Monday's Menu

It was all Hubby's idea.

He wanted to try veggie burgers. He looked up a recipe. He attempted to buy the black beans (but I already had them).

After all that, I figured I better put them on the menu. So we gave them a try.

We discussed them. I mentioned them. Nonetheless, when Dude took his first bite, he pulled it away and looked very closely at it. Then he asked the question -- Is this meat?

I laughed and said no, it was the black bean burgers we had talked about it. Suddenly, I became the bad guy. Uh. Hello. It was your dad's idea.

They were good. But I thought they were supposed to be a meat replacement -- as in tasting like meat -- rather than a substitute for the meat. They still tasted like beans to me, not in a bad way, but not like meat. But they were good.

It's something that would be a good change of pace. And if you're trying to institute Meatless Monday's in your home, this is a great way to begin.

It came from Pioneer Woman's site. And for once, I didn't change anything. Ok. Well. I didn't put in the hot sauce.

So give them a try.



Black Bean Burgers

2 cans (14.5 Each) Seasoned Black Beans
1 cup Seasoned Breadcrumbs
1/4 cup Grated White Onion
1 whole Egg
1/2 teaspoon Chili Powder
 Salt And Pepper
8 slices Swiss Cheese
 Olive Oil, For Frying
 Butter, For Frying And Grilling
4 whole Kaiser Rolls Or Good Hamburger Buns
 Mayonnaise
 Lettuce Or Other Greens
 Sliced Tomato


Drain, but do not rinse, the black beans. Place them in a bowl and use a fork to mash them. Keep mashing until they're mostly broken up, but still have some whole beans visible. Add the breadcrumbs, onion, egg, chili powder, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Stir until everything is combined, then let the mixture sit for 5 minutes.

Heat a tablespoon or two of olive oil with an equal amount of butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Form the bean mixture into patties slightly larger than the buns you're using (the patties will not shrink when they cook.) Place the patties in the skillet and cook them about 5 minutes on the first side. Flip them to the other side, place 2 slices of cheese onto each patty, and continue cooking them for another 5 minutes, or until the burgers are heated through. (Place a lid on the skillet to help the cheese melt if needed.)

Grill the buns on a griddle with a little butter until golden. Spread the buns with mayonnaise and hot sauce, then place the patties on the buns. Top with lettuce and tomato, then pop on the lids!