Red Quinoa and Black Bean Sliders with Easy Guacamole Spread
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 10
Ingredients
  • 1 cup red quinoa (or other variety if desired)
  • 4 cloves of garlic
  • 2 jalapenos, ribs and seeds removed (unless you like it super spicy)
  • 1 bunch cilantro, stems cut off
  • 2 ripe avocados
  • 1 small tomato, chopped
  • Zest and juice from one lime
  • 1 can (15 oz.) reduced-sodium black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 tbsp. chili powder
  • 1 tbsp. cumin
  • 1 tsp. chipotle chili powder (more or less depending on how spicy you like it)
  • sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup liquid egg whites
  • 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 10 whole wheat slider buns
Instructions
  1. Cook quinoa according to package instructions and then set aside in a large mixing bowl to cool.
  2. While the quinoa is cooking, place garlic, jalapenos and cilantro leaves in a food processor. Process until finely chopped, stopping to scrap down the bowl at least once.
  3. Scoop avocado flesh into a small mixing bowl and mash with either a fork or a potato masher.
  4. Add about ¼ of the cilantro mixture, tomato, zest and juice of one lime to the mashed avocados. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine and place in the frig.
  5. Add black beans to the rest of the cilantro mixture in the food processor. Pulse a couple of times but keep the black beans slightly chunky.
  6. Add the cilantro and black bean mixture to the cooked quinoa.
  7. Add the spices and stir to combine.
  8. Add the liquid egg whites and stir to combine. You may need to add just a little more egg white to really get them to bind.
  9. Form into 10 golf ball-sized patties and place on a plate. Cover with plastic wrap and press gently down on each patty to flatten.
  10. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
  11. Pre-heat oven to 375.
  12. Heat a cast iron (like this one) or other oven-safe skillet over medium high heat.
  13. Once hot, add olive oil to the pan.
  14. Add the sliders to the pan and sear for 2 minutes. Gently flip and sear for 2 minutes on the other side.
  15. Place skillet with sliders in the oven and cook for 10-12 minutes or until cooked through.
  16. Place cooked sliders on the bottom half of the bun, top with a big dollop of guacamole spread and then add the top half of the bun.
  17. Enjoy while watching the big game!!
Notes
You might need a little more or less of the liquid egg white to right consistency for the sliders. You want them to to be able to form patties but not too moist.
You can use any variety of quinoa that you like, I just had red in the pantry.
You will probably have extra guac, so just grab some chips and enjoy :)
Recipe by Becky's Best Bites at https://beckysbestbites.com/red-quinoa-and-black-bean-sliders-with-easy-guacamole-spread/