Another favorite recipe we’ve been making: Not hamburger patties…

But something healthier, less expensive, and tasty, to bout. They are Black Bean Patties! And they’re yummy!

I made two different salsas–just to see what we liked best. One was simply equal parts fresh tomatoes and avocados with a squeeze of lime juice. I love avocados, and I know they’re all the rage these days because they’re supposedly good for you, even though several years ago they weren’t good for you!  (How does THAT happen?) But I wanted to serve them with another salsa, since avocados aren’t always easy to find…and when you do, it seems they’re often too hard (and tasteless) or overripe. So I also made my staple, simple Salsa recipe, to which I added some diced red bell peppers and canned corn for color.

They both tasted great–can’t really say I had a favorite. So try which ever one suits you!

They’re so easy so I didn’t feel it was necessary to take step-by-step photos. Just throw everything in the food processor and processor until well-mixed. (I would say that the mixture looks a little like dog food once it’s all mixed–but then you might not make them!) I divided the mixture into eight even-sized portions, rolled each into a ball and then flattened it between my palms to form a patty.

 

Yield: Makes 8 patties

 

Ingredients

    • 1 C. fresh whole wheat bread crumbs (I’ve never used regular, dry breadcrumbs but if I did, I would start with a little less than 1 C. and add more if needed)
    • Olive oil
    • 1 medium onion, chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 C. black beans, drained and rinsed
    • 1 C. cooked brown rice
    • 2 tsp. fresh lime or lemon juice
    • 2 T. minced jalapeno pepper or 1-2 small hot peppers crumbled
    • 1/2 tsp. salt
    • 1/2 tsp. cumin
    • 1/4 C. cilantro or fresh parsley (optional)
Salsa:
  • Combine equal parts diced, fresh tomatoes with diced avocado. Add 1 tsp. fresh lime juice.

 

 

Instructions

  1. Heat a little olive oil in a large skillet. Add chopped onion and minced garlic and sauté until soft.
  2. Meanwhile, put several slices of whole wheat bread into the food processor and pulse to form crumbs.
  3. Add the sautèed onions and garlic, and all the remaining patty ingredients to the food processor and process until the mixture is well-combined, almost pureed.
  4. Divide the mixture into eight equal-sized portions and form into patties.
  5. Heat 1 T. olive oil in a large skillet. Once the skillet is hot, add the patties and cook until browned and crusty on both sides. Add more oil, if necessary, before browning the remaining patties.
  6. Combine the salsa ingredients and serve beside, or on top of, the patties. It’s best to combine this salsa just before serving. Even with the acid from the tomato and the lime juice, the avocado will turn brown after a while.Or, if you prefer, serve with another favorite salsa.

 

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