Kit Wohl is a frequent contributor to WWL-TV. This year’s 32nd Annual Creole Tomato Festival is Saturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10 in the historic French Market. It inspires this recipe for Tomato Cole Slaw. Noted chef and restaurateur Jeremiah Tower’s new ebook, “Flavors of Taste”, was produced in New Orleans with Wohl and food photographer Sam Hanna. It captures the genius of one of America's great chefs, and the food that changed American cooking. Tower is a purist, obsessed with ingredients, what are the best and how to treat them. Such as a Creole tomato.
My Aunt’s Coleslaw
From: Jeremiah Tower: Flavors of Taste Recipes, Memories & Menus
The whole key to the success of this dish, I was firmly but very gently told, is to cut the cabbage and tomatoes in large pieces and to soak the cabbage in ice water in the refrigerator for four hours. Meanwhile you peel and seed ripe tomatoes, and when the slaw is mixed and dressed it has to sit in the refrigerator for a couple of hours to achieve perfect flavor and texture.
Serves 4 to 6
1 head white cabbage
4 large ripe tomatoes
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
Salt and freshly ground black ground pepper
“Discard any of the outer leaves of the cabbage that are wilted or discolored. Cut the cabbage in half from top to bottom and cut out the core. Put each half, cut side down, on the cutting board and cut into 1/2-inch slices. Put the cabbage in a large bowl, cover with cold water and ice cubes, and refrigerate for 4 hours.
Peel the tomatoes, cut in half around the circumference, squeeze out the seeds, and cut each tomato half into 6 pieces. Mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, fresh and powdered gingers, and mustard in a bowl.
Drain the cabbage very well and mix thoroughly with the sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste, add the tomatoes, and toss lightly. Refrigerate covered for 2 hours, stirring twice. Serve very cold.”
Excerpt From: Jeremiah Tower. Flavors of Taste. Available for download here.
