Beans are among my favorite things to eat. I probably make black bean something once every week- black bean enchiladas, black bean chicken casserole, black beans and rice, a salad with black beans. What can I say, I absolutely love black beans!
It has not been that way forever. I used to think beans were boring. Back in Honduras, the staple everyday meal consists of beans, rice, and chicken and for most families homemade corn tortillas. Most people eat that or something like that every single day. Rice is cheap, beans are (or more like used to) cheap (they aren't so cheap anymore, sadly), chicken is just our poultry of prefernce, and tortillas are our version of bread. Anyway, this plain way of serving beans made me like them not so much, until I discovered cuban style black beans :) Then I realized you could make awesome things with black beans! Throw some salsa in, some rice and chicken, hot sauce and you have an awesome simple meal.
Now, black bean burgers probably sound like something that is just taking black beans a little to far, but trust me, if you like beans you will like black bean burgers! They are easy to make, easy to freeze, easy to throw together on a busy weeknight, and they are one tasty mess (or at least mine are).
Black Bean Burger
Adapted from EatLiveRun
Makes around 6 patties (eat what you want, and freeze the rest of the patties!)
Ingredients
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup corn, drained and rinsed (optional)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, minced (can be left out)
1/2 cup of breadcrumbs or panko
1 egg white
3 tbsp ketchup or tomato paste
2 tbsp salsa (only if you have it)
2-3 tsp cumin (more or less to taste)
salt and pepper to taste
Hot sauce to taste
Directions
1. Mash 3/4 of the black beans and garlic with a fork ( if you own a food processor that works even better). When beans look smooth and resemble black bean dip add the jalapeno, spices, panko or breadcrumbs, salsa, and ketchup or tomato paste. Stir well. At this point, try the mash and adjust the seasonings to taste. Add the corn and the left over black beans into the mix and stir until combined. Finally, add the egg white and mix everything until smooth.
2. Form black bean mixture into patties, and set in a cookie sheet. If ready to eat them, heat a little oil in a skillet and fry each patty for 3-4 min on each side, until crispy and golden. If freezing, set the patties in a baking sheet and place them in the freezer. When firm enough, store them in an airtight freezer bag. When ready to eat heat some oil and fry. No need to thaw!
3. Serve on a hamburger buns, with lettuce, tomato, avocado, ketchup and extra hot sauce!