Vegan Black Bean Cakes with Roasted Salsa

These easy vegan black bean cakes are topped with a flavour-packed roasted salsa and fresh coriander lime yogurt. They work great as a protein-packed vegan burger patty!

Vegan Black Bean Cakes | Antigua Cuisine

The Cuisine of Antigua & Barbuda

Like most Caribbean islands, many of the local Antiguan dishes have a West African influence. Interestingly, an evident Spanish and British influence is prevalent throughout Antigua’s cuisine.

In Antigua, seafood is the main staple of the diet, with conch being one of the most popular choices. The island also produces a large range of tropical fruits and vegetables!

Popular Antiguan Recipes

  • Fungie– “Antiguan polenta” is cornmeal cooked with okra and stirred to give the texture of mashed potato
  • Duncana– a type of steamed dumpling made from grated sweet potato, coconut, pumpkin and cinnamon, cooked in banana leaf
  • Chop Up- mash up of different vegetables like callalo, eggplant and okra
  • Macaroni Pie– Antigua’s version of mac and cheese which is served sliced and either hot or cold
  • Roti- brought over by Indian immigrants, this flatbread is generally stuffed with a variety of fillings (including vegetables) cooked in a curry sauce
  • Black Bean Cakes– served as a side dish with salsa and yogurt

Vegan Black Bean Cakes | Antigua Cuisine

Making Vegan Black Bean Cakes

I believe honesty is the best policy, especially when it comes to food. So I am just going to disclaim right now… Our first attempt at making black bean cakes did not go well.

We loosely followed a recipe that called for the black beans to be pulverized with all the other ingredients, then dipped in cornmeal and fried. The result was black bean cakes that were pretty textureless and bland. 

The last thing I want to do is post dud recipes on my blog. But, I am also committed to cooking and posting a recipe from every country in the world. Hence, I decided to remake these Antiguan black bean cakes, using the same base ingredients but with a whole new method.

Vegan Black Bean Cakes | Antigua Cuisine

Round two for the vegan Black Bean Cakes

This time around I trusted my own cooking instincts when making the black bean cakes again.  Instead of putting raw onion and garlic into the cakes, we sauteed them up first to add more flavor.

Instead of pulverising the black beans, I gently mashed them into the mixture to add more texture. And instead of frying in cornmeal, I added a bit of flour to the mixture to bind it together and baked them in the oven. 

The results? Exponentially better-tasting black bean cakes.

What you’ll need to make Vegan Black Bean Cakes

  • Fresh ingredients– White, onion, jalapeno, garlic, lime plus desired toppings- I’d recommend avocado, tomato, corn, red onion and coriander
  • Pantry items– 2 tin of black beans, flour (sub for gluten-free flour), ground cumin, coriander, chilli and flaxseed
  • Refrigerated items- Yogurt of choice

How to make Vegan Black Bean Cakes

1. Dry out black beans: Preheat oven to 190˚C (375˚F). Pat black beans dry with paper towel and put on lined baking tray. Put in oven for 10 minutes to dry out.

2. Make black bean mixture: Heat oil in large frying pan over medium-high heat. Sauté onions until translucent. Add minced garlic, jalapenos, cumin, coriander and chilli powder and sauté for another few minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Add flax egg, flour and three-quarters of the black beans to the bowl, reserving 1/2 cup to add in after. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix everything together, using a fork to mash up the black beans. Once well-combined, stir through the remaining black beans.

3. Compile vegan patties: Shape about 1/3 cup of mixture with hands and put on baking tray. Repeat until all mixture is used. Cook for 20 minutes, turning patties over after 10 minutes.

4. Make the roasted salsa: Put sliced tomatoes, onion and jalapenos on lined baking tray and drizzle with oil. Roast for 15 minutes at 190˚C (375˚F) or until turning golden (you can cook these at the same time as the patties). Transfer to a blender, season with salt and pepper to taste, and blend until a thick salsa is formed.

5. Make coriander lime yogurt: Combine yogurt, lime juice, chopped coriander and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl.

6. Serve: Top vegan black bean cakes with roasted salsa and coriander lime yogurt. Serve with other toppings such as sliced avocado, diced tomato, red onion + corn.

Vegan Black Bean Cakes | Antigua Cuisine

Serving Suggestions for Black Bean Cakes

We topped our black bean cakes with roasted salsa and a lime coriander yogurt. We also had them in burger form, accompanied by sliced avocado, diced tomato, red onion, and corn. 

Vegan Black Bean Cakes with Roasted Salsa

Vegan Black Bean Cakes with Roasted Salsa

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

These easy vegan black bean cakes, topped with a flavour-packed roasted salsa and fresh coriander lime yogurt, are inspired by the cuisine of Antigua. They also work great as a protein-packed vegan burger patty!

