Not sure what to do with cornmeal? The possibilities are endless: you can make dough from it, encrust fried food in it, or boil it into polenta and grits, just to name a few ideas.
Use cornmeal in one of our favorite South American recipes, arepas, or give it an Italian spin for some classic polenta. In the mood for something sweet? You can also swap in cornmeal in cookies and pie crusts.
From a sausage-camembert spoon pudding to simple hush puppies and grilled polenta, here are our very best cornmeal recipes to master today.
Sausage-Camembert Spoon Pudding
Italian sausage and creamy Camembert cheese transform simple cornmeal spoon pudding into a rich side dish.
Broiled Rainbow Trout with Hush Puppies
Butterflied freshwater fish is slathered in butter and spices before broiling in this recipe from Tulsa’s White River Fish Market.
Jalapeño Cornbread Stuffing
Bacon and jalapeños flavor this otherwise classic cornbread dressing from Mary Sue Milliken.
Grillades and Grits
In this recipe, beef medallions are simmered in a Creole-Italian red gravy including enough tomatoes or tomato paste to color and flavor but not dominate the sauce. Get the recipe for Grillades and Grits »
Sea Salt Ice Cream With Cornbread Financiers
These are an elegant, restaurant-style nod to the hunks of cornbread typically found on Thanksgiving tables. Get the recipe for Sea Salt Ice Cream With Cornbread Financiers »
Cornbread Dressing
This dressing is the perfect accompaniment to roast turkey. Rather than cooking it in the bird, cook it in a baking dish or cast-iron skillet and serve it on the side. Get the recipe for Cornbread Dressing »
Egg-Stuffed Corn Cakes (Arepas de Huevo)
Twice-fried arepas stuffed with soft-cooked eggs are a classic street food in Cartagena, Colombia. Get the recipe for Egg-Stuffed Corn Cakes (Arepas de Huevo) »
Cornmeal-Crusted Onion Rings
Buttermilk-dipped and cornmeal-crusted onion rings are fried extra-crispy at Anthony’s Steakhouse in Omaha. Get the recipe for Cornmeal-Crusted Onion Rings »
Hush Puppies
These crisp-fried cornmeal balls are traditionally served alongside fried fish and tartar sauce in the Deep South. Get the recipe for Hush Puppies »
Seeded Crispbread (Knäckebröd med Frön)
This crackerlike Swedish bread made with sesame and sunflower seeds is a crunchy platform for gravadlax or pickled herring.
Gluten-Free Grapefruit Cake
This moist cake soaked with citrus-infused syrup gets its nutty flavor and hearty texture from a blend of almond flour and coarsely ground yellow cornmeal. Get the recipe for Gluten-Free Grapefruit Cake »
Apple-Rosemary Lattice Pie
A rosemary-laced cornmeal crust gives this lattice-topped apple pie a fragrant, savory kick.
Italian Parmesan Polenta with Sausage Ragù
This simple, comforting dish is a great one to make for dinner parties; the ragù improves over time, so make it the day before, and reheat it just before serving. The polenta can also be made ahead, but you’ll need to whisk in a bit of water to loosen it while you warm it on the stove. Get the recipe for Parmesan Polenta with Sausage Ragù »
Almond-Flour Crab Cakes with Lemon Aioli
The substitution of almond flour for conventional wheat flour in this recipe, developed by Judy Haubert, originated as a gluten-free workaround, but actually makes the cakes moister and more tender than traditional crab cakes. Get the recipe for Almond-Flour Crab Cakes with Lemon Aioli »
Grilled Polenta
Polenta is a popular dish in Venice and is often served grilled as a side, though you can also eat it without grilling it if you like. Get the recipe for Grilled Polenta »
Shrimp and Grits
Coarse stone-ground grits lend texture and robust flavor to a classic, cheesy dish with sweet shrimp and smoky bacon. Get the recipe for Shrimp and Grits »
