black bean burgers

Ingredients

• 1 -15 oz. can of black beans
• ¼ cup chopped red onion
• ¼ cup chopped fresh chopped cilantro leaves
• 1 T. fresh squeezed lime juice
• 2 T. of chopped green chilies
• 1 egg (optional)
• ¾ tsp. cumin
• 1 garlic clove
• ½ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. pepper
• ½ cup + 2 T. panko + ⅓ cup panko

Instructions

1. Drain and rinse 1 -15 oz. can of black beans and pour the beans and the remaining ingredients into the food processor: ¼ cup chopped red onion and ¼ cup fresh chopped cilantro leaves, 1 T. fresh squeezed lime juice, 2 T. of chopped green chilies, 1 egg (optional), ¾ tsp. cumin, 1 garlic clove, ½ tsp. salt, ¼ tsp. pepper and ½ cup + 2 T. panko.
2. Turn on the food processor for 1 minute (scraping the sides halfway through) until you get a thick and consistent puree. If you are not using an egg, you may need to add a little extra panko or use an egg substitute, like a "flax egg"
3. Pour another ⅓ cup of panko on a large plate.
4. Grease your hands with some oil and shape a patty in the palm of your hand.
5. Coat the bottom and top of each patty with the extra panko and if you can, refrigerate them for a couple of hours to harden up.
6. To fry, heat up 2 T. of oil or butter in a heavy bottom pan on the stovetop. Cook on medium-high heat for about 2 minutes then flip them over for another 2 minutes. Keep on flipping them if you like them darker OR To bake, heat oven to 425 degrees and lay burgers on a greased cookie sheet. Bake them for at about 5 minutes each side.
7. Serve on a bun with your favorite burger toppings.