(Makes 4)
In response to everyone asking me what on earth to do with tinned beans that is slightly different to a chilli or a salad, I came up with this. Another 3-ingredient beauty of a recipe that you can embellish on depending on what you have in the spice cupboard and serve with a whole host of sides like eggs, halloumi, any kind of cheese or stick in a bun like a delicious burger and add ketchup, brown sauce or chilli sauce to serve. What you put in the mixture is entirely up to you and really rather depends on what you have in your cupboards but be brave and be bold with your random jars because beans can handle lots of spice and flavour.
Ingredients
400g tin of butter beans (or any tinned beans you have)
2 heaped teaspoons of plain flour
A generous handful of breadcrumbs/cracker crumbs/cornflakes/crisp bread crumbs
Salt and pepper
Oil for frying
I added: a good pinch of cinnamon, garlic granules, cumin, turmeric and paprika plus a teaspoon of spicy chutney from the cupboard
Optional additional ingredients:
a tablespoon of Brown sauce, ketchup, dried herbs, onions/spring onions, a heaped teaspoon of peanut butter, chilli, ginger, fresh herbs etc. If mix gets a little too wet, just add a bit more flour.
Method
Preheat a non stick frying pan over a gentle heat to warm the pan.
Drain the beans really well (do not wash them) but make sure excess liquid is shaken off. Then using a potato masher utensil (or a fork or end of a rolling pin) mash the beans as best you can. Add the flour, your chosen spices and ingredients and a generous amount of salt and pepper and mix really well until even.
Turn the heat up under the frying pan to medium-high and drizzle in some vegetable oil. Divide the mixture into 4 patties, gently shape them into even rounds / burger shapers and coat them in some breadcrumbs (as much as you have).
Make sure the pan is nice and hot so the patties don’t fall apart and instead crisp up, fry them carefully for a few minutes until nicely browned on both sides and serve.
My favourite way to eat them is with chopped onion and cheese on the side so in a mash them together in every bite and a generous dollop of a sweet and spicy chutney doesn’t go a miss either!