In a previous post with a recipe for Quick and Healthy Turkey Chili, I mentioned that I like to top my chili with cheesy corn cakes. They are easy to make and so good on top of chili and soups.
I used to make these by simply adding cheese to a corn muffin mix. But, after reading the paragraph of scary ingredients on the mix box (hydrogenated lard and numerous mystery ingredients), I figured out a way to make these from scratch that is almost as easy as using a mix and is much healthier.
Corn cakes are really just cornbread in pancake form. In fact, I used the same ingredients that are in my Classic Buttermilk Cornbread. Just added some grated cheese and cooked them like pancakes on a griddle.
Here's a short video that shows you how easy it is to make these:
Step 1. Assemble the ingredients:
view on Amazon: corn meal, organic corn meal, buttermilk powder
Step 2: Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
Step 3: Whisk the wet ingredients together in a separate medium bowl.
Step 4: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir them just until they're combined--don't over mix.
view on Amazon: wire whisk, stacking glass mixing bowls
Step 5. Grate the cheese.
Step 6. Fold the grated cheese into the batter.
view on Amazon: my box grater
Step 7. Rub hot griddle or skillet with butter. (Or, cooking oil of your choice.)
Step 8. Use a measuring cup or ice cream scoop to measure 1/3 to 1/2 cup batter.
Step 9. Put measured batter on hot griddle and flatten it with a spatula to make a pancake. (Coat the spatula with cooking spray to prevent sticking.) Mine are approx. 4" diameter.
view on Amazon: my cast iron griddle
Step 10. Cook until browned on bottom; flip and brown the other side.
Step 11. When browned on both sides, remove corn cakes to pan with wire rack (so they don't get soggy on bottom) and keep warm in 225 degree oven until ready to serve.
Make ahead, refrigerate or freeze, and reheat. These keep well in the fridge or freezer. A zap in the microwave, and they taste fresh and are ready to top your chili or soup. If they're thawed, place on a plate and microwave for approx. 30 seconds. If they're frozen, microwave at 50% power. Check after 60 seconds, continue to heat in 20-30 second intervals until hot. I love having these in my freezer along with single portions of chili or soup. That makes it easy to thaw and heat a quick lunch or dinner.
Serve 'em up! Adding one of these tasty corn cake toppers turns an ordinary bowl of chili or soup into something special.
Break off a piece of the corn cake with each bite of chili. SO GOOD!
These corn cake toppers also make a great base for open face sandwiches, tostadas, and breakfast stacks. To learn how, check out these posts:
Corn Cake Breakfast Stack with Bacon and Eggs
Corn Cake Breakfast Stack with Eggs Florentine
Make it a Yummy day!
Other posts that may interest you:
Weight Watchers SmartPoints per corn cake: 9
This updated post was originally posted 3/31/2011.