Fried Eggs on Black Bean Hash Brown Cakes with Raw Salsa

Fried Eggs on Black Bean Hash Brown Cakes with Raw Salsa 

serves 3 heartily or 6 sparingly 

Ingredients:
3 cups frozen hash browns, thawed 
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 Tbs cumin
1 Tbs dried oregano
1 Tbs chili powder
Salt and Pepper, to taste
1 yellow onion, diced 
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped
green chiles, chopped (the 4 oz can from Trader Joe's works well, or you can add a couple large spoonfuls from a can of 505 green chile if you live on the West Coast!)
1 egg, beaten separately in a small bowl 
optional: flour or bread crumbs (if patties are too moist)
Vegetable oil
6 eggs (fried separately in cast iron)
15-20 cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves 
1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese (or queso blanco if you can find it) 
optional: tortillas, other toppings such as chives or avocado 

Directions:
Add the black beans, half of the onion, the jalapeños, the green chiles, and all spices to a food processor and pulse until mixed. Next add the egg and then the hash browns, pulsing only a few times so there are still some larger chunks. If you like the consistency, use this mix to make 6 roughly equal patties. If it is too moist, add a bit of flour or some bread crumbs to help bind. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

Add enough oil to cover the bottom of a 12 inch skillet and heat to medium heat. Add the patties and let them cook until browned and crispy, about 5-7 minutes on each side. 

While they are cooking, make the salsa. Chop the tomatoes into quarters and add then to the other half of the onion in a medium bowl. Add cilantro, drizzle with olive oil, and toss. 

Make the fried eggs. I use cast iron for this because it's my favorite way to make them (other than frying them in brown butter... but I was trying to keep this recipe healthy!). For this, I just heat the pan to medium heat and cook the eggs in batches of 4. Keep an eye on them - they're done as soon as the white is completely opaque, but I try not to overcook so the center is still a bit runny! 

Lastly, assemble! I served two cakes per person with a fried egg on top of each. Dress with salsa, a bit of cracked pepper, and a sprinkling of cheese before serving. Add a warm tortilla on the side to make a complete brunch! 

loosely adapted from: http://www.lhj.com/recipes/easy/comfort-food/good-eggs-6-new-brunch-recipes/?page=3