Black Bottom Bean Cakes with Papaya Salsa
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 6 servings
- Total: 1 hr
- Active: 30 min
Ingredients
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup diced onion
Kosher salt
1/2 cup diced poblano pepper
1/4 cup diced scallions
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne
Pinch of smoked paprika
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
3 cups canned black beans (rinsed and drained), pulsed in a food processor until chunky
1 1/2 cups panko
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1 cup Papaya Salsa (recipe follows)
One 10-ounce package plantain chips
Papaya Salsa:
1 small ripe papaya, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/4-inch dice
2 red bell peppers, finely diced
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
1 red onion, finely diced
1 bird’s-eye chile, minced
5 scallions, grilled until tender and slightly charred, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped basil
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions
- In a large sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion, sprinkle with salt, and cook, stirring, until translucent around the edges, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the poblano pepper and scallions and sauté for 2 minutes. Stir in the cumin, cayenne, and paprika and let the spices toast for 2 additional minutes, then stir in the cilantro. Remove from the heat and place vegetables in a bowl.
- Add the black beans and 1/2 cup of the panko to the sautéed vegetables. Fold to combine, taste, and season with salt and pepper.
- Form six 3-inch patties and follow the steps for preparing the patties for frying:
- Flour: Put the flour in a flat dish (like a shallow bowl or pie plate) and dredge the patties until evenly coated, then shake off the excess flour.
- Egg wash: Crack the eggs into a medium flat dish and whisk. Dip the flour-coated patties into the egg wash and cover on all sides.
- Breading: Press the flour and egg–coated patties into a third tray of the remaining panko. Shake off the excess and place on a baking sheet while prepping the rest of the patties.
- Heat the remaining 1/2 cup oil in a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes.
- Place patties in the pan without overcrowding and fry until golden, 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
- Serve with the salsa and plantain chips.
Papaya Salsa:
- Gently mix together all of the ingredients in a medium bowl. Store in a covered nonreactive container. Makes 4 cups.