You Won't Miss The Meat! - Fredericksburg Parent

There is a certain restaurant in town that has a burger on its menu that makes me crazy! Sometimes I crave it so badly I can’t stand it. It’s satisfying and filling, seasoned perfectly, and has all the sumptuousness that makes a burger so addicting. And…there happens to be no meat in it! Truth be told, I do not eat red meat myself, but I love cooking it for my meat-eating family members. But even my carnivorous husband loves to go meatless as much as he can. It’s important for health reasons, but even better for the wallet. Going vegetarian even occasionally can save you lots of grocery money, and building a meal around other protein sources that are very inexpensive like legumes, beans, or eggs instead of meat can add up to a lot of money saved!

It’s become trendy for both meat lovers and vegetarians alike to join in on the Meatless Monday movement, and here’s a great resource for why this is so imperative for health and environmental reasons. These things are important to me, but so is keeping my family happily fed in a way that fits my budget. It’s an antiquated notion that meals have to be built around a piece of meat, but luckily, so is the stigma against meatless dishes. Vegetarian recipes, especially veggie burgers, have come a long way and can satisfy all walks of life.

I adore making these super easy black bean burgers for the whole family. They satisfy my craving for that delicious favorite on the menu, and are a breeze to put together on a busy weeknight. There’s not a lot of cooking involved, as it’s more assembly than anything else. Best of all, a can of black beans will cost you about 50 cents as opposed to a pricier pound of ground meat. Even cooking this way once a week will add up to a lot of savings. Read on to see how to achieve a delicious meal for Meatless Monday or any night of the week!

Scrumptious Black Bean Burgers

Ingredients: (makes 4 burgers)

2 cans black beans
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated onion
¼ cup finely diced red pepper
1 egg
1 teaspoon chili powder
Salt And pepper
Hamburger buns
Your favorite burger fixings and condiments: cheese (we love to use Munster or Swiss), lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, ketchup, etc

Drain and rinse beans. Place them in a bowl and use a fork (I use a potato masher) to mash them, making sure to keep some whole.

Add the breadcrumbs, onion, egg, red pepper, chili powder, salt, pepper. Stir until combined.

Form the bean mixture into patties.

Spray cooking spray on grill surface and preheat grill on medium heat. Cook patties approximately 5-10 minutes on each side, making sure not to flip too early. Cook until there are visible grill marks and patties look cooked through.