While wheat flour seems like a perfect substitute for cornmeal, being far lower in carbs and healthier overall, it does have a big downside. There are ways to recreate that corn taste, such as sugar, but you have to know going in that wheat flour will not result in the same taste as cornmeal would. Ground oats and breadcrumbs serve a similar function in terms of cornmeal substitutions. Well, believe it or not, there are just as many people out there who enjoy cornmeal specifically because of the texture!
Will wonders never cease? Ground oats and breadcrumbs serve as a basically perfect substitute for cornmeal in recipes that use it for the texture. The texture is the big selling point here is key. Bonus points go to ground oats for being lower in carbs than bread crumbs! Ground flaxseed is an excellent substitute for anyone willing to sacrifice a little taste in exchange for health benefits.
Ground flaxseed is significantly better for you than corn. The high protein content suppresses your appetite and keeps you from feeling the need to eat more than you should. Keep in mind, though, that for maximum effectiveness, flaxseeds should be eaten alongside foods with a high fiber content. This might be the overall best substitute as far as health is concerned. Flaxseeds are quite low on calories, and on top of that keep you from consuming more of them afterwards!
Unlike corn, flaxseeds are also wonderfully low in starches and carbs. As a nice bonus, the texture is super similar to cornmeal! Crushed up tortilla chips can serve as kind of a last-ditch way of substituting for cornmeal.
Generally speaking, it can function as a substitute for cornmeal when baking something that uses cornmeal as a base, such as pancakes or cornbread. However, while it functions at this job, it may not excel at it. Tortilla chips are of course made with corn, removing the nutritional benefit of some substitutes. And quite frankly, having to stand in your kitchen and crush up all of your tortilla chips is a kind of funny and ridiculous task. Cereal, when crushed up, can function as a cornmeal substitute in the same type of way tortilla chips and breadcrumbs can.
The big advantage with cereal, though, is variety. Corn based cereal, such as cornflakes, can function as an excellent direct substitute. Other types of cereal may not taste quite the same as cornmeal, but they come in other flavors and textures that may in fact suit your meal better. Simply put, there will almost definitely be a cereal that you can mix up and use as a cornmeal substitute. Lastly, we have the always reliable nuts. The major difference between corn flour and cornmeal is its texture and consistency.
Cornmeal, made from drying and grinding dent corn, ranges in texture from coarse to fine. But, essentially, corn meal is the same as corn flour and can be used interchangeably once you take into consideration the textural differences between the two. While, you can use corn flour in place of cornmeal , it really depends on the recipe in question and the final results you want to achieve.
For grits and polenta, which are made from different kinds of ground cornmeal, you would not be able to replace corn flour and achieve the same texture, simply because corn flour is finely ground. If the cornmeal is used to thicken a recipe, then corn flour will make for an adequate substitute. When substituting corn flour for cornmeal in baking, the finished product will likely be fluffier and less dense in texture. As a result, it should be baked for a shorter amount of time.
To achieve the desired consistency, you may have to increase the amount of corn flour used. Christabel Lobo is a freelance writer focusing on all-things food, travel, and wellness.
Feel free to check out her design and writing portfolio: christabel. What Is Cornmeal? What Is Corn Flour? What Is Masa Harina? Cornstarch Vs. Corn grits are identical to cornmeal but just with a coarser grind. If you grind this down to cornmeal size, you can use the same quantity the recipe needs. If you're looking for a healthy cornmeal replacement for cornbread , I recommend ground flaxseeds. Flaxseeds are far more nutrient dense than the corn we grow today.
If you don't have cornmeal, parchment paper, flour or semolina make for an acceptable replacement. With a hot enough oven and proper pizza stone , you really shouldn't have to use anything to keep the dough from sticking to the pizza stone. For purposes of adding texture to the outside of cooked meals, bread crumbs can be used. For everything else , bread crumbs are not a good replacement for cornmeal. Bread crumbs are already cooked and can burn easily when added to baking recipes. A defining quality of an experienced cook is knowing the proper replacements for ingredients you don't have on hand.
If you're ever unsure of whether something can be used as a suitable replacement, I encourage you to think about where the original food item comes from. Cornmeal, for example, comes from corn. It would only make sense that other refined corn products would be the first place of interest. Then you can start looking towards plants that behave similarly.
Corn and wheat, for example, are both grown in similar climates and thus have similar traits. They are also ground up to create products with a similar texture. While these tactics will not always guarantee an identical product, it is a fantastic place to start.
I hope this was helpful. Please comment below if you have any questions. Michael spends his days eating, drinking and studying the fascinating world of food. He received his Bachelors Degree in Food Science and Technology at the University of California, Davis and spent much of his time at the school brewery.
While school proved to be an invaluable experience, his true passion lies in exposing the hidden crannies of food for the cooking laymen. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked. Do you think using ground flax since I have no corn meal in shortbread cookies will have them turn out right? Will they not be too gritty?
Thanks for this post! Ground flax is an excellent substitute for cornmeal when it is a minor ingredient, such as a dusting on a pizza crust.
However, when it is a large portion of the recipe, the flax will begin to demonstrate very different properties than the cornmeal. Firstly, it is heavily water-binding, so the texture of your cookies will change dramatically. Also, flax tastes quite bitter, while cornmeal is sweet. If you choose to substitute flax for cornmeal, you may want to add some additional sweetener, and be prepared for dough of a tougher, grittier texture.
Couscous is a pasta not a grain , and thus may experience some unique flavors under such high, dry heat. Thanks for the response! For this post, we reviewed only foods that could be used as a cornmeal substitute not cornstarch. Cornstarch is ground up corn kernel endosperm, and cornmeal is ground up whole corn kernels. Differences that may or may not really matter, but are worth mentioning.
That being said, it may not have been attempted yet. Very helpful article, thank you! Especially when cornmeal is the ONE ingredient I don't have on hand for a recipe! It s wonderfully moist, perfectly sweet and only requires one bowl! Every time we have chili, I have to make some cornbread to go along with it. The whole family loves it, and it makes a pot of chili go a lot further!
My kids have recently decided that they love chili, and demand it often. I ve tried several vegan cornbread recipes out there, and haven t been perfectly happy until this one! Pin 0. Share 0.
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