with the burger bites by inserting a prepared skewer into each burger bite.
14. Place burger bites on a large platter for serving, along with your favorite burger sauce for dipping! Here’s mine:

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‍Kira’s Favorite Burger Sauce

1/3 cup mayonnaise

2 Tbsp. yellow mustard

2 Tbsp. sweet pickle relish

- Stir together to combine, and serve.