Black Bean Burgers

Makes 6. Takes 30 minutes.

2 cups cooked or 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup vital wheat gluten
1/2 cup plain whole wheat bread crumbs
1 tsp chile powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
2 cloves garlic
1/2 small onion
2 tbsp olive oil
Whole wheat buns

Mash the beans with a fork in a mixing bowl. You don't want to puree them, just get them mashed so that no whole beans are left, but you should leave some half beans.

Add the wheat gluten, bread crubms, chile powder, water, adn atomato paste, but don't mix yet. Grate the garlic in. Grate the onion in. Mix everything together with a fork, adn then proceed to knead with your hands until the mixture is firm and uniformly mixed.

Preheat a heavy -bottomed pan over medium heat.

Divide the burger mixture into six equal pieces. Roll each piece into a firm ball. Use your palm to press the ball down on a clean surface to form a patty that is about 1 1/2 inches thick.

Pour a thin layer of olive oil into the pan. Cook the patties three at a time for 5 minutes on each side, gently pressing down on them with a spatula.