Vegetarian Wednesday - A Taste Of The South

 Vegetarian Gumbo and Corn Cakes with Honey

Gumbo:

1/2 c.    vegetable oil

1/3 c.    flour

1    small onion - chopped (1 cup)

1    small green bell pepper - chopped (1 cup)

3 stalks    celery - chopped (1 cup)

1-28oz can    diced tomatoes

2 c.    fresh or frozen green beans

3    carrots - sliced (2 cups)

1    parsnip - diced (1 cup)

1 c.    fresh or frozen sliced okra

1 tbsp    ground cumin

1 tbsp    paprika

1 tbsp    dried oregano

1/4 tsp    cayenne pepper

- Stir together oil and flour in Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot until smooth. Cook over high heat 10 minutes, or until roux turns a dark caramel color, stirring constantly.

- Add onion, bell pepper, and celery, and cook 5 minutes, or until veggies are softened. Stir in all remaining ingredients and add 4 cups of water. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook 40 minutes, or until carrots are tender. 

- Serve over rice.

Corn Cakes:

1 box    corn muffin mix (I use Jiffy) - prepared for corn pancakes

2 ears    fresh corn - kernels scraped from cob

1    orange - zested

2    scallions - whites and greens finely chopped

3 tbsp    butter

    honey

- Mix corn pancake batter in a large bowl. Heat griddle or cast iron skillet pan over medium-low to medium heat. 

- Stir the corn kernels, orange zest, and scallions into batter. Cut up 2 tbsp butter into small bits and fold into the batter. Nestle a pat of butter into a folded paper towel and wipe pan with it. Pile batter into mounds 3 inches wide and cook the cakes until deep golden on each side. Repeat with remaining batter.

- Meanwhile, heat a small pot of water over low heat and bring to a bubble. Remove pan from heat and put the honey jar into the water bath to warm. Arrange the corn cakes on a small serving platter and serve with honey drizzled on top.