CaribBEAN burgers, From Scratch

While Marie was here we didn't get a chance to make a from scratch meal because there was just too little time to take her out and about and let her try the local cuisine.  So, this past weekend we were excited to get back in the kitchen and try something new.

Here are the recipes to start with:

This is for mango salsa...

Since I wanted to do everything as much from scratch as posssible, I went with dried beans.  I also selected black beans even though this recipe called for great northern beans.  I am just a big fan of scipy black bean burgers, so that was what I was thinking about.  We planned ahead and let these soak over night.

First up was the bread.  Since we are doing this from scratch, that means the buns too.

The dough turnerd out nicely this time.  Not too moist.

I may have gone a little crazy with the punching of the dough, but it felt so nice and squishy.

Then we shaped them...

They rose a little, but not much so we decided the bean burgers would be best if we made them smaller to fit the buns...duh!  Things never rise here because it says warm area, and well, we have no warm area!

Thankfully they rose some more in the oven.

Little buns, means little burgers.  Thanks to my sister for reminding me these are called sliders.  Used to eat them all the time (crabcake sliders) but the term escaped me last night.

The it was mango salsa time.  Ryan and I both chopped and diced for this one.

Oh did I cry!

Mango chunkin'

Look at the great colors!

Hot pepper time!

Fresh ginger root.  Everytime we said ginger, the dog got up and came over.  Oh poor Ginger, at least she got some exercise.

No fresh cilantro, so we used dried.

The last touch to the salsa was lime juice...

which lead to this...

Ok, 2 down, one more recipe to go. 

So we cooked the beans and then the recipe called for bean smashing, however with these beans (which were not canned and I imagine those are easier to smash) were not smashable, so we put them in the Cuisanart mini food processor and ground them up.

Then we added bread crumbs like the recipe called for, but added 2 eggs not one, and then added the milk and onion and finally it was pastier and sticking together.

Here are the formed "burgers".

To get the perfect little shape, we used a 1/3 cup measuring cup and packed in the bean mixture.  Then we used a 1/4 cup measuring cup to smash it down and form a tight patty.  This technique worked better than I could have imagined.

Cookin' time!

Up close...ok a little blurry!

Aha, the finished product...

As always we set the dinner table complete with wine and candles.

This was a green wine we picked up at the grocery store.  It was really good.  I didn't expect it to be bubbly, but it was.

Here is the realy finished, all dressed up product.

There you have our CarriBEAN burgers...from scratch!

QUESTION:  What's your favorite burger or favorite topping(s) for a burger?