I don’t know about you, but when school is in full swing, my cooking abilities take a serious hit because, let’s face it, who has time to cook when you’ve got a million assignments due? Don’t worry! Over lockdown, I tested the best recipes requiring minimal effort for maximum taste. Through this quest, I discovered the best black-bean burger recipe out there. These burgers are healthy, quick, and easy to make; they also freeze for up to 3 months!

Ingredients (makes 6-7 patties): 

• 2 14 ounce cans of black beans, drained and patted dry 
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ bell pepper, finely chopped
• ½ large onion, finely chopped  
• 3 minced garlic gloves
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chilli powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoons smoked paprika 
• ½ cup bread crumbs
•  ½ cup feta cheese 
• 2 large eggs 
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 
• 2 tablespoons mayo 
• Pinch of salt and pepper 
• Buns and your favourite toppings 

Directions:

• Preheat your oven to 325°F. Pour the beans onto a lined tray, making sure to spread them out, and bake for about 15 minutes. The beans should be slightly dried out, but not completely! 
• Once your beans are baked, increase the oven’s temperature to 375 °F.
• While they bake, throw your oil, onion, garlic, and pepper into a pan and cook over a medium heat for about 5 minutes (or until soft). When done, use a paper towel to blot the moisture out. 
• In a big bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients. Once baked, toss in the beans and mash them into the mixture with a fork. I’ve found that it’s best to leave some large chunks of beans rather than mashing them in completely. 
• Next, form your mixture into patties. About 1/3 cup for each should do, but it’s up to you. Just remember, the bigger they are, the more unevenly they’ll cook!  
• Now to cook! Place your patties on a tray lined with parchment paper (a true Godsend). Bake for 10 minutes on each side. 
• When done, top with cheese, tomatoes, guacamole, mustard, kale, red onions – the sky’s the limit, so get creative! 

If you have the time, why not add a milkshake and a movie to your meal for a 

stress-buster evening – a treat we all need come midterm time!

Who says you need a blender to make a milkshake? Just grab a sturdy jar with a lid and put in about 1 ½ cups of ice cream. You want the ice cream soft, so either leave it out for a bit or microwave for 15-30 seconds. Throw in ½ – ¾ cup of milk, screw on the lid, and shake until well mixed! Now you’re ready for the perfect movie to go with your diner-esque meal! I’d highly recommend George Lucas’ 1973 American Graffiti. Equipped with your delicious burger and shake, sit back and escape into the past, where teenagers cruised the streets in cool cars and waitresses on roller skates served you at the drive-in!