Corn flour - benefits, harm and the best ways to use it in different dishes
Corn flour is very popular due to its unusual taste. With it you can make many different dishes that are characterized by a truly unsurpassed taste. Experienced cooks know many different recipes.
How to make cornmeal?
Many housewives wonder how to make flour from corn grits, although this is a very simple process:
- You need to take the required amount of cereal and grind it to a powder using a coffee grinder or electric blender. You just have to remember that after processing the cereal in this way, it becomes somewhat less useful.
- Next, the flour is combined with the ingredients that are included in a particular recipe and processed in a suitable household appliance.
Corn flour - benefits and harms
A component such as corn flour, the benefits of which are undeniable, also has harmful qualities. You need to know about them before using it in cooking. The benefits of this product are:
- flour contains many vitamins;
- has a positive effect on digestion;
- helps the body recover after operations or serious illnesses;
- has a glycemic index of 70;
- does not contain gluten;
- improves a person’s condition with diseases of the biliary system, has a diuretic effect, and strengthens blood vessels.
The harm of this component is as follows:
- negatively affects the human condition with high blood clotting;
- some fertilizers used to grow corn cause allergies;
- may cause harm in acute stage digestive diseases;
- Corn flour is poorer in composition compared to wheat flour, so you should not use it constantly.
How to store corn flour?
To prevent corn flour from spoiling, you must consider the following:
- Correct humidity and temperature must be maintained. The room should be dry, humidity no more than 70%, optimally 60%. Temperature – +10-18°С. Under such conditions, insects will not grow in the flour, and it will not become moldy.
- You should not constantly carry a bag of flour from the storage place to the kitchen, since it is negatively affected by temperature changes.
- Many people are interested in how long corn flour can be stored? The shelf life of a non-deodorized product is 5 months, a deodorized product is 1 year.
How much flour to put in bait
Unfortunately, there is no exact answer to this question, since everything depends on the fishing conditions and is calculated empirically, so I am describing my experience:
Depending on the place of application, the dosage of corn flour varies from 10% to 40% per kilogram of bait. The amount depends on the purpose and properties of the reservoir.
In the river, I use cornmeal quite rarely and in small quantities, and only finely ground, mainly to create turbidity. In standing water I use up to 40% per kilogram of bait mixture.
From experience, if you want to catch large fish, then reduce the amount of flour in the bait, since a large cloud of turbidity strongly attracts small fish, even from the upper layers of water.
We recommend: Minimum fish sizes allowed for catching for the East Siberian basin, save to bookmarks
Approximate dosages (per kg of feeding mixture) in the feed are as follows:
- 10% when fishing in deep waters or waters with strong currents;
- 20% when fishing for roach, bream, silver bream, carp;
- 30% when fishing in standing waters and with a lot of vegetation;
- 40% when catching surface fish, for example in spring bleak or rudd, dace, chub.
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Recipe for cornmeal bread in the oven
Bread made from corn flour baked in the oven is very aromatic and satisfying. It has a crispy crust that children will especially like. There is nothing complicated in cooking; the recipe can be easily reproduced. Having tried this type of baking once, it is possible that subsequently it will regularly appear on the table.
Ingredients:
- corn flour – 60 g;
- wheat flour – 400 g + 1.5 tbsp. for sprinkling;
- boiling water – 150 ml;
- warm water – 150 ml;
- salt and sugar - 1 teaspoon each;
- vegetable oil – 3 tbsp. spoons;
- dry yeast – 10 g.
Preparation:
- Pour boiling water over corn flour and mix thoroughly. Wait until it becomes warm.
- Pour wheat flour into a deep bowl and throw in yeast with sugar and salt. Bring until smooth.
- Pour warm water over the flour mixture and add cornmeal. Mix first with a spoon and then with your hands.
- Knead the dough for about 10 minutes. It should turn out tender and homogeneous.
- Cover the dough with film and leave for 2 hours.
- Grease a loaf pan with butter and sprinkle with flour. Knead the dough and give it the desired size, send it to the mold. Cover with a towel and let stand for 30 minutes.
- Sprinkle flour on top of the bread and make several cuts on the surface. Place the bread in the oven preheated to 180°C and bake for 40 minutes.
Corn and Peas Recipe
In this case, dry peas are used instead of yeast; the mash itself will be made entirely from natural raw materials, as in the previous case. To prepare you need:
- Maize grains – 4 kg.
