- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/4 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- a 19-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained (about 1 2/3 cups)
- 1/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs
- 1 large egg, beaten lightly
- 3 tablespoons fresh coriander leaves, chopped fine
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
- vegetable oil for frying
- Accompaniment: chopped vegetable salsa
- In a small heavy skillet cook onion, bell pepper, and garlic in butter over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened. In a bowl mash one-third beans with a fork and stir in remaining beans, onion mixture, bread crumbs, egg, coriander, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Form mixture into four 4-inch patties. (Mixture will be wet and soft.) Gently dredge patties in cornmeal and transfer to a large plate lined with plastic wrap.
- In a heavy skillet heat 1/4 inch oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook patties in 2 batches 1 1/2 minutes on each side, transferring to paper towels to drain.
- Serve bean cakes with salsa.