Ingredients

Vegan Black Bean Cakes

  • 2 tins black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 white onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, mined
  • 3 jalapeno, finely chopped
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp chilli powder
  • 1 tbsp flaxseed + 2.5 tbsp water*
  • 1/2 cup flour

Roasted Salsa

  • 4 tomatoes, hlaved
  • 1/2 onion, cut into wedges
  • 2 jalapenos, halved
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 cup water

Coriander Lime Yogurt

  • 1 cup coconut yogurt
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1/4 cup coriander, finely chopped

Instructions

Make vegan black bean cakes:

  1. Preheat oven to 190˚C (375˚F). Pat black beans dry with paper towel and put on lined baking tray. Put in oven for 10 minutes to dry out.
  2. Heat oil in large frying pan over medium-high heat. Sauté onions until translucent. Add minced garlic, jalapenos, cumin, coriander and chilli powder and sauté for another few minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
  3. Add flax egg, flour and three-quarters of the black beans to the bowl, reserving 1/2 cup to add in after. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix everything together, using a fork to mash up the black beans. Once well-combined, stir through the remaining black beans.
  4. Shape about 1/3 cup of mixture with hands and put on baking tray. Repeat until all mixture is used. Cook for 20 minutes, turning patties over after 10 minutes.

Make the salsa:

  1. Put sliced tomatoes, onion and jalapenos on lined baking tray and drizzle with oil. Roast for 15 minutes at 190˚C (375˚F) or until turning golden (you can cook these at the same time as the patties). Transfer to a blender, season with salt and pepper to taste, and blend until a thick salsa is formed.

Make coriander lime yogurt:

  1. Combine yogurt, lime juice, chopped coriander and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl.

Serve:

  1. Top vegan black bean cakes with roasted salsa and coriander lime yogurt. Serve with other toppings such as sliced avocado, diced tomato, red onion + corn.

Notes

*Make flax egg by mixing together 1 tbsp flaxseed and 2.5 tbsp water in a bowl and leaving to sit for 5 minutes. If not vegan, sub for 2 normal eggs.

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a comment & review above or share a photo on Instagram tagging @polkadotpassport so I can reshare your creations!

Other Caribbean dishes to try:

Liked this vegan black bean cakes recipe? Pin it for later!

Vegan black bean cakes with salsa and coriander lime yogurt recipe from Antigua
Nicola Easterby Bio Image

Hey, I'm Nicola!

I am a travel and food content creator on a mission to discover the best destinations & dishes around the world. Thanks for joining the adventure!

READ NEXT:

Sticky Toffee Pudding Gingerbread Cake

Sticky Toffee Pudding Gingerbread Cake

What do you get when you combine sticky toffee pudding with gingerbread and add cream cheese icing? The ultimate festive cake! If you're looking for a cozy festive dessert, look no further than this sticky toffee pudding gingerbread cake. This cake is moist, rich and...

read more
Raw Snickers Slice (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

Raw Snickers Slice (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

If you are looking for a vegan/ gluten-free alternative to a Snickers bar, you need to try my raw Snickers slice. It's layered with peanut butter mousse, caramel and chocolate and is truly delectable! This raw Snickers slice is my GO-TO when I am craving something to...

read more
Pönnukökur: Icelandic Pancakes Recipe

Pönnukökur: Icelandic Pancakes Recipe

Pönnukökur, or Icelandic pancakes, are thin, crepe-like pancakes filled with thick, creamy skyr yogurt and topped with fresh berries. You need to try this healthy & delicious breakfast from Iceland! Almost every country in the world seems to have a version of...

read more

READ NEXT:

Our Dream South of France Wedding

Our Dream South of France Wedding

This is what it looks like to have a 3-day wedding in the South of France! On the 23rd of August 2023, James and I finally got to have the wedding celebration of our dreams. We had sixty of our nearest and dearest flying from all over the world to join us for three...

read more
Best Time to Visit Antarctica: Month-by-Month Guide

Best Time to Visit Antarctica: Month-by-Month Guide

Planning a trip to Antarctica requires considering many factors, but one of the biggest decisions is timing. This remote, icy continent may not have typical tourist seasons, but each part of its short summer offers something unique.  From dramatic landscapes to...

read more
The Ultimate Packing Guide for Your New York City Getaway

The Ultimate Packing Guide for Your New York City Getaway

Heading to New York City? With its iconic skyline, vibrant neighborhoods, and endless sights to explore, NYC is a dream destination. But packing for a city that never sleeps can be challenging—you’ll need a mix of style, comfort, and versatility to make the most of...

read more
Best ESim for Traveling Turkey in 2024

Best ESim for Traveling Turkey in 2024

Planning a trip to Turkey? This guide will take you through everything you need to know about using an eSIM and my recommendation for the best eSIM for traveling Turkey. Gone are the days of having to find a local phone store and buy a physical sim card when visiting...

read more
Skip to Recipe