- Water – 13 l.
- Sugar – 8 kg.
- Peas – 1 kg.
Cooking technique:
- Corn needs to be ground into powder and placed in a container for fermentation.
- Next, add 1 kg of sugar and the entire volume of peas, after which 3 liters of warm water are poured in and left for 10 days.
- After the specified time, all the solid parts will float to the top. All the sugar is poured into the container and another 10 liters of water are poured. This mixture should be thoroughly mixed and left to ferment for another week.
- When the raw material has fermented, it should be filtered and distilled to obtain good moonshine.
Pancakes made from corn flour with milk
Special corn flour, the composition of which is extremely healthy, can be used as a component of many delicious dishes. If you want to cook something hearty and nutritious, then you should make pancakes. Any milk will do, including coconut and soy milk. It all depends on the individual preferences of the cook and whether he adheres to a certain diet.
Ingredients:
- milk – 300 ml;
- egg – 2 pcs.;
- corn flour – 7 tbsp. spoon;
- sugar – 50 g;
- salt – 2 pinches;
- vegetable oil – 2 tbsp. spoons.
Preparation:
- Pour the eggs into a deep container and add milk to them. Add sugar and salt and mix.
- Add flour, stirring with a whisk. It is advisable not to beat.
- Pour oil into the mixture and mix everything thoroughly. Leave for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Warm the frying pan, reduce the flame to moderate and, after mixing the dough, pour a ladle of the mixture into the frying pan. Cook for 1 minute, then turn over. Bring cornflour pancakes to final readiness.
Cornmeal Cookies - Recipes
If you want to get a delicious dessert from corn flour, you can make cookies. Children will especially like it because it is very bright and beautiful. In addition, it has a delicate and crumbly structure. If necessary, it can easily replace the sand option that is familiar and beloved by many. You can use it with tea, coffee, and various juices.
Ingredients:
- egg – 2 pcs.;
- butter – 100 g;
- sugar – 100 g;
- sour cream – 100 ml;
- corn flour – 100 g;
- wheat flour – 200 g;
- baking powder - 2 teaspoons.
Preparation:
- Grind the butter and sugar and beat the eggs into this mixture. Mix and add sour cream.
- Add cornmeal and stir again.
- Place wheat flour and baking powder into the mixture. Knead the dough and roll it out, sprinkle with sugar.
- Use cookie cutters to cut out cookies.
- Cover a baking sheet with parchment and place in the oven preheated to 180°C. Bake cornmeal cookies for 15 minutes.
Sugar Free Pumpkin Corn Cookies
A successful combination of corn flour and pumpkin allows you to give double benefits to a dish prepared using them. The natural sugar content of pumpkin allows you to exclude sugar from the composition of cookies, which is useful for diabetics. So, let's put the following shortbread cookies made from corn flour in our culinary notebook.
We will need:
- 200 g corn flour;
- 40 g 1st grade wheat flour;
- A pair of chicken eggs;
- 100-120 g pumpkin pulp;
- 50 g butter;
- A little sweetener of your choice (or honey);
- A bar of dark chocolate.
Preparation:
Mix both types of flour in a dry container.
Then take the eggs and carefully separate the whites from the yolks. Place the whites in the refrigerator and add the yolks to the flour mixture.
The pumpkin, previously washed and peeled, needs to be chopped on a coarse grater.
Add pumpkin and soft butter to the yolk-flour mixture and begin kneading the dough. The process is a little difficult, since the dough turns out to be quite steep. If kneading seems a bit difficult, you can add a little extra cornmeal.
Now set the dough aside for a while and take the egg whites out of the refrigerator. Add a sugar substitute to the container with the whites and beat the mixture with a mixer until a fluffy foam forms.
Distribute the resulting mass over the surface of the dough and, almost without stirring, slightly adjust the shape of the product. While the cream is adjusting to the surface of the dough, take out a baking sheet and cover it with baking paper.
Now we take out the meat grinder and begin to pass the dough with protein cream through it. Using a sharp knife, separate the dough particles from the meat grinder and place them on the mold, giving the shape of a flower.
After all the dough has been processed in a meat grinder and placed in the form of original products on a baking sheet, take dark chocolate and grate it, you can simply chop it with a knife.
Turn on the oven and set the temperature to 180-200C. While the oven is heating, lightly dust the surface of the cookies with chopped chocolate.
