Okra Cornmeal Cakes

What a clever twist on fried okra! This seemed sort of a hybrid between a fried green tomato and traditional fried okra—a Southern delight indeed. The batter was easy to assemble and thick. (I added a little more water to make it “not dry” as described in the recipe.) This made the cakes very easy to flip when it was time to do so. I appreciated the “visuals” in the directions. Sprinkling the finished product with salt and pepper after they came out of the pan is an important step (I also recommend a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce here!) I actually made the Napoleon option with goat cheese and fresh slices of heirloom tomato. It was an impressive addition to our dinner last night of bourbon pork chops and turnip greens. I really liked the flavor and overall presentation of this dish. I could see this being a nice addition to a brunch menu as well.

I love pancakes, especially savory ones. The okra in these cakes retained its firm, earthy appeal while the jalapeño was a delicate surprise. I found the recipe weeknight easy and most of the ingredients are pantry staples. Depending on the circumstances, you will need more or less water than outlined in the recipe (hey, humidity happens.) Also, rather than use all of the oil at once, I oiled the pan as needed throughout the course of the batches. A well-greased pan yielded a crisper, more golden brown pancake. I served the cakes with pulled pork and they were delicious. I have images of all types of meats piled aloft.

The cookbook title says it all—basic to brilliant, y’all. This simple Southern dish is delicious and becomes even better when made into the “Napoleon” variation. I had lots of cherry tomatoes, so I made tiny cakes that would make a perfect appetizer. I also cut my okra a little extra small, just to avoid having my kids pick the pieces out, and it worked. I also did not use much oil, less than a tablespoon at the beginning, and then a little more as needed for subsequent batches. I loved the corncakes and would make them again as a simple side dish. Paired with the cheese and tomato, though, this becomes one of those dishes you can’t wait to make for more people.

A recipe guaranteed to make converts of even the most hardcore okra haters. Very hearty and satisfying, and also easy to make—the most strenuous thing you have to do is smash garlic. It’s also a forgiving recipe. I didn’t have fine cornmeal so instead I used medium-ground cornmeal. I figured it would be way too gritty, but with some added water and time in the skillet, it was fine. The proportions of okra to cornmeal to jalapeno to garlic were perfect. As an added bonus, the cakes aren’t at all greasy. I used about ½ cup more water than the recipe called for because the batter was pretty dry, and added the oil 1 tablespoon at a time, making 3 cakes per batch. I ended up with 14 cakes and ate 2 with a very cheesy omelet, which was an excellent accompaniment. If you still don’t find the cakes spicy enough, I recommend eating these with Sriracha sauce, as I did.