Smoked Black Bean Quinoa Burger

Ingredient Spotlight

Smoked paprika

A Spanish spice (often labeled pimentón) made from peppers dried over oak fires, giving it a distinctive smoky, sweet-to-medium heat flavor. It originates from regions like La Vera in Spain and is used widely in Spanish and Hungarian cuisine for color and smoke without charring. You can find it in most grocery spice aisles or international/Spanish sections, and online; as a substitute use regular paprika plus a tiny bit of liquid smoke or smoked salt, or use chipotle powder for heat with smoke (adjust quantities to taste).

Ingredient Spotlight

Panko breadcrumbs

Light, flaky Japanese-style breadcrumbs made from crustless white bread, producing a much crispier, airier coating than regular breadcrumbs. They’re common in Asian cooking (Japanese tonkatsu, tempura coatings) and are sold in the Asian aisle or baking/cereal sections of supermarkets. If you don’t have panko, substitute dry regular breadcrumbs, crushed cornflakes, crushed crackers, or pulse slices of white bread in a food processor for a similar texture.

Ingredient Spotlight

Ground flaxseed (to bind)

Finely milled flax seeds (also called flax meal) used as a vegan binder or nutritional boost with a mildly nutty flavor and slightly gritty texture. It’s commonly used to make a “flax egg” (typically 1 tablespoon ground flax + 3 tablespoons water = 1 egg) in plant-based baking and can be found in bulk bins, health-food aisles, or natural foods stores. Good substitutes are ground chia seeds prepared the same way, an actual egg if you’re not avoiding animal products, or commercial egg replacers depending on the recipe.