Then place the mold in the oven for half an hour. And at this time we wash the contaminated dishes and put on the kettle.
After the time required for baking, we take out the baking sheet and get an elegant dietary dish. And everyone who tries to bake such a culinary masterpiece will appreciate the taste of this beauty.
Well, cookies should be served in a flat plate with tea without milk or coffee without caffeine.
Cornmeal tortillas in a frying pan
A product such as healthy corn flour can be used to make tortillas. They can be served for breakfast or used instead of bread. This is a great way to diversify your usual diet and add a spicy, unique touch to it. There is absolutely nothing complicated in cooking; any cook can handle it.
Ingredients:
- corn flour – 400 g;
- salt – 1 teaspoon;
- vegetable oil – 3 tbsp. spoons.
Preparation:
- Place the flour in a small bowl and add salt to it.
- Pour 2 tbsp into flour. boiling water in small portions, stirring constantly. You should get a homogeneous dough without lumps.
- Divide the dough into several equal parts. Roll it into balls and make cakes.
- Heat a frying pan with oil and throw in the flatbreads. Fry cornmeal tortillas for 5 minutes. from each side.
Mchadi made from corn flour
A component such as crumbly corn flour is used to prepare very interesting dishes. For example, with its help you can get mchadi - this is Georgian bread. It is very tasty and unusual. Additionally, you can add garlic or your favorite herbs. Using certain seasonings, you can achieve the desired taste properties.
Ingredients:
- corn flour - 3 tbsp;
- water – 1.5 tbsp.;
- salt.
Preparation:
- Mix the flour, water and salt into a dough. It should be a little runny and sticky.
- Roll the dough into a ball and flatten it.
- Heat a frying pan with oil and fry the Georgian cornmeal bread until golden brown.
Corn pies and k1odar
We continue to expand our section of Ingush cuisine. And today we have one of the simplest dishes, but beloved by the Chechens and Ingush. Rather, it is more of a filling and quick snack. The original name of the dish is “Siskal, koartol (potatoes), k1odar.” Siskal is bread made from fairly coarsely ground corn flour, the dough for which is made in boiling water. This bread bakes for a long time under the lid. We have another option - the dough is made with kefir and these pies are fried quite quickly, they are also more tender in structure. And k1odar is a mixture of cottage cheese with melted butter, prepared taking into account certain rules.
I’ll say right away that I used finely ground flour, and accordingly, the proportions took this point into account.
Ingredients for pies (for 10-12 pieces):
For k1odar:
+ boiled potatoes and herbs for a complete serving of the dish.
Preparation:
Peel the potatoes in advance and let them cook. Now let's prepare the pies. In a bowl, combine kefir, egg, salt and soda, and gradually begin to add flour. In total, I used three cups of flour, but the amount may vary slightly depending on the degree of grinding of the flour. The result should be a dough that does not stick to your hands, but is not too dry.
The main thing is to be able to tear off the pieces and shape them. Tearing off small pieces, divide the dough into 10-12 parts and form them into pies, do not press down yet, but simply fold them onto the board.
Then heat a frying pan with sunflower oil, do not pour a lot of oil, they will absorb as much as it will. Now we make the pies thinner, giving them a neat shape so that they are no more than 1 cm in height, since during the frying process they will become more magnificent.
At the same time, reduce the heat to medium and fry the pies on both sides until golden brown, the main thing is that the fire is not strong, otherwise they will not be baked inside.
Now all that remains is to prepare the k1odar. To do this, squeeze the cottage cheese well from the juice, add salt and egg, mix. You need melted butter, as it acquires a unique aroma. In order to properly melt it by placing it on the stove, you need to wait until the white grains begin to separate from the oil. The fire should not be strong, otherwise the oil will burn, and the color and taste will change. Let the oil cool a little and only then pour in the curd mass with the egg, otherwise the curd will begin to melt from contact with almost boiling oil. Mix well. We serve boiled potatoes, greens in a bowl and our golden aromatic corn pies on a separate dish.
I may be subjective, but for me this is one of the most delicious dishes. Simple, yet very satisfying and “spiritual and cozy” in Ingush. The cuisine of every nation is beautiful in its own way, but you should never forget about your traditional food.
Cheesecakes with corn flour - recipe
Cheese pancakes with corn flour are extremely beneficial for the body. This unusual component gives them a bright and beautiful color. They taste very pleasant. The cooking process is completely identical to the traditional one, the only difference is the type of flour used. The dish can be consumed with jam, syrup, honey or jam.
