Double Corn Bread With Smoked Mozzarella And Sun-dried Tomatoes

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh coarse ground black pepper
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons canola oil (flavorless vegetable oil) or 1/4 cup grapeseed oil (flavorless vegetable oil)
• 1 cup fresh corn kernels (from 2 ears)
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons coarsely shredded smoked mozzarella cheese or 1/2 cup gouda cheese
• 1/4 cup minced smoked ham (optional)
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil (rinsed drained)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

Recipe

• 1 preheat the oven to 400°f place a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over low heat on the stove top and leave it to heat while preparing the batter for the corn bread.
• 2 in a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and black pepper and stir with a standard whisk to mix. in a second large bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk and 1/4 cup of the oil until blended. stir into this second bowl the corn, 1/2 cup of the cheese, the ham (if using), the tomatoes and the parsley.
• 3 make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. add the buttermilk mixture and fold together with a rubber spatula just until blended.
• 4 drizzle the heated skillet with the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, tilting the pan to coat evenly. immediately add the batter (the oil will sizzle and bubble up around the edges to coat the sides of the skillet), and spread it to the edges of the skillet, using a rubber spatula. sprinkle the top with the remaining 2 tablespoons cheese.
• 5 bake for 25 minutes, or until the top is golden and the edges have pulled away from the sides of the skillet. serve hot or at room temperature, cut into wedges.