Recipe: Black Bean Burgers

Since we first attempted to adopt the principles of the Hallelujah Acres raw vegan lifestyle back in early '08, we have tried to cut back on our consumption of meat and processed food and increase our consumption of plant based food sources, preferable raw.  There have been times when we've done really well (and felt great!) and other periods where fresh produce was extremely hard to come by as well as expensive and so it fell by the wayside.  These days we enjoy a happy medium.  I consume far less meat than the rest of my family and my consumption of raw foods and juices vary immensely from week to week.  Sometimes the junk food just calls my name! ~smile~

So, while I am nowhere near where I'd like to be on this journey, I am always on the lookout for healthy meatless recipes that my family will enjoy.  Perhaps your family will too!   Here is one of our family's favorite meatless meals, black bean burgers!  These do not have the consistency of a hamburger; they are much softer.  However, my children love them!  Sometimes we enjoy them without the bun, "fried" in a pan with just a little olive oil.  Either way, they are delish!

recipe from Hallelujah Acres

Ingredients

1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 small onion (coarsely chopped)
1 medium red pepper (chopped)
4 medium cloves of garlic (minced)
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 cups cooked or canned organic black beans (drained)
1 cup cooked brown basmati rice
2 cups fresh whole wheat bread crumbs
Hot pepper sauce to taste (optional)
Also optional is adding 1 tablespoon of Ketchup (from Rhonda's Recipe book)
1 1/2 teaspoon Celtic Sea Salt

Directions

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, red pepper, and garlic. Cook while stirring frequently until soft and onions are translucent. Stir in cumin, turmeric, and cook for an additional minute. In a food processor, combine beans, rice and onion/pepper/garlic mixture. Transfer to a large bowl. Add breadcrumbs and mix well. Season with salt and hot pepper if desired. Flatten 1/4 cup amounts of mix into patties and they are ready for the outdoor grill. Cook about 3-5 minutes each side. Makes 8 burgers.