If you buy this product thinking that it is going to taste like a hamburger, you will be sorely disappointed. However, if you like Mexican food, you’ll probably love it. Unlike the typical “veggie burger” this one is made of a mixture of black beans, corn, rice, tomatoes and peppers. Yes, it does contain textured soy protein - a common ingredient of veggie burgers, but that’s where the similarity ends. This is not the sort of burger that you’d want to slather with ketchup and eat on a bun with a pickle. But what might you want to do with it? Read on…

These spicy, hearty patties are great as a quick lunch. They blend especially well with salsas and with green leafy vegetables. Below are my two favorite ways to eat them:

Black Bean Burger Sandwich: Top a Weight Watchers (or other diet) English Muffin with a cooked black bean burger. Top with a dollop of salsa and a side of sliced bell peppers. You’ve got a lunch that is filling and only “cost” you 4 WW points (3 for the burger, 1 for the muffin). Got some extra calories to spend? Top your sandwich with a slice of Pepper Jack cheese.

Black Bean Burger Salad: Place 2-3 cups of mixed greens into a large bowl. Squeeze a fresh lime over the greens. Heat a black bean burger and place it on top of the greens. Top with salsa. A 3 point lunch.

If you don’t like Mexican or bean-based dishes, you may be better off with the traditional soy protein veggie burger which more closely mimics meat. But for a slightly spicy, unusual taste, plus only 140 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, and a whopping 5 grams of fiber, these can’t be beat. A Fit Foodie thumbs up.