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Cook the Book: Carolyn McLemore's Cornbread Salad

Posted by Ed Levine, June 7, 2007 at 5:15 PM

A great side dish is almost as good as the 'cue itself. Almost.

But if you don't have sides, you feel as if something's missing. Carolyn McLemore's Cornbread Salad has a little something of everything in it, however. The recipe, after the jump.

Carolyn McLemore's Cornbread Salad
- serves 6 to 8 -
As Mike Mills says, "The flavors in this layered salad complement barbecue perfectly."

Ingredients
For the cornbread
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 large eggs

3 cups buttermilk

2 cups yellow cornmeal

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt, finely ground

1 can (4 ounces) chopped jalapeño peppers

For the salad
1 package (1 ounce) ranch-style salad dressing mix

1 container (8 ounces) sour cream

1 cup mayonnaise

3 large tomatoes, chopped

1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper

1/2 cup chopped scallions

2 cans (16 ounces each) pinto beans, drained and rinsed

3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 can (15 ounces) corn, drained

1 pound bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled

Procedure
1. Make the cornbread: Preheat the oven to 450°F. Coat the bottom and sides of a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with the vegetable oil; place skillet in oven to heat.

2. Whisk the eggs and buttermilk together in a large bowl. Add the cornmeal, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and jalapeños while stirring briskly. Pour the batter into the hot skillet. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a rack; crumble into a bowl.

3. Make the salad: Combine the dressing mix, sour cream, and mayonnaise in a small bowl; set aside. Combine the tomatoes, bell pepper, and scallions in another bowl.

4. Place half the crumbled cornbread in the bottom of a large serving bowl. Spoon on half the pinto beans; top with half the tomato mixture, half the cheese, half the corn, and half the bacon. Spread on half of the dressing. Repeat the layers, ending with the dressing. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

1 Comment | Tags: barbecue, books, Cook the Book, cornbread, CTB: Peace Love and Barbecue, Mike Mills, salads