Bean Burgers

Suitable for vegans

You can substitute any kind of beans - try butter beans, chick peas, pinto beans, lentils or mixed bean salad. This is much easier to make if you can get hold of a mixing bowl, but a plate will do.

Essential ingredients

• 1 tin red kidney beans - drained
• 1 tin black-eye beans - drained
• A little oil for frying
• Burger buns or bread

Optional ingredients

• 1 onion - finely chopped
• 2 tsp plain flour
• A dash of water
• Herbs
• Salt and pepper

Method

First make breadcrumbs by toasting a couple of pieces of bread or a bun and crumbling it up. Mash the beans with a fork or something as smooth as you can get them. Using your hands, mix together the mashed beans, onion, herbs and seasoning; then add a teaspoon of flour, a dash of water and some of the breadcrumbs and sort of knead it all together until you get a firm consistency you can make into patties that'll stay like that for a bit. You may need some more breadcrumbs, or a touch more water. Dust the burgers with a little more flour if you have it, and leave them on a covered plate somewhere cool for about half an hour (to help them firm up and keep their shape when you cook them).

Now, add a little oil to your pan and heat it up, then fry the burgers for 5-10 minutes on each side. Serve in a bun or some bread. Tomato or chilli sauce would go well with this.