Quasi-vegetarian and scrumptious Black Bean Burgers

I am from Iowa, we Iowans are farmers...crop and cattle for us...... to not like meat, when your husband comes from a cattle farming family, forewarning...expect to be shunned....made fun of...and they do of course but I am okay with it.  I have nothing against eating beef or pork, but my stomach does and since I have quit eating these meats and eat clean, my digestive track is a whole lot more agreeable with me...I will bore you the stinky details and leave it at that!  I still eat chicken, and fish for protein...they do agree with me...and it is weird, once I started eating clean and eliminating beef and pork from my diet I did not crave them at all...not uno single momento!  So when the boys want hamburgers, they still love meat, and I am totally fine with that., I want a burger too, so I reach for my Black Bean Burger recipe....and it does not disappoint...I paired it with sweet potato fries and a Udi's Gluten Free bun, spinach, tomato, and avocado....

Black Bean Burgers

by Casey Wetjen

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs(optional) I prefer it without

Instructions

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.

In a medium bowl, mash black beans with a fork until thick and pasty.

In a food processor, finely chop bell pepper, onion, and garlic, then stir into mashed beans.

In a small bowl, stir together egg, chili powder, cumin, and chili sauce.

Stir the egg mixture into the mashed beans.

Optional : Mix in bread crumbs until the mixture is sticky and holds together.

Divide mixture into four patties.

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.

I found the mixture stayed together for me just fine without the breadcrumbs...

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