Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread

caliking · February 2018

I recently decided to culturally appropriate cornbread (goaded on, unknowingly maybe, by @northGAcock in a recent tread of mine). I’ve had some decent cornbread, but nothing that knocked my socks off in recent memory. Made a few versions in the last couple of weeks, and this is my best so far.

The add-ins:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/y1/mo0lc4ptnjsd.jpeg

Stone ground cornmeal, baking soda, baking powder, and salt went in too. Baked in CI, with lard from one of our piggies.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/4u/bljlj8zp9w0b.jpeg

Not too shabby.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/s0/8wa8vx1zg0or.jpeg

Preliminary research led me to conclude that sugar, sour cream, and/or flour are for Yankees and sissies. Buttermilk is where its at, and lard in the skillet makes for a great crust.

The goal is to turn out the perfect cornbread by Thanksgiving this year. And I’m not enough of a d!ck to not welcome suggestions for improvements from the good folks here.

Ozzie_Isaac · February 2018

I read all the words, but I did not comphrend the meaning.

caliking · February 2018

Ozzie_Isaac said:

I read all the words, but I did not comphrend the meaning.

Sorry, posted prematurely somehow. It makes more sense now.

Ozzie_Isaac · February 2018

caliking said:

show previous quotes

Ozzie_Isaac said:

I read all the words, but I did not comphrend the meaning.

Sorry, posted prematurely somehow. It makes more sense now.

Comphrension achievement unlocked!

Love cornbread and that looks amazing!!

caliking · February 2018

Future plans include a sourdough version. I have to reverse engineer the recipe to figure hydration etc. The red onions are definitely a keeper though. Beats previous versions with yellow onion.

Ozzie_Isaac · February 2018

caliking said:

Future plans include a sourdough version. I have to reverse engineer the recipe to figure hydration etc. The red onions are definitely a keeper though. Beats previous versions with yellow onion.

You might consider a little known technique for perfect cornbread every time:

Ozzie_Isaac · February 2018

Ok, on a serious note, I find the key to exceptional cornbread is bacon grease in the pan, plus a little in the batter in place of some oil/butter.

caliking · February 2018

The recipe so far:

Stone-ground corn meal 2 cups
Buttermilk 2 cups
Salt (table) 1 tsp
Eggs 2
Baking powder 2 tsp
Baking powder 1 tsp
Onion, red, diced 1/2
Jalapenos, diced 2
Butter, unsalted, melted 1/2 stick
Shredded cheddar, sharp 1 cup
Lard 2 TBSP

- heat oven or BGE to 400°F
- heat 10" CI skillet on the stove. Get it hot.
- Mix cornmeal, baking soda, baking powder, salt together
- beat the eggs and add buttermilk and melted butter.
- Mix wet and dry ingredients above
- Fold in the onions and japs
- Add the lard and swirl to coat the hot CI skillet.
- Bake for 30-35 mins, until the top browns, cracks, and a wood skewer or toothpick, poked in the center, comes out clean.
- Pull it and let rest for 10 mins.
- Invert onto a plate if you like a crispy crust.

caliking · February 2018

Stone-ground cornmeal is what you want, since you get different textures in the bag - some fine meal, some medium, and some coarse. I tried Bob's Red Mill Medium Grind Cornmeal, and it turned out a bit gritty.

caliking · February 2018

Ozzie_Isaac said:

show previous quotes

caliking said:

Future plans include a sourdough version. I have to reverse engineer the recipe to figure hydration etc. The red onions are definitely a keeper though. Beats previous versions with yellow onion.

You might consider a little known technique for perfect cornbread every time:

That's shameful. On par with Liquid Smoke.

caliking · February 2018

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Ok, on a serious note, I find the key to exceptional cornbread is bacon grease in the pan, plus a little in the batter in place of some oil/butter.

I have oodles of lard from our hogs, so that's what I use. But replacing the butter with lard is definitely something I can do. And it eliminates an ingredient.