Ingredients:
- corn flour - 4 tbsp. spoons;
- egg – 2 pcs.;
- sugar – 2 teaspoons;
- soda – 1/2 teaspoon;
- cottage cheese – 400 g.
Preparation:
- Pass the cottage cheese through a sieve.
- Lightly beat the eggs and add them to the cottage cheese, add a little sugar and flour. Mix everything well.
- Form cheesecakes from the dough and place them in a hot frying pan. Fry until done on both sides.
Corn flour pancakes with kefir
If you are tired of the usual pancakes, you can make pancakes from corn flour. It is advisable to take this component in combination with regular wheat flour, then the delicacy will acquire the necessary structure and taste. They go well with sour cream, jam, honey, and condensed milk.
Ingredients:
- egg – 2 pcs.;
- sugar – 50 g;
- kefir – 300 ml;
- salt – 1/2 teaspoon;
- baking powder - 1 teaspoon;
- wheat flour – 70 g;
- corn flour – 100 g;
- vegetable oil.
Preparation:
- Mix eggs with sugar and salt. Add kefir to them and mix thoroughly again.
- Put corn and wheat flour and baking powder into the preparation. Bring until smooth.
- Grease a frying pan with oil and heat it up. Send the pancakes formed from the dough there.
- Fry on both sides until done.
All about corn and corn flour
History of the plant
Corn is native to Central America, more precisely Southern Mexico and Guatemala. There is another statement that the birthplace of corn is Peru, where it has been cultivated since ancient times. This cereal is considered the most ancient grain plant on our planet, which was cultivated 7-12 thousand years ago.
The name “maize” was given to this plant by the ancient Mayans. The Indians considered maize a sacred plant and glorified it in songs and legends. It is believed that the name “corn” in Russia comes from:
Corn was brought from America to Europe by Columbus in 1496. Currently, this cereal is cultivated in all countries of the world and is a very important food, feed and industrial crop. The average corn yield is 70-80 centners per hectare.
There are more than six types of corn. Sweet corn received the highest rating as a food product. Since ancient times, yellow flour has been obtained from its grains by grinding, which is highly valued by chefs. The secret of its success is its beneficial effect on the human body. Nutritionists, cosmetologists, bakers - everyone loves this fabulous ingredient.
Chemical composition of corn flour.
100 g of corn flour contains:
Corn flour hominy - recipe
Mamalyga is an extremely interesting dish, which is often served with cheese, milk or cracklings. This cornmeal porridge is perfect as a side dish for meat or fish. To ensure a beautiful presentation, it is recommended to place the finished hominy on a dish and pour over butter.
Ingredients:
- corn flour - 2 tbsp;
- salt – 1.5 teaspoons;
- water – 4 tbsp.;
- butter.
Preparation:
- Pour water into the pan and add salt. Add a third of the flour and mix.
- Place the pan over moderate heat and bring to a boil, stirring.
- Cook the resulting mass for 10 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.
- Add the remaining flour in small portions and mix thoroughly.
- Cook the hominy for another 25 minutes, it should become a single lump. Season the porridge with oil.
Curd casserole with corn flour
Cottage cheese casserole with corn flour turns out to be very interesting. Many people like it even more than the traditional one. A set of components will be required, and the result will be extremely pleasing, since after the cooking process is completed, a real culinary masterpiece will emerge. The addition of vanilla will provide a unique flavor.
Ingredients:
- cottage cheese – 500 g;
- egg – 2 pcs.;
- sugar – 3 tbsp. spoons;
- vanilla;
- corn flour - 3 tbsp. spoons;
- butter – 30 g.
Preparation:
- Beat eggs with sugar. Add cottage cheese and vanilla to the mixture, add flour. Bring until smooth.
- Cut the butter into small pieces and mix with the mixture.
- Pour the mixture into the mold and place in the oven, bake for 40 minutes.
Application in baby food
For children, the product is indicated to improve metabolism and better digestion of food. Regular inclusion of a small amount in pureed porridge helps prevent the development of constipation.
It enriches the diet with microelements and vitamins. It is especially important in the autumn and winter, when the supply of nutrients decreases. Soups and casseroles are prepared for children with the addition of this ingredient.
It would be a good idea to replace regular flour with corn flour when baking and preparing desserts. This is much healthier for children's health.
