Spicy Black Bean Patties with Cilantro, Guacamole, and Tomatoes

Ingredients

• 1 medium or large avocado
• 2 tsp. fresh lime juice
• 1/2 tsp. chile powder
• 1-2 tsp. Green Tabasco Sauce
• 1 can black beans, rinsed with cold water and drained well
• 2 slices whole wheat bread, cut in cubes, toasted, and buzzed in the food processor
• 1/4 cup packed cilantro leaves
• 2-3 medium garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
• 2 tsp. Cholula hot sauce
• 1/2 tsp. ground Chipotle chile pepper
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 egg
• Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
• 1 T grapeseed oil for browning patties
• 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes or cherry tomatoes for serving

Directions

1. Set a colander in the sink, add the beans, and rinse them under cold water until the foamy bubbles are gone. Leave them to drain until thoroughly dry, or pat them with paper towels if they need a little help.
2. As the beans drain, mash the avocado together with the lime juice, then stir in the chile powder and Green Tabasco Sauce for the Easy Guacamole. Refrigerate it until serving time.
3. Heat the oven or toaster oven to 400F/200C. Cube the bread, spread it on a baking sheet, and toast it until it is crisp and just beginning to brown, about 10-15 minutes.
4. Transfer the toasted bread to a food processor and pulse it into rough crumbs. Scrape the crumbs into a medium-sized bowl.
5. Add the cilantro leaves and chopped garlic to the food processor, then pulse until they are finely minced. Add the drained beans, Cholula sauce or another hot sauce you like, ground Chipotle chile pepper, ground cumin, egg, and salt and pepper to taste.
6. Pulse just until everything comes together, keeping a bit of texture in the beans rather than turning the mixture completely smooth. Scrape the bean mixture into the bowl with the breadcrumbs and stir until combined.
7. With clean hands, shape the mixture into 4 patties. Parchment paper under the patties can help keep them from sticking while you work.
8. Oil a stove-top grill pan and warm it over medium-high heat. Add the patties and cook them for 4-5 minutes on the initial side. If you want grill marks, rotate them partway through that side.
9. Flip the patties gently, then keep cooking until they are hot all the way through and nicely browned, about 8-10 minutes total.
10. Serve the patties hot, spooned with Easy Guacamole and finished with chopped tomatoes.