YukonRon · February 2018

Cornbread is a delicacy. Your post is making me want to get the old CI out and make some up.
We used cornbread for deep dish pizza. It was amazing. Had to eat it with a fork.

bgebrent · February 2018

Man that looks righteous.

SciAggie · February 2018

Jerk. Now I need to make cornbread...
Or you can just send me some - with pinto beans also. Thanks in advance.

northGAcock · February 2018

Some drained canned corn is always a nice addition....though i really should try it with fresh corn. Damn....I should have had a V8.

Love me some cornbread....happy I could contribute to a noble cause for a change. Usually my ideas end up leading to some kind of bad behavior.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/xg/zh314ej25vnp.png

tml1230 · February 2018

GEEEEZZ.... Thanks for nuthin!.......Thanks to your post and attached pictures, tomorrow I have to go to Publix grocery store (there are no piggly wiglies or BiLo's here in Florida)... To purchase the ingredients for your recipe. It does look incredible.
I will brave and endure hundreds of tourists visiting from Ohio to New Jersey just to purchase some lard ,as my supply of bacon fat was recently depleted on another cook .
The only satisfaction I may receive is that the visitors from Boston ...(STILL wearing patriot jerseys) will be a little less rambunctious than they were over the weekend.
With a current temp of 76 degrees I will try to keep a positive outlook.

caliking · February 2018

@northGAcock - thats a good tip. I've had cornbread with corn in it, so will add that to the list to try. I imagine it will also help to keep it moist.

I can't really taste the jalapeno in it, so either I need to add more, or try Thai chilies for more zing.

caliking · February 2018

tml1230 said:

GEEEEZZ.... Thanks for nuthin!.......Thanks to your post and attached pictures, tomorrow I have to go to Publix grocery store (there are no piggly wiglies or BiLo's here in Florida)... To purchase the ingredients for your recipe. It does look incredible.
I will brave and endure hundreds of tourists visiting from Ohio to New Jersey just to purchase some lard ,as my supply of bacon fat was recently depleted on another cook .
The only satisfaction I may receive is that the visitors from Boston ...(STILL wearing patriot jerseys) will be a little less rambunctious than they were over the weekend.
With a current temp of 76 degrees I will try to keep a positive outlook.

That's the spirit!

We will want pics as evidence...

Carolina Q · February 2018

Recipe? Why?

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/qf/vludky9n6ilw.jpg

RememberTheAlomar · February 2018

I actually use a can of creamed corn in my recipe. Works wonders .

bgebrent · February 2018

caliking said:

@northGAcock - thats a good tip. I've had cornbread with corn in it, so will add that to the list to try. I imagine it will also help to keep it moist.

I can't really taste the jalapeno in it, so either I need to add more, or try Thai chilies for more zing.

Double the jalepeno and then you'll taste it.

northGAcock · February 2018

bgebrent said:

show previous quotes

caliking said:

@northGAcock - thats a good tip. I've had cornbread with corn in it, so will add that to the list to try. I imagine it will also help to keep it moist.

I can't really taste the jalapeno in it, so either I need to add more, or try Thai chilies for more zing.

Double the jalepeno and then you'll taste it.

.....fire roasted Green Chile’s are good too.

Ozzie_Isaac · February 2018

https://youtu.be/Rhj-CD4ATTM

Biggreenpharmacist · February 2018

I like to use green onions ratger than yellow or red.

caliking · February 2018

Now we’re talkin. Fire roasted chiles are definitely something I want to try.

@bgebrent I can try adding more, but I usually find jalapeños pretty mild for my taste. May just need something with more kick.

Creamed corn and green onions sound delicious too.

Kalen would sh!t himself.

20stone · February 2018

caliking said:

show previous quotes

Ozzie_Isaac said:

caliking said:

Future plans include a sourdough version. I have to reverse engineer the recipe to figure hydration etc. The red onions are definitely a keeper though. Beats previous versions with yellow onion.

