Cornmeal Recipes

As every angler knows, skillet-size brook, brown, and rainbow trout are never more tasty than when prepared this way. Can there be any tastier dish than the one that comes from this happy marriage of fresh trout and butter?

Cornmeal pancakes with melted lard, plenty of baking powder, and a tender, slightly grainy crumb. A 15-minute breakfast pancake with old-fashioned corn flavor and crispy edges.

Frijoles con queso casserole: creamy pinto beans layered with sauteed zucchini and tomatoes, crowned with a tender cornbread topping. Vegetarian tamale pie-style bake for weeknight dinner.

Bean soup with dumplings simmers kidney and black beans with corn, green chiles, and chili powder, then steams fluffy cornmeal dumplings right on top. A hearty, Southwestern one-pot meal with cornbread-style dumplings.

Vegetarian tofu pot pie with crispy seasoned tofu, mushroom gravy, peas, and carrots in a whole wheat crust with wheat germ. Homemade from filling to flaky crust.

Baked hush puppies made in mini muffin pans instead of deep-fried. Crispy cornmeal bites with minced onion, lighter than traditional fried hush puppies but just as satisfying.

A hearty cornmeal and whole wheat quick bread sweetened with honey and made tender with buttermilk. No yeast, no kneading, just stir and bake into a wholesome, high-fiber loaf with a cornmeal-dusted crust.

Slow cooker bean casserole topped with golden, from-scratch cornbread. Kidney beans, pinto beans, and spicy tomato sauce bubble away while the cornbread steams to fluffy goodness on top.

Blue corn waffles with buttermilk and whipped egg whites bake up crispy, golden, and extra light. Earthy blue cornmeal flavor with a tender crumb. Serve hot with butter and maple syrup.

Blueberry cornmeal muffins blend whole wheat and yellow cornmeal with juicy berries, brightened by orange zest and buttermilk. A wholesome breakfast bake with rustic golden crumb.

New England apple pie with a butter pastry, crumb topping, and heritage apples like Northern Spy or Rhode Island Greening. Cinnamon and lemon zest brighten the filling, and a two-stage bake browns the crust without burning.

Fried pike sandwich with Cambridge sauce: cornmeal-crusted pike fillets on pumpernickel, slathered with a classic English herb sauce of hard-boiled egg, anchovies, capers, and tarragon.

Classic American apple pie with a lattice crust, vanilla-scented filling, and half and half for extra richness. A from-scratch shortening crust that bakes up flaky and golden.

Chiles rellenos stuffed with Monterey Jack cheese, dipped in a cornmeal batter, and fried golden brown. The cornmeal coating adds a crispy crunch that traditional egg-only batters can't match.

South American pork and corn pie spoons spiced pork with sweet corn, raisins, and black olives under a fluffy cornmeal topping. Pastel de choclo style casserole, baked in 45 minutes.

Chocolate cake with almonds baked in a spring form pan.