After a day immersed in the world of the Pioneer Woman, it felt only natural to try one of her recipes at home. Browsing her blog for vegetarian options, I stumbled upon her Black Bean Burger recipe. While a previous attempt at chickpea burgers at home had resulted in a dry disappointment, these black bean burgers looked promising – moist, easy, and definitely worth trying. Serendipitously, Ree’s show was on TV as I was planning my next week’s meals, and she was making carrot fries. Carrot fries seemed like the perfect side, so they were added to the menu as well.
The Pioneer Woman black bean burgers turned out to be absolutely delicious, hearty, and full of flavor. However, reflecting on the cooking process and the final result, there are a couple of tweaks I would suggest for an even better outcome. Ree’s recipe calls for frying the black bean patties in a pan with equal parts olive oil and butter. Unfortunately, we were out of butter and had to substitute with margarine. In hindsight, butter would have likely made a significant difference, contributing to a crispier, more burger-like texture. While the burgers were still fantastic, they were a tad softer than a traditional burger patty.
Another area for potential enhancement is the flavor profile. While we followed Ree’s lead and topped our black bean burgers with melted Swiss cheese, mayonnaise, lettuce, and red onions, I felt they could benefit from a bolder flavor element. For our next iteration of this Pioneer Woman black bean burger recipe, I’m planning to incorporate some shredded sharp cheddar or even bleu cheese directly into the black bean mixture itself. This would add a delicious depth of flavor to the “meat” of the burger, complementing the mildness of the melted Swiss cheese on top. These Pioneer Woman black bean burgers are undoubtedly destined to become a regular summertime meal in our household, and these minor adjustments will only elevate them further.
On the side, the carrot fries, inspired by another Pioneer Woman recipe, were a resounding success. We adhered to Ree’s technique but put our own spin on the flavor by using a local brand of Tuscan herb-infused olive oil and fresh rosemary instead of thyme. The result was incredibly flavorful carrot fries that were devoured in minutes.
In conclusion, the Pioneer Woman black bean burger recipe is a winner. It’s a flavorful and satisfying vegetarian meal that’s easy to make. With a few minor adjustments like using butter for frying and incorporating sharper cheese for a more robust flavor, this recipe can be easily customized to individual preferences and become a beloved staple. The addition of carrot fries, especially with a flavorful olive oil and fresh herbs, completes the meal perfectly. This Pioneer Woman inspired meal is a testament to delicious and accessible home cooking.
