Hot and Hot Fish Club Tomato Salad

2 large Beefsteak Tomatoes
2 large Golden Delight Tomatoes
2 Big Rainbow Tomatoes
½ pint Sweet 100 Tomatoes
Salt and Pepper
30 small whole Okra, fried (recipe follows)
4 ounces fresh butter beans (recipe follows)
½ small Onion, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh Thyme
3 ears Silver Queen Corn, (recipe follows)
Balsamic Vinaigrette (recipe follows)
Chive Dressing (recipe follows)
4 ounces Smoked Bacon, thinly sliced and cooked until crisp
Wash, core and slice tomatoes. Toss in Balsamic Vinaigrette. Add salt and pepper. Set aside.
Prepare okra, corn, butter beans, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Chive Dressing and Bacon.
Fried Okra
¼ cup Buttermilk
¼ cup Corn Flour
¼ cup Corn Meal
¼ cup All Purpose Flour
Salt and Pepper
4 cups Vegetable Oil
Heat vegetable oil to 350 degrees. Trim okra stems and place in a small bowl with the buttermilk. Toss to deep coated. Combine corn flour, cornmeal and all purpose flour in medium size bowl. Add salt and pepper. Drain okra from buttermilk. Toss in cornmeal mixture and shake off excess. Fry in vegetable oil until golden. Drain on paper towels. Set aside.
Butter Beans:
Simmer butter beans in onion, water, bacon trimmings and salt until just tender. Add fresh thyme. When done, drain and set aside in small bowl.
Corn:
Boil corn in salted water. Remove when tender. Shave kernels off cob and combine with butter beans. Add 3 tablespoons Balsamic Vinaigrette and let sit.
Balsamic Vinaigrette(Yield 1 cup)
½ cup Balsamic Vinegar,
scant ¼ cup Olive Oil
¼ cup Virgin Olive Oil
2 scallions, thinly sliced
6 fresh Basil Leaves, chopped
Place scallions and basil in small bowl. Add balsamic vinegar. Whisk in olive oils. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Chive Dressing(Yield 1 ¾ cup)
2 large Cloves Garlic, finely minced
1 medium sized bunch Chives, thinly sliced
1 Egg Yolk
1 small Lemon, juiced
1 cup Olive Oil
¼ cup Crème Fraiche
Place garlic and chives in small bowl. Add egg yolk, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Vigorously whisk in olive oil, being sure to create emulsion. Add crème fraiche. Add a drop or two of water if too thick.
Presentation:
Arrange sliced tomatoes on plates. Place whole Sweet 100 tomatoes around the sliced tomatoes. Divide butter bean and corn mixture evenly among plates. Arrange okra and bacon on plates. Drizzle Chive dressing over all ingredients and serve.
Note: Look for a variety of locally grown tomatoes at the farmer’s market. If not available, look for good local tomatoes.