Black Bean and Mushroom Burgers

These mushroom burgers are surprisingly quick to make, and delightfully substantial!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tablespoon olive or canola oil

• 1 onion, finely chopped

• 8 ounces mushrooms, finely chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• ½ teaspoon ground cumin

• 1 ½ cups cooked black beans (or 1 15-ounce can, drained)

• ¼ cup packed fresh cilantro leaves

• 2 ounces soft goat cheese, crumbled (optional)

• 4 slices stale or toasted sandwich bread, processed to make bread crumbs

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

• 6 hamburger buns or hard rolls

• Salsa

DIRECTIONS:

1. Prepare a medium-hot fire in the grill with a lightly-oiled vegetable grill rack in place.

2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until golden, about 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms, garlic, and cumin and cook, stirring, until the mushrooms have released their juices, about 5 minutes.

3. Spoon the mixture into the food processor. Add the beans and cilantro and process briefly until well combined but still chunky. Spoon into a bowl, stir in the goat cheese, if using, and bread crumbs. Season generously with salt and pepper.

4. With wet hands, form the mixture into 6 burgers. Mist both sides with nonstick spray.

5. Grill the burgers until crisp and heated through, about 5 minutes per side.

6. Serve the burgers on the buns, passing salsa at the table.

Serves 6.