Cuban Black Bean Patties with Pineapple Rice

You can prepare the patties in advance up to the point of dredging them in cornmeal; cover and refrigerate. Purchase precut, fresh pineapple in the produce section to save time.

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

• Rice:
• 1  (3 1/2-ounce) bag boil-in-bag long-grain rice
• 2  teaspoons  butter
• 1  cup  diced fresh pineapple
• 2  tablespoons  chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 
  Patties:
• 2  cups  rinsed, drained canned black beans (1 [15-ounce] can), divided
• 1/2  teaspoon  bottled minced garlic
• 1/4  teaspoon  ground cumin
• 1/8  teaspoon  salt
• 1  large egg white
• 1/2  cup  (2 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeño peppers
• 1/4  cup  chopped red onion
• 1/4  cup  cornmeal
• Cooking spray
• 1/4  cup  reduced-fat sour cream

Preparation

To prepare rice, cook rice according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain; place rice in a large bowl. Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pineapple; sauté 4 minutes or just until pineapple begins to brown. Add pineapple mixture, cilantro, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to rice in bowl; cover and keep warm. Wipe pan clean with paper towels.

To prepare patties, place 1 1/2 cups beans, garlic, cumin, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a bowl; partially mash with a fork. Place 1/2 cup remaining beans and egg white in a food processor; process 30 seconds or until well combined. Add bean puree to mashed beans in bowl, and stir until combined. Add cheese and onion to bean mixture; stir until combined. Divide bean mixture into 4 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/2-inch-thick patty. Place cornmeal in a shallow dish. Dredge both sides of each patty in cornmeal.

Heat pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add patties; cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Spoon about 1/2 cup rice onto each of 4 plates; top each serving with 1 patty and 1 tablespoon sour cream.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

294 (27% from fat)

Fat:

8.7g (sat 5.4g,mono 1.7g,poly 0.2g)

Protein:

10.2g

Carbohydrate:

45g

Fiber:

3.5g

Cholesterol:

28mg

Iron:

2mg

Sodium:

532mg

Calcium:

155mg