Spicy Black Bean Burgers With Oats

Here is a healthy vegetarian alternative to your typical hamburger. I have included several spicy ingrecients to kick up the blandness of the black beans and oats.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 5-6

Ingredients

• 4  tablespoons  oil
• 1  onion, diced
• 2  jalapeno peppers, minced
• 2  teaspoons garlic, minced
• 1  teaspoon Mexican chili powder (mild)
• 1  teaspoon ground cumin
• 1⁄4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 3 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 1⁄2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 2  eggs, beaten
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped fresh cilantro
• 2  teaspoons salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. Heat a nonstick frying pan over medium heat until hot. Add the oil and when it is warm, add the onion. Stir-fry for 5 minutes.
2. Add the jalapeno peppers and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the garlic and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Turn off heat and stir in the chili powder, ground cumin and oregano. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
5. Meanwhile, rinse and drain (several times) the black beans and then put them into a large mixing bowl.
6. Roughly mash the black beans with a potato masher or a fork.
7. Add the uncooked oats and stir to combine.
8. Add the cooked onions and stir to combine.
9. Add the eggs,cilantro (more or less depending on how much you like cilantro), salt and pepper. You can add a bit more pepper if desired.
10. Mix well and form into patties. They are easier to fry if you make a smaller size pattie and use a smaller hamburger bun.
11. Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat and cook 4-5 minutes on the first side, or until well browned. Carefully flip over the burgers and cook about 3 minutes on the second side. Like most vegetarian burgers, they can crumble, so extra care needs to be taken when frying them.
12. Serve with your favorite garnishes.