Black Bean Cakes

For the Cakes

• 2 cups canned black beans
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeno
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the Salsa

• 1 small serrano pepper
• 5 roma tomatoes
• 1/2 a white onion
• salt

For the Cilantro Yogurt

• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• 1/2 a lemon, juice of

Directions:

1. Prepare the salsa:
2. Halve the tomatoes and the chile pepper, and roughly chop the onions. Place them on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
3. Place in a hot oven (mine was set to 500 degrees).
4. Roast until the vegetables are a nice brown color. Don't overcook (keep checking until they are done).
5. Now put the vegetables in a pot with just enough water to cover. Boil for 5 minutes.
6. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth, then return to the pot and cook over medium high heat until salsa has reduced to a thick sauce-like consistency.
7. Prepare the cilantro yogurt:.
8. Mix the yogurt with the cilantro and lemon juice and set aside.
9. Prepare the bean cakes:.
10. Rinse the beans and then put them in a food processor with the onion, cumin, jalapeno and about a tablespoon of water. Process until you have a nice paste.
11. Make small cakes using 2 tbsp of bean mixture each. Fry each cake in olive oil for about three minutes on each side, or until crispy brown.
12. Remove from heat and keep warm.
13. To serve, top with salsa and cilantro yogurt.