Summer Corn Cakes with Fresh Tomato Salsa

Corn Cakes with Fresh Tomato Salsa

When I think about recipes for Tuesdays, I can’t help but look for healthy options. After the indulgences of our Chocolate Mondays, we need something redeeming to follow them, LOL! Corn cakes are extremely versatile and can be the base for any number of toppings. The simplest is salsa, and given the abundance of tomatoes at this time of the year, a natural choice.

If you have never made your own Pico de Gallo (peekoh-day-guyoh) you’re really missing out on an amazingly easy and fresh delight. Grab a sharp knife, cutting board, big bowl, and chop away! It is as easy as throwing tomatoes, onions, jalapeno chiles, cilantro, and some lime juice together, toss quickly, and serve. And it is soooo much better than anything you can buy at the store. Once you’ve made your own, you’ll never go back!

Ingredients for Salsa

Corn cakes are essentially fritters, a down-home southern basic that find their way into many meals. You can serve them as a side with fried foods, or create a lovely first course before the main meal. For a change of pace, you could top them with creme fraiche, smoked salmon, and fresh dill, like a blini. Pulled pork or chicken lightly dressed with BBQ sauce and served with some fresh cabbage slaw is one of my favorites. If you make tiny cakes, you can serve them as an amuse bouche or cocktail finger foods.

Adding fresh corn kernels adds a lot of textural interest to the cakes. I like that these are served savory, as most corn cakes are considered a sweet dish. This is yet another way to utilize the bountiful summer harvest. If you wanted this to be a vegetarian dinner, you can make larger cakes and serve with a casual vegetable saute. Combine whatever you love with onions and garlic, add a little olive oil and fresh herbs, then do a quick stir-fry just until everything is al dente. If you want more substance, you can add some cooked pasta or potatoes and a sprinkling of sharp cheese.

Raw Corn on the Cob

On these screaming hot days of late summer, when you can’t face a heavy meal, try going vegetarian. These cake take just a few minutes to assemble and cook, then can be served warm or at room temperature. Pair them with a cool salad and you’ve got a meal just perfect for eating outside on balmy evenings. Enjoy!

Jane’s Tips and Hints:

Most people cook corn far, far too long. If you think about it, you can eat it raw, so why would you boil it for 20 minutes? The easiest thing to do is put a large pot of water on the stove, bring to a boil, add a lot of kosher salt, and drop the corn in for just 3 to 5 minutes!! It will be tender but still snap when you bite it. Absolutely perfect!

Kitchen Skill: Cutting Corn of the Cob

The main danger of cutting corn kernels off the cob is that the cob doesn’t have a flat edge to work with, so you need to create one. Any fruit or vegetable that is round needs to have a solid base to work with. Before cooking, break the cobs in half. Cook in boiling salted water for 3 to 5 minutes, drain and set onto a plate to cool slightly. Working on a clean kitchen towel (to keep the kernels from bouncing too much!) stand the corn pieces up with the flat end down. Use a very sharp knife and with a sawing motion, cut the kernels off the cob. When you’re done, gently gather up the towel and deposit the kernels into a bowl.

Corn Cakes with Tomato Salsa

2015-07-24 16:11:19

Yields 4

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Ingredients

1. Corn Cakes
2. Corn oil or olive oil for sauteing and frying
3. 1 tbsp garlic, chopped
4. 3 cups fresh raw corn kernels, cut from about 5 ears of corn
5. 1 jalapeno chile pepper, seeded and finely minced
6. 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and chopped
7. 1/2 cup green onion, chopped
8. 1/2 tsp salt
9. Freshly ground black pepper
10. 1/2 cup flour
11. 1/2 cup cornmeal
12. 1 tsp baking powder
13. 1 egg, lightly beaten
14. 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
15. 3/4 cup milk
16. 2 tbsp butter, melted
17. 2 tbsp chives, chopped
18. Tomato Salsa
19. 6 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
20. 1 tbsp shallot, chopped
21. 2 tbsp cilantro, chopped
22. 1/2 jalapeno chile pepper, finely minced
23. 2 tbsp lemon juice or lime juice
24. 1/4 cup olive oil
25. Garnish
26. Sour cream and additional chopped chives, optional

Instructions

1. Corn Cakes: Heat 2 tsp oil in a large saute pan. Add the garlic, corn, jalapeno, red bell pepper, and green onions. Cook for about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set pan aside for later use.
2. In a bowl, combine flour, cornmeal and baking powder. Whisk in the egg, cayenne, milk and butter. Pour into the bowl with the vegetable mixture and then add the chives.
3. Heat saute pan again with a teaspoon of corn oil. Using an ice cream scoop or ladle, drop silver dollar size spoonfuls of batter and saute until nicely browned on each side. Drain on paper towels and serve with tomato salsa and sour cream, sprinkle with additional chives if desired.
4. Tomato Salsa: Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Place several corn cakes fanned out on an appetizer plate, top with a little salsa and if desired, a dollop of sour cream and sprinkling of minced chives. Serve immediately.

By Annie Roberts, Head Chef, Robert Mondavi Winery

The Heritage Cook ® https://theheritagecook.com/

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