Photo: SmashburgerBlack Bean Smash
A black bean patty for vegetarians, dressed with the Classic’s toppings. It does not pretend to be beef, which is to its credit, and the Smash Sauce and fresh toppings make it a solid option rather than an afterthought.
The story
The veggie burger has a named inventor and a date. Gregory Sams sold the first commercial one in London in 1982, calling it the VegeBurger, and the name stuck so hard that it turned into the generic word for the category. Everything since has been an argument about what a meat-free patty should be: this one is on the side that does not pretend, built from black beans and vegetables with no attempt to bleed or brown like beef, which is the older tradition of the two.
What’s inside
- black bean patty
- cheese
- lettuce
- tomato
- onion
- Smash Sauce
- toasted bun
Make it at home
There is no copycat of the Black Bean Smash yet. Until there is, these recipes on the site come closest to it, judged by what goes into the bun.
- Shares a plant-based patty and cheese
McDonald's McPlant (Copycat) - Shares a plant-based patty and cheese
Tofu Burgers - Shares a plant-based patty and cheese
Mushroom Veggie Burger - Shares a plant-based patty
Burger King Impossible Whopper (Copycat)
Similar burgers at other chains
Built around the same things as the Black Bean Smash.- Burger Singh · a plant-based patty and cheese
SignatureUdta Punjab 2.0 Cheese Burger - McDonald's · a plant-based patty and cheese
McPlant - Bleecker Burger · a plant-based patty and cheese
Simplicity Burger - Madero · a plant-based patty and cheese
Falafel Veggie
More from Smashburger
About Smashburger
Smashburger opened in Denver, Colorado, in 2007 with one technique as its entire identity: a ball of Certified Angus Beef is pressed hard onto a hot griddle with a heavy tool, so it spreads thin and forms a deep brown crust in seconds. Home cooks and food writers had long loved the method; Smashburger was one of the first chains to build a brand around it.
Around 200 restaurants, mostly in the US. Owned by the Philippine company behind Jollibee.
Not affiliated with Smashburger. Trademarks belong to their owners. The photo is credited under it and is used to illustrate this menu item; it comes down on request.