You might consider a little known technique for perfect cornbread every time:

That's shameful. On par with Liquid Smoke.

True, but an excellent troll.

20stone · February 2018

caliking said:

Future plans include a sourdough version. I have to reverse engineer the recipe to figure hydration etc. The red onions are definitely a keeper though. Beats previous versions with yellow onion.

First, I appreciate the boldness of rolling into Chez Jonz with cornbread. As a member of a multi-generation Texan family (and the Old South before that), you are veering in my lane a bit. That being said, I have cooked food from your family's neck of the wood, so maybe all's fair.

Second, it was really good. I know you are going to keep tweaking, but you're on the right path.....except

Third, I can't abide the sourdough in cornbread (even if it works as a leavening substitute in waffles and pancakes). You know I am a fan of wild bugs in all types of bread, but this is one of those "naan has to see fire" things.

caliking · February 2018

20stone said:

...Third, I can't abide the sourdough in cornbread (even if it works as a leavening substitute in waffles and pancakes). You know I am a fan of wild bugs in all types of bread, but this is one of those "naan has to see fire" things.

Shots fired. Possibly going back to the Civil War. But point taken.

I wonder what they used for leavening before baking powder came along? Or is that just a Yankee thang?

20stone · February 2018

caliking said:

show previous quotes

20stone said:

...Third, I can't abide the sourdough in cornbread (even if it works as a leavening substitute in waffles and pancakes). You know I am a fan of wild bugs in all types of bread, but this is one of those "naan has to see fire" things.

Shots fired. Possibly going back to the Civil War. But point taken.

I wonder what they used for leavening before baking powder came along? Or is that just a Yankee thang?

You might be shocked to learn that this sent me down a rabbit hole researching when baking powder came available (soda in 1846, powder in 1856). It is worth noting that the lift from soda/powder comes from its reaction with a acid, which is why buttermilk is key.

I suspect yeast would do less well, not having gluten to stretch, but it would be an interesting experiment (though it wouldn't be cornbread)

SciAggie · February 2018

20stone said:

show previous quotes

caliking said:

20stone said:

...Third, I can't abide the sourdough in cornbread (even if it works as a leavening substitute in waffles and pancakes). You know I am a fan of wild bugs in all types of bread, but this is one of those "naan has to see fire" things.

Shots fired. Possibly going back to the Civil War. But point taken.

I wonder what they used for leavening before baking powder came along? Or is that just a Yankee thang?

You might be shocked to learn that this sent me down a rabbit hole researching when baking powder came available (soda in 1846, powder in 1856). It is worth noting that the lift from soda/powder comes from its reaction with a acid, which is why buttermilk is key.

I suspect yeast would do less well, not having gluten to stretch, but it would be an interesting experiment (though it wouldn't be cornbread)

These sorts of rabbit holes are indeed interesting. I agree that yeast (wild or not) would not yield what we consider to be cornbread today. That said, is it true we didn't have cornbread before 1846? If we did, what leavening agent was used?

SciAggie · February 2018

I found these links interesting. I think there is some speculation in them. My BS detector is going off a bit - but it may need calibrating.
https://indianahumanities.org/cornbread-history
http://indians.org/articles/corn-bread.html

The first article states, "Interestingly, many cookbooks from the first half of the 19th century do not contain recipes for cornbread."
This supports the introduction of baking soda and baking powder around mid century.

The second article states, "Because of some of the natural components in the corn, there is no need to use yeast to get the corn bread to rise."
This is where by BS detector went off. What is this magical natural component that makes corn rise but not other grains?

Perhaps earlier in history corn was consumed more like polenta or as an unleavened cake.

Edit: Here's one more interesting article: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2015/11/southern-unsweetened-cornbread-recipe.html

Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread

Welcome!

Comments

Welcome!

Welcome!

Quick Links

Categories