The Pajama Chef

So, in addition to my Farmer’s Market finds that helped create this fantastic lunch, I also gathered some extra veggies to help create the salad of my summer. The one, the only, the colorful, the complex… Corn Cake Salad!

I mean serrrrriously, people. Can you just see why this is the salad of the summer? Let me just count the reasons.

1. Tons of veggies… check.
2. Juicy peaches for sweetness… check.
3. Lime juice for kick… check.
4. Fried, slightly spicy corn cake for a delicious awesome topping… check.
5. Avocado and tomato relish for pizzazz… check.

What more can a girl ask for?

Maybe a dessert other than six year old candy from study abroad that she can’t bear to eat, throw away, or deal with in any other way except storing in the pantry in the same bag she received from the store that said candy was purchased at… in Cameroon… in 2005.

Umm, yes. I’m weird. And I ate some, in case you were wondering. So did Ben. Afterwards, it went right back into the pantry. Sugar doesn’t rot, does it? Fortunately, the making of this salad does not require prior discovery and/or consumption of six year old foreign candy. But it does require quickness as the end of the season of  summer sweet corn is rapidly approaching. So what are you waiting for? Pumpkin will still be here next week!

Corn Cake Salad [from Annie’s Eats]
printable version

Ingredients:

for corn cakes

• 3 large ears of corn, shucked
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1/4 cup onion, finely diced
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons milk [or buttermilk]
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• canola oil

for relish

• 1 large tomato, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
• pinch garlic powder
• juice of half a lime
• 1 avocado, diced
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

for salad

• mixed baby greens
• 1 peach, pitted and sliced thin
• 1 carrot, shaved
• 2 roma tomatoes, chopped
• 1 small green bell pepper, diced
• juice of half a lime

Directions:

Place 2 cups of corn kernels in a food processor and pulse several times to render the corn chunky but still pureed. Transfer the corn to a bowl with the remaining kernels, then stir in flour, cornmeal, onion, basil, baking powder, and baking soda. Season with salt and pepper, then gently mix in eggs, milk, and butter.

Make the relish by mixing together all ingredients except avocado and salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, then fold in avocado. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Meanwhile, add a little oil [once around the pan] to a large skillet set over medium heat. Form cakes by dropping 1-2 tablespoons of batter in the skillet, and fry 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. You can prepare 4-5 at a time depending on the size of your skillet. Remove to wire rack or a plate lined with paper towels.

Lastly, make salad. In a large bowl, toss together mixed baby greens, sliced peaches, shaved carrot, chopped tomatoes, and diced pepper. Squeeze lime juice over salad and toss again. Serve corn cake over salad, relish over corn cake, and enjoy!

Yield: 12 corn cakes, ~1.5 cups relish, and 1 large salad [for two].

Time: 30-45 minutes.