Black Bean Burgers and Avocado Smash (GF - Vegan)

For Cooking Club this month I made Black Bean Burgers. They are both Gluten Free and Vegan (which are two requirements when cooking for each other) Each month the host picks a theme, April is Avocados! So to go along with the burgers I made what we call "Avocado Smash" Check it out -

Black Bean Burgers - this recipe is adapted from one I found on the Whole Foods Site, check out their version HERE

This is what I came up with:

Serves 6

1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, rinsed and drained (I used dried and cooked overnight in my crockpot)

1 egg

1/2 yellow onion, chopped - or Tastefully Simple Onion Onion

1 cup Gluten Free bread crumbs (see previous post for recipe, regular can be used too)

1 teaspoon cilantro

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder - or Tastefully Simple Garlic Garlic

1 teaspoon fiesta party mix (from tastefully simple)

salt and pepper

hot sauce to taste

Put beans in a large bowl and mash well with a fork. Add egg, yellow onion, bread crumbs, seasonings and hot sauce. Mix well to combine then shape into 6 patties.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Arrange patties in a single layer (working in batches, if needed) and cook, flipping once, until golden brown on both sides and cooked through, about 10 minutes total. Transfer to buns, top with lettuce, tomatoes and red onions, avocado smash and serve.

Avocado Smash

2 avocados

1/2 onion, chopped fine

2 TBS lemon or lime juice

salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste

Place in a bowl and "mash" together, serve with chips or on burgers!