Spicy quinoa and bean burger

I had heard rave reviews on the Black bean burger from Chili's. Recently we had been to Chicago and there is a Chili's at O'Hare airport. I could not eat there, but I heard reviews from my brother that there is no burger as tasty as the Chili's Black bean burger and I wanted to try making it. Now, I have added some healthy ingredients like quinoa. But this is optional. This burger can be completely made out of beans too and this is one burger that is moist, tasty and very filling and can challenge any meat lover. The toppings include luscious guacamole, caramalized onions, grilled peppers and juicy tomato slices.

Ingredients:
2 cups Kidney beans (or any bean such as garbanzo, or black beans) - cooked
(if using can, use one large can of beans, drain the beans and rinse it thoroughly)
1/4 cup quinoa
1/2 yellow pepper - chopped fine
2 cloves garlic - chopped fine
1 medium onion - chopped fine
2 table spoons cilantro - chopped
1 fresh red chilli - minced fine (this is to add heat; can be omitted if not making spicy)
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp cumin powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup bread crumbs
olive oil
Whole wheat burger buns

Toppings:
Red onions, thinly sliced
Yellow peppers - Cut into batons
Guacamole (Recipe below)
Tomato slice

For the toppings:
1. Heat 1 tsp oil in a pan (Use cast iron pan for maximum results)Saute thinly sliced red onions. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and saute until the onions are brown in colour. Remove onto a plate
2. In the same pan, saute the yellow peppers until glazed. Do not over cook. They just have to be coated with a little oil left over on the pan.


To make burgers:
1. Add 1/2 cup water to quinoa and bring it to a rapid boil. Cover and simmer for 15 mins until all the water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set side to cool.
2. In a pan, heat 1 tsp oil, add chopped garlic, chopped fresh red chilli, chopped onion and saute until soft and pink. Switch off the heat and then add the chopped yellow peppers. Mix all and saute for about a minute.
3. Mash the beans coarsely with a fork or a potato masher. If using a food processor, pulse until coarsely ground and remove onto a mixing bowl.
4. Add the sauteed red onions, chilli, peppers and garlic mixture and mix well
5. To this add the cooked quinoa, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper to taste, smoked paprika,cumin and chopped cilantro and mix well.
6. Shape into patties and shallow fry on a griddle or bake at 350 F until browned on the edges.

How to proceed:

1. Butter the bun slices and slightly toast on a grill
2. Spread some guacamole on both slices
3. Arrange some lettuce/mixed greens and then place the patty.
4. Place a generous amount of guacamole on the burger and spread evenly
5. Top it with caramalized onions, grilled peppers and a slice of tomato
6. Seal it with the other half of the bun and enjoy!

To make Guacamole

1 ripe avacado
1 shallot - minced fine
1 clove garlic - minced fine
1 table spoon lime/lemon juice
1 cherry tomato - chopped
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp jalepeno pepper or fresh green chilli pepper, minced for some extra heat
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp chopped cilantro

Remove pit from avacado and scoop out the pulp into a bowl. Mash it with a fork. Add the other ingredients and mix well.