Okra Cornmeal Cakes with Herbed Goat Cheese and Roasted Tomatoes

I am huge fried orka fan. When I saw this recipe I knew I had to try it even if it was dinner for just two. This was a very tasty vegetarian meal served with a side salad (or would be an awesome appetizer if you have a crowd to feed.) Crispy okra in a yummy cornbread topped with herbed goat cheese, which I love, and roasted tomatoes. The only drawback is that you need to eat it right away. We had a lot of leftovers and they were a bit soggy the next day, but becasue they were so delicious, we (I) finished them regardless.

Ingredients:

Makes about 14 cakes

For the roasted tomatoes:
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
Generous drizzle of olive oil
Pinch of kosher salt
Generous pinch of sugar

For the corn cakes:
2 cups fine yellow cornmeal
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1½ cups water, plus more as needed
8 oz. okra, stems trimmed and sliced ¼-inch thick
1 jalapeño, cored, seeded and finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely minced
¼ cup canola oil, for frying

To serve:
About 3 oz. herbed goat cheese
Fresh herbs, for garnish (optional)

Directions:

To make the roasted tomatoes, preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Combine the tomatoes, olive oil, salt, and sugar on a rimmed baking sheet and toss well to coat. Bake for about 40 minutes, tossing once or twice during cooking. Remove from the oven and let cool.  

To make the corn cakes, combine the cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; whisk to blend and set aside. Combine the egg and water in a liquid measuring cup and whisk lightly. Add the liquid mixture to the bowl with the cornmeal mixture, and stir just until combined. Fold in the okra, jalapeño, and garlic until incorporated. The mixture may seem a bit watery at first, but give it a minute for the cornmeal to soak up the liquid. If the mixture is too dry, add more water a tablespoon at a time.

To cook the corn cakes, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat until very warm. Drop in scoops of the dough mixture, about a scant ¼ cup each, spaced an inch or two apart. Cook, flipping once during cooking, until both sides are lightly browned, about 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer the finished cakes to a paper towel-lined rack and repeat with the remaining dough mixture.

To serve, place a small dollop of the herbed goat cheese on top of each warmed corn cake. Let it sit for a minute or two to melt slightly, then spread gently over the top of the corn cake. Top each cake with a few of the roasted tomatoes and garnish with fresh herbs as desired. Serve immediately.

Source: Annies Eats