I missed the American 4th of July again ! Another summer not spent in the U.S. of A. But strangely enough, there was plenty of flag-waving, fireworks-buying, and meat-eating going on here in Venezuela. It turns out that Venezuela's birthday is just one day after the USA's (the country of Venezuela is only 35 years (and a day) younger than my own). It wasn't just any birthday, we're talking about its 200th birthday !
How could I celebrate both cultures simultaneously ? How could I bridge these two opposing cultural and political paradigms ? Well, I decided to use the burger, the symbol of both the American plains and the Venezuelan Llanos. It's also the poster-meal of American gluttony and neo-colonialism. But did I create an ordinary burger ? Did I create a burger that propetuates all that's wrong with American McCulture ? Nay, I made a burger so de-clawed, de-feathered, de-fanged, de-boned, that it would render Venezuela's meat czar Senor Chuck Loin (that's Sir Loin, to you, bub !) speechless and mouth-watering.
I made the American Veggezuelan Burger, full of beans, avocado, onion, and carrot grown in Vene...well probably not in Venezuela since they import most of their food, but certainly grown close to Venezuela.
And here's how I did it...
In a large bowl, throw in a can of black beans and a can of kidney beans. Mash 'em and smash 'em.
Add a giant, tropical avocado. Give it the bean treatment.
Finely chop a large purple onion and add to the mixture.
Grate a small carrot.
Add oats until the mixture is dry and crumbly.
Stir an egg in there, too.
Add bread crumbs and/or flour until the mixture's the same consistency as meat. Saltine crackers work great, too.
Finally spice it with salt, pepper, paprika, coriander, cumin. Sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and turmeric are optional.
From here on, treat them like meat burgers, fry the patties and serve on a bun with ketchup, mustard, tomato, and lettuce.
Seriously, vegetarians and carnivorous Venezolanos alike have eaten seconds of this burger. One such Venezolano had no idea that he was eating meat !
How could I celebrate both cultures simultaneously ? How could I bridge these two opposing cultural and political paradigms ? Well, I decided to use the burger, the symbol of both the American plains and the Venezuelan Llanos. It's also the poster-meal of American gluttony and neo-colonialism. But did I create an ordinary burger ? Did I create a burger that propetuates all that's wrong with American McCulture ? Nay, I made a burger so de-clawed, de-feathered, de-fanged, de-boned, that it would render Venezuela's meat czar Senor Chuck Loin (that's Sir Loin, to you, bub !) speechless and mouth-watering.
I made the American Veggezuelan Burger, full of beans, avocado, onion, and carrot grown in Vene...well probably not in Venezuela since they import most of their food, but certainly grown close to Venezuela.
And here's how I did it...
In a large bowl, throw in a can of black beans and a can of kidney beans. Mash 'em and smash 'em.
Add a giant, tropical avocado. Give it the bean treatment.
Finely chop a large purple onion and add to the mixture.
Grate a small carrot.
Add oats until the mixture is dry and crumbly.
Stir an egg in there, too.
Add bread crumbs and/or flour until the mixture's the same consistency as meat. Saltine crackers work great, too.
Finally spice it with salt, pepper, paprika, coriander, cumin. Sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and turmeric are optional.
From here on, treat them like meat burgers, fry the patties and serve on a bun with ketchup, mustard, tomato, and lettuce.
Seriously, vegetarians and carnivorous Venezolanos alike have eaten seconds of this burger. One such Venezolano had no idea that he was eating meat !
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