Summertime Standards: The Veggie Burger

Burgers and fries are truly an American delight. While it's not the healthiest meal around, even vegans should be able to indulge every once in a while. This black bean burger is an easy dish to prepare in advance for a summertime cookout.






Vegan Black Bean Burger

Ingredients

• 1 can black beans, drained
  
• 1/4 cup salsa
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 1/8 cup cornmeal
• 1/4 cup flour
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• few drops of hot sauce (optional)
  
• 1 slice stale bread
  

To Make

Mix everything but the bread in a food processor until well combined. Spoon into a bowl and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight if possible. Crumble your stale bread in a food processor and add to your black bean mixture. Form into four patties by rolling each piece into a ball and flattening with your hand. Cook on a grill or saute in a frying pan on medium heat.

If you prefer a more beany texture to your patty, consider putting only half of the beans in a processor, adding the rest of the unprocessed beans to the mixture before refrigerating.