BuckBean Cookin' (gluten-free, soy-free, vegan meat substitute)
Channel: PacoWarabi
Date: 11/03/2012

Because of various health issues, I live in a gluten-free household.  I'm also 95% vegetarian.  And we try to avoid soy.  But at the same time, I sometimes get a major craving for a burger.  Trying to find premade meat substitutes that fit all these categories is almost impossible.  And most of the recipes online are way too complicated.  So I came up with my own.

This video shows two recipes, both of which use buckwheat and beans as main ingredients.  Hence the name BuckBeans (catchy, isn't it?)  The recipes I show here get a decent result for texture and versatility, but I'm sure there are plenty of ways to improve the seasoning.  Please improve my recipe, and tell me what you did.  I'd love to know!

BuckBean Burgers*
Ingredients:
One 15 oz can of black beans
One tsp Better Than Bullion, bullion cube, or other spices
1/2 cup Cream of Buckwheat/Creamy Buckwheat cereal
1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup water
Olive oil

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)
2. Heat undrained beans and bullion on the stove over medium heat
3. When the beans are softened, blend them with an immersion blender, blender, or food processor
4. Stir in the oats, buckwheat, and water
5. Reduce the heat to low or medium low and cover for 10 minutes
6. Take the mixture off the heat, stir, and let sit until cool enough to handle
7. Take a hamburger-sized amount and form into patty
8. Put on an ungreased pan
9. Coat the top (and the bottom) of the patties in olive oil*
10. Add additional seasonings if desired
11. Cook in the oven for 10--15 minutes
12. Serve as you would any other burger
* Coating both the top and the bottom of the patties keeps them from sticking to the pan


BuckBean Sausage
Ingredients:
One 15 oz can of pinto beans
One tsp Better Than Bullion, bullion cube, or other seasonings
1/2 cup Cream of Buckwheat/Creamy Buckwheat cereal
1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup water
Salt (to taste)
Fennel seed (to taste)
Coconut oil or other frying oil

Directions:
1. Heat undrained beans and bullion on the stove over medium heat
2. Add salt and fennel seed
3. When the beans are softened, blend them with an immersion blender, blender, or food processor
4. Stir in the oats, buckwheat, and water
5. Reduce the heat to low or medium low and cover for 10 minutes
6. Take the mixture off the heat, stir, and let sit until cool enough to handle
7. Form mixture into sausage-sized balls
8. Heat coconut oil over medium heat in medium size skillet
9. Fry half of the sausage balls, stirring frequently to coat evenly
10. When the sausage is browned on the outside, remove from the pan and fry the second batch
11. Serve on pizza, or anywhere else you want some savory, greasy goodness!