Easy Cheap Black Bean Burger Recipe: Homemade is Better

Ow, $4.99 for four Morningstar Farm black bean burgers when you can make five  in five minutes with a $1 can of  black beans and a 79 cent can of chopped green chiles in a blender? Easy, even fun. The cornmeal coating adds crispness. Using chiles means no salt is necessary. Satisfying anytime and good in a bun. In my photo it's on a white corn tortilla and served with salsa.

Easy Black Bean Burgers (makes 5 burgers)

1 can of black beans, undrained
1 can of green chiles, undrained
1 cup plain dry bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup cornmeal for dredging
3 to 5 Tablespoons of vegetable oil for frying

Dump beans, chiles, crumbs and beaten egg into a blender; blend until well-mixed. Pulse-blend if you like your burgers to have chunks of bean. If not using a blender, mash the mixture until it's the texture you like.

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet, over medium heat. Place cornmeal on a plate. From the mixture, form 5 firm burgers. (Tip: Wet your hands between forming each burger). Dredge each side of each burger in cornmeal; place in hot oil in the pan. Fry burgers until cornmeal is browned and outside is crisp, about 5 minutes on each side, turning them carefully with a spatula. Remove from pan and serve.