Southern Panzanella Recipe

Now here's a salad you can sink your teeth into Southern Panzanella
Ed Hardy•

Since the invention of the salad by skinny, health-conscious women, mankind has constantly striven to make the salad more palatable. Significant advancements have included croutons, tuna salad, bacon vinaigrette, and the buffalo chicken salad with bleu cheese crumble. Now our researchers are proud to announce their latest leap foward: a salad that is composed mostly of fried corn fritters. Progress!

Food Republic contributor Ed Hardy is Sous Chef at Red Rooster Harlem.

Southern Panzanella Recipe
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Prep Time
25
minutes
Cook Time
15
minutes
Servings
4
to 6 servings
Now here's a salad you can sink your teeth into
Total time: 40 minutes
Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup cucumber
  • 1/2 cup sliced red onion
  • 2 ears corn
  • 1 1/2 cups heirloom tomatoes
  • 1 1/4 cup self-rising cornmeal mix
  • 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 4 teaspoons salt
  • pepper (to taste)
  • 1 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
  • 1/4 cup celery leaves; flat parsley; chives; herbs or similar
  • 1 scant tablespoon preserved lemon rind
  • If desired: shredded duck confit; shredded roast chicken; shaved Virginia ham or similar
Directions
  1. Make corn fritters by heating  oil to 325 degrees F. Combine cornmeal mix, flour, sugar, and two teaspoons salt. Separately combine 1 cup buttermilk and eggs.
  2. Add milk mixture to cornmeal mixture, stirring well. Stir in butter and half of the grilled corn sliced off the cob. Drop by tablespoons into hot oil. Cook 2 to 4 minutes, or until golden, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Once cool, slice in half.
  3. Make buttermilk vinaigrette by combining apple cider vinegar, buttermilk, mustard, salt, pepper and lemon. Whisk together until combined.
  4. Toss remaining ingredients (tomatoes, cucumber, onion, herbs/leaves, remaining grilled corn) in a bowl with the buttermilk vinaigrette. Add corn fritters and toss lightly. Add duck, chicken or ham if desired. In the photo above I've added crispy chicken skin because, well, crispy chicken skin.
 
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