Black bean burgers get a bad rap and I understand why. Most black bean burgers are bland, mushy and let’s face it, they’re a not-wonderful substitute for the real thing.
Black beans are, however, far cheaper than meat and go a lot further when you’re stretching a dollar. One pound of dry black beans sets me back about $2 and makes 12-14 burgers. One pound of the cheapest 80/20 ground beef I can find (usually in a tube with questionable additives and processing methods) will cost me at least $2 (usually $3) and only makes 4 burgers.
The trick is to season your beans before forming them into patties.
This Big Happy’s Black Bean Burgers
(this recipe makes about 12 medium-sized hamburgers, they freeze beautifully!)
1 lb dry beans, cooked, drained & cooled (or about 4 cans of cooked)
1 tbsp cumin
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 Tbsp salt
1/2 tbsp black pepper
1/2 Tbsp chili powder
2 Tbsp BBQ sauce
1 onion, chopped
1/2-1 cup of bread crumbs
Mix everything together in a food processor, adjust the BBQ sauce and bread crumbs until the mixture is dryish but still wet enough to form into patties.
Form mixture into patties a.
Bake patties for 10-15 minutes at 400F OR fry the burger for 3-5 minutes per side.
Top as you would a beef burger and serve warm :)
Thanks for the recipe – I keep wanting to try these…. I wonder if my kids will think I have completly lost my mind?!?! LOL!!
Oh, are you freezing them cooked?
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