Black Bean Burgers

I have had many requests for this recipe.  It is probably one of our family's favorite meals!  I sort of MacGyvered this recipe out of a few I've come across, and I add to it as I see fit.  We also discovered (being out of black beans) that this recipe can also successfully be made with white beans if you don't have any.  Hubby thinks this is quite racist of us. Anyway, this is how the recipe currently goes...

Black Bean Burgers
(I usually double this for our family and it works out great with leftovers for lunch the next day)

1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 14.5 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained well (or approx. 2 cups black beans, cooked, rinsed and drained)
2 tsp cajun seasoning (or other seasoning salt)
1 tsp cumin (if you like)
1 egg




This recipe is pretty forgiving.  Experiment with it, see what seasonings you like (you really can use whatever kinds you like), what consistencies you like (they can be a little dry or crumbly depending on the amount of liquid left in your beans and your onions).  

If you make your own bread crumbs, I food process (you can use a blender to do this also- I did this before I upgraded to my amazing food processor) them first and transfer them to another bowl.  Then, put the onion and garlic in the food processor and process til fine.  Add the beans, seasonings and eggs and process til beans are mashed.  With the food processor on, add the breadcrumbs in slowly.  


You can grill these for 6-7 min a side.  You can also freeze them and then grill them frozen, which I've heard helps them not to fall apart so much.  I usually broil them.  Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray.  Using your hands, shape a handful of bean mixture into patties.  Broil for 10 min per side, til nice and brown.


We love these with this hamburger bun recipe from One Lovely Life (except I like to sub 1 cup of whole wheat flour for 1 cup of the all-purpose flour, and also this fry sauce recipe, also from One Lovely Life.  Enjoy!