Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Add peeled and chopped beet and whole garlic cloves to a medium saucepan with 2 tablespoons water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and let steam for 8 minutes, or until beets are soft. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed. Once beets are soft, transfer to a bowl and let cool.
Add diced onion to medium saucepan with 2 tablespoons water and saute for 3 minutes.
Add all remaining ingredients and sauteed onions to the bowl of a stand mixture fitted with a flat beater.
Transfer cooled beets/garlic to a food processor fitted with an s-blade. Process until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Add to stand mixer bowl.
Turn on stand mixer to low and allow all ingredients to fully combine, this will take about 1 minute. (A potato masher can be used in place of a stand mixer).
Form mixture into balls, place on parchment-lined baking sheet and flatten each ball into a patty. Makes approximately 8 patties.
Bake for 20 minutes, flip and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
Serve warm on a whole grain bun or over a bed of leafy greens with your favorite toppings: avocado, hot sauce, mustard, leafy greens, hummus, tomato, onion, etc.
Notes
Drained canned beets can be used. If doing so, you can skip step 2.Cooled leftover patties can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 5 days. To freeze patties, after baking, simply lay on baking sheet and place in the freezer for 3-4 hours. Transfer frozen patties to airtight freezer bags. When ready to enjoy, heat frozen patties in the microwave or on the stove.