Cornmeal
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Cornmeal is a versatile pantry staple that can be used to
coat fried fish, meats and vegetables or sweeten pancakes, muffins and
breads. For the crustiest cornbread, bake your batter in a dark pan or
skillet.
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Cornmeal is made from dried
corn kernels that have been ground into one
of three textures: fine, medium or coarse. Fine is often called "corn
flour," medium is the most commercially available, and coarse is also
known as "
polenta."
Cornmeal is yellow, blue or
white depending on the type of corn used. It lends a sweet, robust
flavor to everything from
pancakes and
spoonbread to Parmesan
polenta
and
fried green tomatoes.
Varieties and Buying Tips
Cornmeal is available in two main styles: steel-ground and stone- or water-ground.
Steel-ground,
most commonly found at the supermarket, is commercially milled with
huge steel rollers that completely remove the corn's husk and germ.
Stone-ground,
produced the old-fashioned way, is ground with mill wheels that use
water power. Because this process retains some of the hull and germ,
stone-ground cornmeal is more nutritious. It can be found at natural
food stores and some supermarkets.
Storage Tips
Steel-ground cornmeal can be stored almost indefinitely in an airtight
container in a cool, dry place. The fat in the germ of stone-ground
cornmeal makes it more perishable. It should be refrigerated in an
airtight container for up to four months.
Usage Tips
• Combine cornmeal, flour and seasonings to make a delicious coating for fried fish,
chicken or hot dogs (
corn dogs).
• Sprinkle on the bottom of baking pans to prevent breads and
pizzas from sticking.
• Give cornmeal a nuttier flavor by toasting it a dry skillet until
golden brown. Let cool and add to polenta,
cornbread and other baked
goods as usual.
• Mix cornmeal into bread and muffin batters by hand to avoid over
mixing. A few lumps will make your baked goods more rustic and
flavorful.
• 1 pound = 3 cups uncooked; 1 cup = 4 cups cooked.
Try one of our favorite cornmeal recipes:
Autumn Cornmeal Muffins
Southern Catfish Fillets
Seared Scallops on Braised Wild Mushrooms
Suggested Pairings
bell peppers, butter, cheddar cheese, chicken, chili, cumin, eggs,
fish, flour, jalapenos, maple syrup, mushrooms, onions, oysters,
Parmesan, powdered sugar, scallops, tomatoes, zucchini
Related Recipes
View BigOven's cornmeal recipes