With a little bit of Andean ingenuity and a smidge of creative license borrowed from the American west, we’ve come up with an original—and delicious!—take on the near-ubiquitous “veggie burger.” In the interest of full disclosure, we’re compelled to reveal that the true inspiration for Trader Joe’s Quinoa Cowboy Veggie Burg- ers sprung from two of our favorite products: Organic Tri Color Quinoa, and Cowboy Caviar Salsa. These burgers are, more or less, a blend of the two.

With multi-hued quinoa (red, white, and black) setting the stage, black beans, corn, red peppers, and plenty of seasonings are blended together and formed into a burger patty. They cook up to a captivatingly chewy consistency, with just the right amount of crunch on the outside (not so crunchy if you cook them in the mi- crowave). They work on a bun, like any other burger—ratchet up their Southwestern vibe with the addition of sliced avocado and salsa instead of the usual pickles and ketchup. Break them up into salads—a simple dress- ing of salsa verde will do the trick here. Or just serve with a knife and fork and your favorite fixin’s.