Spicy, Smoky Bean Cakes with Lime Slaw and Charred Avocado Recipe

By
Kerry Saretsky
a photograph of Kerry Seretsky, a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Kerry Saretsky

Kerry Saretsky interned at Serious Eats in 2008, and wrote the French in a Flash recipe column. She also writes her own blog on modernized French cuisine called French Revolution Food.

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Updated August 30, 2018
20121012SpicedBeanCakes.jpg
Kerry Saretsky

These hearty, hit-the-spot, Tex-Mex vegan cakes are a cinch to make. Toss green onion, garlic, bell pepper, jalapeño, and cilantro into the food processor along with black beans, kidney beans, and a good kick of chipotle, and blend up. Bake the patties with a bit of olive oil until they're fried-crispy, and serve on a bed of spicy, fresh lime slaw. I quickly sear the avocado, rubbed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt, in a hot skillet for a few seconds to make it extra smoky and soft.

Recipe Details

Spicy, Smoky Bean Cakes with Lime Slaw and Charred Avocado Recipe

Active 15 mins
Total 40 mins
Serves 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 cups shredded green or white cabbage
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped, divided
  • 5 scallions, chopped, finely sliced, divided
  • 1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped, divided
  • 3 limes, divided
  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise (or Vegenaise to keep it vegan)
  • 2 medium cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, roughly chopped
  • 1 (15-ounce) can of kidney beans or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15-ounce) can of black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 whole chipotle in adobo, finely chopped, plus 1 tablespoon sauce (2 to 3 tablespoons total)
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • Olive oil, for drizzling
  • 1 avocado (optional)
  • Crumbled mature cheddar, Monterey Jack, or queso fresco (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 475°F. In large bowl, stir together the cabbage, half the cilantro, half the scallions, half the jalapeno, the juice and zest of 2 limes, mayonnaise, and salt to taste. Set aside.

  2. In the food processor, combine the remaining cilantro, scallions, jalapeno, garlic, and bell pepper and pulse until finely chopped, about 8 to 10 short pulses. Add the juice and zest of the remaining lime and season with salt. Pulse in the beans and chipotle until you have a homogenous mixture. Add the flour and pulse to combine. Divide mixture into 6 even portions and form into 4-inch patties.

  3. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment, and lightly drizzle the bottom with olive oil. Place patties on the baking sheet, and lightly flatten. Drizzle lightly with olive oil. Bake until crisp and golden brown, about 25 minutes. Serve with the slaw, and some sliced ripe avocado and/or crumbled cheese and cilantro over the top.

Special equipment

Food processor

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