Black Bean Oatmeal Burgers

These burgers have good flavor and hold up really well to reheating. The ground oatmeal makes a good glue for holding together any combination of ingredients you want to change up. I have not cooked them on the grill yet, but if I was going to, I would still cook them in the oven to firm them up. This recipe quantity will make 12 burgers on 2 1/2 sheet pans. 

Ingredients

2 1/2 C. oatmeal (for use in step 1)
1/4 C. ground flax seed

5 peeled carrots
2 cloves garlic
1/4 C. chopped cilantro leaves
1 can Rotel
1/2 cups salsa (I usually skip the salsa or reduce the amount and add a big handful of spinach to make up the 1/2 cup of liquid needed)
1t. onion powder
1t. garlic powder or granulated garlic
1/2 t. cumin
1T. salt
1t. black pepper

3 cans rinsed black beans
1 can rinsed lentils

1 C. unprocessed oatmeal
1 C. corn kernels (optional)

Procedure


1. Grind oatmeal and flax seed in a food processor until fine flour. Set aside in a big bowl for later use.









2.  Add carrots, garlic, cilantro, Rotel with liquid, salsa and spices to food processor. Let it run until everything is very fine puree.





3.  Add black beans and lentils to processor and puree. If you want more texture, don't puree beans so much.

4.  Mix vegetable puree with ground oatmeal/flax mixture. Taste mixture for salt and pepper.

5.  Add unprocessed oats and corn to mixture. It should tighten up a little.

6.  Heat oven to 400 degrees. With wet hands form burgers into patties on parchment covered sheet pans.

7.  Bake 12 minutes. Finish in broiler or on grill 2 minutes to develop a little crust.