Description
Rustic Navajo cornbread blends indigenous culinary traditions with hearty southwestern flavors, offering a simple yet soul-warming side dish. Cornmeal, flour, and green chiles combine to create a golden, slightly spicy bread that connects generations of Native American cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup cornmeal (240 ml)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (120 g)
- 1 cup milk (240 ml)
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil (80 ml)
- 1 egg
Sweetening Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup sugar (50 g)
Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon baking powder (15 ml)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (2.5 ml)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 400F, positioning the rack in the center. Thoroughly coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray or butter.
- Blend dry ingredients in a spacious mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution of cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Create a smooth mixture by whisking milk, vegetable oil, and egg into the dry ingredients until no visible lumps remain.
- Transfer the silky batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
- Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 22-25 minutes, watching for a golden-brown surface and a light springy texture when touched.
- Remove from oven and allow the cornbread to rest for 5 minutes, which helps it set and makes cutting easier.
- Slice into square portions and serve while still warm, ideally accompanied by butter or honey for added richness.
Notes
- Always use fresh cornmeal for the most vibrant flavor and texture in your Navajo cornbread.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with almond or coconut flour to maintain the bread’s rich consistency.
- Add green chiles or jalapeños for a spicy kick that enhances the traditional Navajo cornbread profile.
- Check doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center – it should come out clean with just a few crumbs clinging to it.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Native American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 218 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg