Black Bean Burgers

By Demi

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked or 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup vital wheat gluten
• 1/2 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp chile powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tbsp tomato paste (or ketchup)
• 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 small onion
• 2 tbsp olive oil + olive oil spray
• whole wheat buns

Details

Servings 6

Preparation

Step 1

Mash the beans with a fork until there are no whole beans left.

Add the wheat gluten, bread crumbs, chile powder, cumin, water, tomato paste, and cilantro (but don't mix yet). Grate in the garlic with a microplane grater. Use the large holes on a box grater to grate in the onion.

Mix everything with a fork and then knead with your hands, until the mixture is firm and uniformly mixed.

Preheat a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat.

Divide the burger mixture into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and then flatten until 1 1/2 inch thick. Make 6 patties.

Pour a thin layer of olive oil in the pan. Cook the patties 3 at a time for 5 minutes on each side, gently pushing down with a spatula. Spray with olive oil before turning, for uniform browning.

Serve warm on buns.