Coconut Curry Black Bean Burgers

Vegetarian black bean burgers with a Thai twist! Spicy and delicious -- a new take on the veggie burger. Contains egg.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 6
• Yields: 6 burgers

Ingredients

• BURGER

• 1 (16 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained well
• 1  tablespoon  finely chopped red onion
• 1  garlic cloves or 1  teaspoon  chopped garlic
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon  Thai sweet chili sauce
• 1  teaspoon  yellow curry paste (red works too!)
• 2 -3  tablespoons coconut milk (depending on consistency)
• 1  teaspoon brown sugar
• 1  dash cayenne
• 1  whole egg
• 2  cups  Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 14  ounces  tofu  ground meat substitute
• 4  whole wheat hamburger buns (lightly toasted in the oven) or 4  buns, of your choice

• SAUCE

• 1  cup peanut butter
• 1  teaspoon  Thai sweet chili sauce
• 1  teaspoon brown sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon turmeric
• 1  dash soy sauce (optional)
• 1  tablespoon canola oil

• TOPPINGS

• 1⁄4 cup  shredded carrot
• 1⁄4 cup  shredded cucumber
• 1  tablespoon  chopped green onion
• 1  bunch of fresh mint
• 1  bunch fresh cilantro

Directions

1. BURGER PREP:
2. In a food processor, blend black beans and all ingredients (except the bread crumbs and tofu meat)until a smooth consistency. Spatula ingredients into a large bowl and gradually incorporate breadcrumbs into mixture. Add tofu meat and stir to combine.
3. Add more bread crumbs if mixture is too loose. If mixture is too thick, add coconut milk.
4. Form mixture into 6 patties and place on wax paper. Put in freezer for up to 30 minutes for patties to set.
5. Once set, heat a grill pan or frying pan with a small amount of non-stick spray. Grill or fry the burgers about 4-5 minutes on each side or until brown. Be careful when flipping as the burgers can be fragile.
6. Set each burger aside in a baking pan and place in a warm (175-200 degrees) oven until ready to use (not more than a half hour).
7. SAUCE PREP:
8. Put peanut butter and all of the ingredients into a sauce pan on low-medium heat and let melt, stirring often. Let lightly simmer for about 1 minute then reduce heat to very low and heat for an additional 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
9. TOPPINGS PREP:
10. Slice and dice herbs (cilantro and mint) and veggies.
11. To compose the burgers:
12. Place a black bean patty on each of the bottom buns. Top with a generous drizzle of the peanut sauce, a spoonful of the carrot/cucumber mixture, a couple leaves of mint and cilantro, and a sprinkle of green onion.
13. Top with the bun top and have some napkins handy.