Black Bean Burgers

I don’t know when it happened, but at some point, I started to incorporate more vegetarian meals into my weekly meal plans.  At first, they were mostly pasta dishes.  Then I noticed myself looking for and saving recipes that I probably wouldn’t have saved a year ago.  Now, Eric and I are more willing to try foods that were previously unfamiliar to us.  It just goes to show you that a simple change can result in an even bigger one.  🙂

These black bean burgers are a great dish if you want to try a vegetarian meal, but are still a little timid about trying something totally different.  I love the flavors the cumin, paprika and Sriracha provide.  The Sriracha also adds just a bit of kick, making these burgers really stand out from others I’ve tried.  In terms of texture, I thought these were perfect.  The burgers firm up nicely in the oven, resulting in a kind of crunchy exterior, while the interior remains soft.  For topping, Eric and I both added a little Sriracha mayonnaise.  I’m not generally a fan of mayonnaise, but something about adding Sriracha to it makes me like it.  It tastes fantastic on these burgers, but they’re certainly quite delicious on their own.  If you’re like us and have leftovers, these freeze and reheat incredibly well.

Black Bean Burgers
Ingredients:
2 (14oz.) cans low-sodium black beans, drained and well rinsed
small yellow onion
1/2 large green pepper, seeds removed
1 large carrot
1 large clove garlic
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon Sriracha or other chili garlic sauce
1 egg
1/4 cup herbed bread crumbs

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 350º and line baking sheet with parchment or nonstick foil.
-Add onion, green pepper, carrot and garlic to food processor.  Pulse to mince and combine well.
-Transfer mixture to a fine mesh strainer and press to remove any excess liquid.  Set aside.
-In a medium bowl, use a fork to smash black beans into a paste.  Add onion mixture and remaining ingredients and stir to combine.  
-Form mixture (which will be a sticky) into bun shaped patties.  Place on baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until edges are crispy.
-Serve immediately.
-To freeze leftovers, place in a single layer on a baking sheet in the freezer.  Once fully frozen, package in a freezer bag or other storage container.

Makes 8 burgers

Adapted from Good Things Catered