Black Bean and Quinoa Burgers / Vegetarian

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup raw quinoa
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, or 1 can of black beans (see below)
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup finely diced red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup finely diced green onion
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (or regular paprika)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Hamburger buns and condiments for serving
• _____
• For seasoning canned black beans:
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chile powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4-5 veggie burgers

Preparation

1. In a small saucepan, bring the quinoa and vegetable broth to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat for 12-15 minutes. Turn off heat and let quinoa sit, covered, for five minutes longer. Remove cover and fluff quinoa with a fork.
   
   
2. Add the black beans to a large bowl (To season canned black beans: Place olive oil in a skillet over medium low heat. Add the onion, garlic, cumin, chile powder and smoked paprika. Cook, stirring often, until onion is soft and fragrant. Add the canned beans to the skillet, including their liquid. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until most of the liquid has evaporated. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed). Sprinkle the beans with salt and pepper, and mash the beans gently with a potato masher.
   
   
3. Add the cooked quinoa, the bread crumbs, the diced red pepper, the green onions, the cumin, the paprika, and the egg to the bowl with the mashed beans. Stir everything together well with a fork. Add more bread crumbs if the mixture is too wet to form into patties. Season mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
   
   
4. Shape the mixture into 4 or 5 patties, about 1 inch thick. Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat.
   
   
5. Cook the patties in the skillet until well browned on one side (3-5 minutes). Carefully flip the patties and cook on the other side until well browned on the other side. Continue to turn and cook patties until they are cooked through and crispy on the outside (about 8-12 minutes total).
   
   
6. Serve quinoa and black bean burgers in buns, with assorted condiments such as ketchup, mustard, pickles, guacamole. 

Compliments: www.healthylatineating.com