Black Bean Burgers

Grilling season is upon us and I am ready! I am always looking for a new burger recipe and there has been a lot of talk about Ree Drummond’s (Pioneer Woman) black bean burger. I knew I had to try it BUT I don’t like black beans. I don’t eat black beans but my husband LOVES them so he was my taste tester for this recipe. The burgers were very easy to make and my husband did enjoy these.  I’m not sure he enjoyed them as much as all the hype but it was a great alternative to a beef burger!

INGREDIENTS
2 cans (14.5 ounces) seasoned black beans
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated white onion
1 whole egg
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Salt
Pepper
3 dashes of hot sauce
8 slices Swiss cheese
Olive oil and butter if frying

Hamburger buns
Mayo
Lettuce
Sliced tomatoes

DIRECTIONS
Makes 4 burgers.  Drain, but don’t rinse the beans.  Place them in a large bowl. Using a fork, mash them until they are mostly broken up but leaving some whole beans still visible. Add bread crumbs, onion, egg, chili powder, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Stir until everything is combined. Let the mixture sit for five minutes. To form the patties, divide the bean mixture into four equal parts and form into equal patties.  These patties do not shrink when cooking.

To grill – Heat your grill to medium heat and spray your grates with non-stick spray. Cook over medium heat until heated through, adding two pieces of cheese at about the half way point of grilling. Grill buns if desired.

Pan frying – Heat a tablespoon of oil and a tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium low heat. Place patties in the skillet and cook them about five minutes on the first side, flip them to the second side and place two slices of cheese on each patty and continue cooking for another five minutes or until heated through.

Top with lettuce, tomato and mayo.
Serve warm.

Enjoy!