Black Bean Burgers!

I don't eat red beef very often due to adopting a healthy lifestyle. I have read some crazy things about how a majority of the meat in the markets today has been altered in many dangerous ways. This article explains enough for me! So, just the other day my boyfriend was wanting to buy some frozen-packaged 85% lean burgers from Costco. As we were checking the labels we saw that the supposedly lean burgers  contained 23 grams of fat per serving (and they were more than $1 each)!!! Maybe to a HUGE store like Costco that is considered lean... But not to me! I set out to find a healthy, easy, and affordable alterantive. I found this recipe online and I tried it with minced jalapenos and preservative-free crisp summer corn kernels. BTW! The picture below is not the burger in the recipe. It is just a picture I found from an internet search. 

Black Bean Burgers

Ingredients:
* 16oz black beans
* 1/2 green bell pepper
* 1/2 yellow onion
* 3 garlic cloves
* 1 large egg
* 1 tbs chili powder
* 1 tbs cumin
* 1 tsp thai chili sauce or hot sauce
* 1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs

Utensils:
* aluminum foil
* cooking spray
* measuring spoons
* measuring cups
* food processor
* medium bowl (black beans)
* small bowl (egg/spices)

Directions:
1. If grilling, preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil a sheet of aluminum foil. If baking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), and lightly oil a baking sheet.
2. Rinse & dry black beans. In a medium bowl, mash black beans with a fork until thick and pasty.
3. In a small bowl, stir together egg, chili powder, cumin, and chili sauce.
4. Roughly chop veggies. In a food processor, finely chop bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Strain the mixture. Then stir into mashed beans.
5. In a small bowl, stir together egg, chili powder, cumin, and chili sauce.
6. Stir the egg mixture into the mashed beans. Mix in bread crumbs until the mixture is sticky and holds together. Divide mixture into four (4oz) patties.
7. If grilling, place patties on foil, and grill about 8 minutes on each side. If baking, place patties on baking sheet, and bake about 10 minutes on each side. (For best results freeze and grill frozen- great for a quick snack too!)

Let me know what you think!