We EAT | Black Bean Cakes & Guacamole

Black Bean Cakes.  HUGE success.  huge.  

I am saying this in my best "Pretty Woman" impersonation.. 

I have to go shopping now!  

If you are not a Pretty Woman fan, nor have seen the movie you are totally lost at this point.  

What I'm trying to say is that these were amazing.  I made these for Parker and Jolie in hopes they would eat them but I mostly made them for myself.  

Black Bean Cakes with Guacamole {and Blackberries }

• 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs {plus a little more as needed}
• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and rough chopped
• 3 whole green onions, chopped
• ½ red bell pepper, rough chopped
• 1 can (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed & drained
• The juice of 1 whole lime
• 1 whole egg
• Fresh Guacamole {HERE}
• Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray the foil with cooking spray. In your blender or food processor, add cilantro, garlic, green onions and red pepper. Blend until finely chopped. Add black beans and juice of the lime. Blend until beans are coarsely chopped. There still will be some chunks and that’s OK. You don’t want a complete paste. Add bean mixture to a medium mixing bowl.  Add the panko and egg,  mixing with your hands. Add additional panko if needed. Scoop up about 1/4 cup of bean mixture and form it into a patty. Place on baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining bean mixture. Spray the top of cakes with cooking spray. Cook for 10 minutes, flip the cakes and cook for another 10 minutes.
  {Recipe adapted from The Tasty Fork}
  
  
  A little pre-baking action.
  

I served these to the girls with homemade guacamole.  They love guacamole but typically pick around the tomatoes.  They haven't gotten used to that chunky texture yet, but don't mind steering clear while they are eating.

I opted to serve the guac on the side versus spreading it on the bean cakes for them.  I was curious if they would dip their wedges.

Parker was hangry. I took entirely too long taking pictures and creating a perfect setting for eating before letting her have anything.  I attempted a taste of guacamole while she was yelling/crying at me.

Didn't go so well.  

 However she got over it quickly once I showed her what was for lunch.

Jolie was intrigued.  We've had bean burgers before, but never this recipe and not with guacamole for dipping.

 That sweet face it totally edible.  Especially with that teeny bit of green goo on the tip of her nose.  

I showed them the 'dip - scoop - shovel' technique just one time and they totally comprehended what my goal was for this meal.  I had to remove myself from the situation because I kept wanting to eat off their plates.

This was a winner in our house.  And whats not to love about {cheap} healthy eating that is simple AND you can say you made it.  from scratch.  100% homemade.

No freezer box bean cake this go round!