Recipes Using Cornmeal

BASIC POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a heavy large saucepan. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add the butter, and stir until melted.

CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400°F. Spray the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square pan or 9-inch round cake pan with the cooking spray.
• In a 1-quart saucepan, heat the butter over low heat until melted.
• In a large bowl, beat the melted butter, milk and egg with a fork or wire whisk until well mixed. Add the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt all at once; stir just until the flour is moistened (batter will be lumpy). Pour batter into the pan; use a rubber spatula to scrape batter from bowl. Spread batter evenly in pan and smooth top of batter.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm.

AREPAS

Steps:

• Put the cornmeal in a food processor and grind until fine.
• Put the cornmeal in a large bowl with the salt and cheese.
• In a small saucepan heat the milk over medium heat until it comes to a steady simmer.
• Add the butter to the pan and stir until melted.
• Take pan off the heat and add to the cornmeal mixture to form a thick batter.
• Fold in the corn kernels.
• Let the batter rest about 15 minutes to thicken into a soft dough.
• Form 1 inch balls from the dough and flatten with the palm of your hand into 1/4 inch thick disks.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet and cook the arepas until golden brown, about 5 minutes on the first side and 3 minutes on the other, working in batches until done.
• Serve hot with butter.

CORNMEAL MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375º F.
• Grease muffin pan.
• Mix dry ingredients together.
• In a seperate bowl combine melted butter, egg and milk; mix well.
• Add dry mix to wet mix and stir until just combined.
• Spoon batter into muffin pan and bake for 15-20 minutes.
• Serve hot.

BASIC POLENTA

Steps:

• For firm polenta use 4 cups water; for soft polenta use 5 cups water. Bring water to a boil in a medium-size heavy sauce pan over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Pour cornmeal slowly into water, stirring with a wire whisk or wooden spoon. Continue stirring as mixture thickens, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Turn heat to low. Cook for at least 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so. If polenta becomes quite thick, thin it with 1/2 cup water, stir well and continue cooking. Add up to 1 cup more water as necessary, to keep polenta soft enough to stir. Put a spoonful on a plate, let it cool, then taste. Grains should be swollen and taste cooked, not raw. Adjust salt and add pepper if you wish.
• For firm polenta, lightly butter a baking sheet or shallow dish, approximately 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Carefully pour polenta into pan. Using a spatula, spread polenta to a thickness of 3/4 inch. Cool to room temperature to allow polenta to solidify. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. For soft polenta, add 6 tablespoons butter to pot and stir well. Serve immediately or transfer to a double boiler set over low heat, cover and keep warm for up to an hour or so. (Or set the saucepan in a pot of barely simmering water.) Stir well before spooning into low soup bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan, if desired.

CORNMEAL BISCUITS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, cut butter into flour mixture. Using a wooden spoon, stir in 3/4 cup buttermilk until the mixture holds together.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to a 1-inch thickness. Using a 2-inch-round cookie cutter or a drinking glass, cut out eight rounds, and place on prepared parchment; discard scraps of dough. Brush tops of biscuits with remaining tablespoon buttermilk. Bake until golden and puffy, about 12 minutes. If desired, spread with butter or honey. Serve warm.

CORNMEAL PANCAKES

Steps:

• Combine the first five ingredients. In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk and oil; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a lightly greased hot griddle. Turn when bubbles on top begin to pop; cook until second side is golden brown. Serve with syrup.