Freeze, Grill and Enjoy: Black Bean Burgers

Warmer weather and sunshine are getting closer, and I have been craving some burgers and fries! There is something about the nicer days ahead that really make you want to ditch the cold weather comfort foods like baked mac and cheese and chili for barbecue plates and pasta salads. If you're looking for something on the healthier side of the grill, trying avoiding red meat or just want to mix things up, this Black Bean Burger recipe has been a big hit with my family. It's doesn't take a whole lot of time or effort, but the flavors are great and the fresh ingredients really stand out against frozen black bean patties you may find at the grocery store. These burgers are great for leftovers, and you could even stick some uncooked patties right in the freezer for a quick weeknight dinner option. Black Bean Burgers Recipe adapted from sallysbakingaddiction.com This recipe is simple and flexible. You can mix everything in a food processor or just use a bowl — they come together nicely either way. You can also adjust ingredients to fit your dietary needs. For example, Worcestershire sauce isn't vegetarian, so you can leave it out or substitute with hoisin sauce or something similar. Ingredients 2 (14-ounce) cans black beans, drained, rinsed and patted dry 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1 finely chopped bell pepper 1 finely chopped yellow onion 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. chili powder 1/4 tsp. paprika 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 2 large eggs 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 2 Tbsp. ketchup Pinch salt and pepper Instructions Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the beans evenly onto a lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes until slightly dried out. While the beans are baking, heat the olive oil in a pan and add the chopped pepper, onion and garlic over medium heat until peppers and onions are soft, about five to six minutes. Place in a large bowl or in a food processor with the remaining ingredients (cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, breadcrumbs, cheese, eggs, Worcestershire, ketchup, salt and pepper). Stir or pulse everything together, then add the black beans. Mash with a fork or pulse the mixture, leaving some larger chunks of beans. Form into patties, about 1/2 cup of mixture each, about 3/4-inch thick. To cook them in the oven, place patties on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes on each side. If you would rather grill the burgers, place the patties on greased aluminum foil and grill for eight minutes on each side. Serve with your favorite toppings.