JAMAICAN BURGERS
Ingredients:
4 slices stale or toasted white sandwich bread
2 T. canola or corn oil
1 1/2 C. chopped onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T. minced fresh ginger
1/2 tsp. allspice (freshly ground if possible)
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 1/2 C. (15 oz. can) cooked, drained and rinsed black beans
1 1/2 C. cooked rice
1/2 habanero pepper, or 1 jalapeño pepper, chopped (include seeds if you want more heat)
1 tsp. salt, or to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 hamburger buns or Kaiser rolls, toasted
Break the bread slices into pieces and grind them to
crumbs in a food processor. Transfer crumbs to a large
bowl.
In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium
heat. Add the onions and sauté them, stirring occasionally,
for 5 minutes or until soft. Add the garlic, ginger, allspice
and nutmeg and sauté for 2 minutes longer. Put the mixture
into the food processor. Add the black beans, rice and
chopped chile pepper. Pulse the motor to chop the
ingredients (do not puree them). Transfer to the bowl with
the bread crumbs. Add salt and pepper and stir well with a
large spoon. If the mixture is too wet to form patties, add
more bread crumbs.
In a large skillet, preferably not nonstick, heat the remaining
1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Form the burger mixture
into 4 patties. Cook the burgers for about 4 minutes per
side, until a dark brown crust forms. Serve the burgers on
the toasted rolls, with tomato, lettuce and ketchup or
chutney.
Yields 4 servings.
B-man
