Meatless Mondays: Spicy Black Bean Burgers

These burgers turned out very good! They are very flavorful and stayed together!

This recipe was inspired by this recipe, but I did make it my own.
Whole Foods black bean burger recipe

Ingredients: (Makes 6 burgers)
1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained
2 large shallots, finely chopped
1 cup of rolled oats, uncooked
1 egg
1 tsp of garlic powder
1 tsp Mrs. Dash
1 tsp italian seasoning
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp of chili powder
Dash of hot sauce
1/2 cup of chunky salsa (add more if needed)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp olive oil
Slices of cheddar cheese (optional)

Instructions:
1. Place rinsed and drained beans in a mixing bowl. Using a fork, mash the beans until they become somewhat of a paste.
2. Add the chopped shallots, egg, cup of rolled oats and mix well.
3. Add 1/2 cup of chunky salsa, hot sauce, garlic powder, Mrs. Dash seasoning, italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, chili powder, and salt and pepper to the bean mixture. Mix all ingredients together until well combined.
4. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan until shimmering.
5. Form the black bean mixture into patties that are about 3-4 inches wide and 1 inch thick. (Think small hamburgers)
6. Place them in the shimmering oil and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes per side until nicely browned. If you would like to add cheese, place one slice on each burger two minutes before the burgers are done to melt.
7. Serve with whole grain buns or in lettuce wraps with ketchup, mustard, onions, tomato, and lettuce or whatever garnishes you like on your burgers. I served mine with sweet potato fries and salad. Enjoy!