New Years Black- Eyed Pea Cakes with Jalapeno Avocado Salsa

 INGREDIENTS:

2 15.5 ounce cans black eyed peas- drained

4 cloves garlic, minced

2/3 cup dry bread crumbs

4 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions

1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt ( used kosher salt)

1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal, plus additional for dusting

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

Jalapeno- Avocado Salsa

Note: Wear plastic or rubber gloves while handling the chiles to protect the skin from the oil. Avoid direct contact with your eyes! Wash hands thoroughly after handling.

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl mash half of the peas with a fork until paste is formed. Stir in the remaining peas, garlic, bread crumbs, half of the beaten eggs, cumin, scallions and salt. Form by hand into patties, using 2-3 tablespoons per patty. Place patties in a single layer on a baking sheet and put in the fridge for an hour.

Remove patties and dredge each patty in the remaining beaten egg and then the cornmeal, turning gently to coat and transfer to a try lined with wax paper and dusted with cornmeal.

Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a 12 inch non stick skillet over  moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then fry the cakes until golden- about 3 minutes on each side. As the cakes finish put in a large shallow baking pan. Between batches carefully wipe the skillet with a paper towel but continue to add the oil to the clean skillet. ( BE CAREFUL with the skillet let it cool down before you clean with the paper towel)

If you need to reheat the cakes put them in a 400 degree F oven. You can cook them one day ahead, then chill. Bring to room temp if they were in the fridge before reheating in a 400 degree oven.

You might want to add chopped tomato and cilantro leaves for a garnish.

Jalapeno Avocado Salsa:

1 medium avocado

2/3 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons seeded and minced Jalapeno

1 tablespoon finely chopped red onion

2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

Directions

Halve the avocado lengthwise and remove the pit. Scoop out the meat with a spoon and chop it up. Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and combine. Add salt to taste. Cover and place in fridge

Recipe from The Book Club Cookbook. This recipe was from Their Eyes Were Watching God.

Eating black eyed peas on New Years Eve or New Years Day promises good luck, health, and abundance. The bean has taken the form of good fortune and has even adopted a few different aliases along the way. 

Hopefully the ones I grew last season work their magic!🎊