Sufferin' Celery Succotash

By testkitchenette • March 12, 2012 • 0 Comments

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Author Notes: While succotash is usually reserved for the summer, I found myself with a celery bunch and two very out of season ears of corn that needed to be cooked. New York felt like summer today so it's not a shocker that succotash popped into my head for this challenge. Since my recent trip to India, I have not been able to shake my obsession with all flavors S.E. Asian so this is the flavor profile I gave to my succotash. The ginger and garlic give warmth while the chile pepper literally heats it up. A splash of sesame oil and brown rice vinegar and a sprinkling of mint finished the meal. - testkitchenette

Serves 1 (or more if you are not as greedy as me)

2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon small shallot, finely chopped
2 teaspoons ginger, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, smashed
pinches sea salt
1 celery bunch, sliced on the bias (leaves too)
2 ears corn, shucked
1 Thai chile, halved and seeded
1/2 sweet potato, baked and chopped (I baked it at 400F, pierced, for about an hour, let cool and chopped it)
1/4 cup mint, finely chopped
2 teaspoons honey
1 tablespoon brown rice vinegar
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high heat. Add in the shallot, ginger, and garlic and sweat them for about 2 minutes until the shallots get translucent. Add in the celery and corn and let cook for about 2 minutes, stirring the whole time. Add a pinch of salt.
Add in the Thai chile and the sweet potato and let cook for a minute or two to warm up. Stir in the finely chopped mint, honey, brown rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil. Check for seasoning. Take chile pieces out.
Serve as a side dish or as a main warm salad dish.