Recipe - Black Bean Veggie Burger

Have you ever tried the black bean burgers at Costco?  They taste very nummy.  One of our quick meals recently was one of these burger patties and some baked potato wedges.  Very satisfying.

Well, this recipe tastes like those black bean burgers.  So fast and easy.  I baked one in the oven, and it was perfect.  The others I tried grilling, but forgot to oil the aluminum foil.  BIG mistake.  They still tasted good, but stuck mightily to the foil.  We scraped them off and ate them anyway.  One nephew ate 2 burgers using 3 patties.

This is going in a regular rotation at my house!

4/2/13 Additional information: I just read of a family who eats bean burgers on a regular basis - with a twist.  Instead of cooking them like regular burger patties and putting them on buns, they spread some of the "burger dough" on a tortilla, throw it in the oven (or toaster oven or on the grill) set at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes.  When it is finished cooking, just add the other ingredients - tomatoes, onions, ketchup, lettuce, etc.  It sounds delicious and less messy.  This is the way we are going to eat these next.

Homemade Black Bean Veggie Burgers

INGREDIENTS

1	(16 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2	green bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces
1/2	onion, cut into wedges
3	cloves garlic, peeled
3	eggs
1	tablespoon chili powder
1	tablespoon cumin
1	teaspoon Thai chili sauce or hot sauce
1/2	cup bread crumbs (or use cracker crumbs)

INSTRUCTIONS

1.	If grilling, preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil a sheet of aluminum foil. If baking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), and lightly oil a baking sheet.
2.	In a medium bowl, mash black beans with a fork until thick and pasty.
3.	In a food processor, finely chop bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Then stir into mashed beans.
4.	In a small bowl, stir together egg, chili powder, cumin, and chili sauce.
5.	Stir the egg mixture into the mashed beans. Mix in bread crumbs until the mixture is sticky and holds together. Divide mixture into four patties.
6.	If grilling, place patties on foil, and grill about 8 minutes on each side. If baking, place patties on baking sheet, and bake about 10 minutes on each side.