I love black beans. I could eat them with every meal − taco salad, baked potatoes, and burgers. However, I sometimes run out of creativity, and my partner gets tired of having taco salad for the third week in a row. So, one day, I did some research online and stumbled upon a black bean pancake recipe. It sounded unique and intriguing, so I gave it a shot. The recipe was definitely something different, but unfortunately, it was a flop. The beans’ savory nature overpowered the sweetness of the other ingredients. So, I fell back into my usual rotation of black bean cuisine.
This winter, I was again looking for more black bean recipes and recalled the black bean pancake recipe I had tried before. I thought surely there is a better recipe out there that leans into the savory. Sure enough, after some more research, I found the “Black Bean Cakes” recipe from the Forks Over Knives blog. This recipe has easily become one of our new favorites, especially during the colder months when you crave more comforting, filling foods.
Vegan black bean cakes
Ingredients (makes 8 large pancakes)
1½ cup whole wheat flour
½ cup cornmeal
1 Tbsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1½ cup unsweetened, unflavored plant milk
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (or flax egg)
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and finely diced
1 (10-ounce) package frozen corn kernels, thawed (optional – I skip this)
1 cup cooked or canned black beans, rinsed and drained
6 green onions, white and light green parts thinly sliced (or regular onion)
Dairy-free sour cream for serving (optional)
Salsa (optional)
Hot sauce (optional)
Diced avocado, olives, and tomatoes (optional)
Directions
My favorite way to eat these black bean cakes is to add a layer of cashew cream and then add salsa, hot sauce, diced avocado, olives, and tomatoes on top.
Luke Hertzler has been plant-based since June 2020. He is a school librarian based in Wellman who loves cooking, reading, watching movies, and seeking out wacky roadside attractions in his spare time. For questions or comments regarding the Vegan Community of Eastern Iowa, email veganeasterniowa@gmail.com or visit www.veganeasterniowa.org. Everyone is welcome to join the VCEI on Facebook and Meetup.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Vegan black bean cakes | Vegan Column
Reporting by Luke Hertzler, Special to the Press-Citizen / Ames Tribune
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