This meal is just missing a Margarita...

Look at this fiesta on a plate!

Doesn't it look delicioso?

I absolutely love Mexican themed food, 

and I'm telling you, all this meal needed was a margarita to make it PERFECT!

The salad was like a taco in a bowl and the black bean cakes were spicy awesomness!

MARTHA you are a genious!  I know you know that...but just a reminder!

I mean come on, sweet potatoes in black bean cakes, who thinks of that??

AMAZING!

I halved the recipe, and immediately after tasting the first one, wished I hadn't.

The dipping sauce is great also, its a spicy sour cream, don't skip it...so good!

Try these together as a meal or separately would be alright also.

And if you love spicy black beans formed into smooshy "cakes" as much as I do,

MAKE EXTRA!

ENJOY!

Bean, Corn, and Tortilla Salad

1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 package (10oz) frozen corn

1/4 cup salsa

1 bunch scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced

3 plum tomatoes, sliced into thick rounds

S&P

1 package romaine hearts, cut into bite size pieces

3 cups broken tortilla chips

1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and cut into cubes

3/4 cup coarsely grated pepper jack cheese

In a medium saucepan, heat beans, corn, and salsa over medium until warm.

Remove from heat.  Stir in scallions and tomatoes and season with S&P.

In a large bowl toss together romaine and chips.  Divide evenly among four bowls; top with bean mixture, avocado, and cheese.

Serves 4 as a main course.

Spicy Black Bean Cakes

2 T olive oil

4 scallions, thinly sliced

6 garlic cloves, pressed

1-2 jalapeno chiles, finely chopped (ribs and seeds removed for less heat if desired)

1 T ground cumin

2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed

S&P

1 large sweet potato, peeled and coarsely grated

1 large egg lightly beaten

1/2 cup plain dried breadcrumbs

lime sour cream for serving (recipe below)

Heat broiler.  In a small skillet over med heat, warm 1 T oil and cook scallions until softened, 1 minute.  Add garlic and jalapeno and cumin; cook until fragrant 30 seconds.  Transfer to large bowl.

Add beans to the bowl; mash with a fork or a potato masher, leaving about 1/4 of beans whole.  Season generously with S&P.  Fold in the sweet potato, egg, and breadcrumbs.  Divide into 8 balls of equal size; flatten into patties.

Brush baking sheet with remaining 1 T oil; place patties on the sheet 1/2 in apart.  Broil 4 in away from heat until golden brown , 8-10 min.  With a thin metal spatula carefully turn cakes.  Broil until crisp, 2-3 min more.  Serve with lime sour cream.

Serves 4.

Lime Sour Cream

1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream

2 tsp fresh lime juice

1 small jalapeno chile, minced (ribs and seeds removed if desired)

salt

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and season with salt.

Logan Rating: 

Salad-***

Cakes-****