Corn flour charlotte
An extremely original version of charlotte will be a pie made from corn flour. It is often prepared with apples, although you can try adding other fruits. This will be a win-win way to add variety to a traditional delicacy. This dessert goes well with tea and can be enjoyed both at home and at guests.
Ingredients:
- corn and wheat flour - 1/2 cup each;
- egg – 4 pcs.;
- sugar – 1 tbsp;
- vanilla sugar;
- baking powder - 1/2 teaspoon;
- apple – 3 pcs.
Preparation:
- Mix eggs and sugar, add vanilla sugar. Beat it all with a mixer until foamy.
- Place both types of flour and baking powder into the dough. Mix everything until smooth.
- Pour the third part of the dough into the mold, lay out the apple pieces overlapping.
- Pour in the rest of the dough and place in the oven for 45 minutes.
How to make thin Mexican corn tortillas for tacos?
Tacos or tacos are a traditional Mexican dish that has become part of modern fast food. At home, you can prepare this dish yourself using proven ingredients and homemade delicious flatbreads. Baking perfectly diversifies the family menu!
Prepare:
How to cook:
1. Pour flour into a bowl and gradually add hot water, kneading the dough first with a spoon and then with your hands.
2. Gather the kneaded dough into a ball, cover with a towel and set aside for 15 - 20 minutes.
3. Tear off small pieces weighing about 40 - 50 g from the dough. Place 1 piece on parchment paper and flatten it a little with your hand. Cover the top with cellophane film and roll out very thin.
4. Carefully remove the film and place a suitable sized plate on top. Remove any dough that extends beyond the boundaries of the plate. You will get a perfect circle.
5. Place a thin circle in a well-heated frying pan and fry without oil for 1 - 2 minutes on each side.
Be sure to cover the finished cakes with a towel to prevent them from drying out.
You can eat these tacos with a variety of fillings. Traditionally they are eaten with stir-fried beef, beans and vegetables. But you can make them your own way and surprise your loved ones and friends with new, unusual tastes
Source
Corn flour waffles
Waffles are a very interesting variety of baked goods made from corn flour. They turn out to be somewhat unusual, with an original texture. According to the recipe, it is recommended to add sugar and cinnamon, this will add piquant accents to the taste. At the end, the pieces are brushed with melted butter, which makes them even more delicious.
Ingredients:
- egg – 2 pcs.;
- sugar – 125 g;
- melted butter – 125 g;
- vanilla essence – 1 teaspoon;
- milk – 200 ml;
- baking powder - 1 teaspoon;
- corn flour – 150 g;
- wheat flour – 250 g;
- fine sugar - 4 tbsp. spoons;
- ground cinnamon – 1 teaspoon.
Preparation:
- Mix eggs with sugar and beat thoroughly.
- Put vanilla essence into the mixture, add butter and milk and both types of flour mixed with baking powder. Knead the dough, which should have a pancake-like structure.
- Heat up the waffle iron and pour the batter into it. Bake the waffles until done.
- Grease the finished waffles with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Corn flour for diseases
Eating corn flour helps reduce symptoms or discomfort of various diseases. And in some conditions, consumption of the product is contraindicated. Let's look into this issue.
Gastritis
Puree soups made from corn flour are useful for diseases such as gastritis, since the flour does not irritate the walls of the stomach and is a dietary supplement.
Nail fungus
Corn flour contains a substance that is dangerous for fungus that affects nails. You can try to cure the fungus using nail baths made with water mixed with corn flour in a ratio of 1 to 2, respectively.
Pressure
A drink based on corn flour, which you can prepare yourself at home, helps with high blood pressure. To prepare it, 1 tbsp. l. flour is steamed with a glass of hot water. The drink is allowed to brew overnight, after which it is drunk the next morning on an empty stomach. Use this remedy until the condition begins to improve. Simply eating baked goods made from corn flour does not affect your blood pressure in any way, so you can eat it calmly.
Diabetes
For diabetes mellitus, adding corn flour to the diet helps normalize blood sugar levels and avoid sudden spikes in insulin.
Pancreatitis
During an exacerbation of pancreatitis, eating corn flour is not recommended, since the coarse fibers of the product can cause aggravation of inflammatory processes. During the period of remission and good health, consuming corn flour in moderation is not prohibited.
Ulcer
If you have a stomach ulcer, eating dishes made from corn flour is contraindicated due to the coarse fibers and, accordingly, the high fiber content.