Cornmeal Mush Bake Recipes

CORNMEAL MUSH

Steps:

• Combine 2 1/2 cup water and salt in small saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Mix cornmeal with remaining water in a small bowl.
• Add cornmeal mixture slowly to boiling water, stirring constantly.
• Reduce heat to low; cook stirring constantly, for 5 minutes or until mixture is thickened.

CORNMEAL MUSH

Steps:

• Mix together cornmeal, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• If using as cereal, spoon mush into bowls and serve with milk and sugar, if desired. If frying, pour mixture into a loaf pan and chill completely. Remove from pan, cut into slices, and fry in a small amount of oil over medium-high heat until browned on both sides. Serve with sauce of your choice.

FRIED CORNMEAL MUSH

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat water to boiling. Reduce heat to medium; stir in salt and cornmeal. Cook, stirring regularly, until mixture is thick.
• Spoon cornmeal mixture into a lightly greased 9x5 inch loaf pan. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• In the morning, melt butter in a skillet over medium high heat. Slice cornmeal mush into 1 inch wide slices. Cook in melted butter until golden brown on both sides.

BASIC POLENTA

Steps:

• For firm polenta use 4 cups water; for soft polenta use 5 cups water. Bring water to a boil in a medium-size heavy sauce pan over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Pour cornmeal slowly into water, stirring with a wire whisk or wooden spoon. Continue stirring as mixture thickens, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Turn heat to low. Cook for at least 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so. If polenta becomes quite thick, thin it with 1/2 cup water, stir well and continue cooking. Add up to 1 cup more water as necessary, to keep polenta soft enough to stir. Put a spoonful on a plate, let it cool, then taste. Grains should be swollen and taste cooked, not raw. Adjust salt and add pepper if you wish.
• For firm polenta, lightly butter a baking sheet or shallow dish, approximately 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Carefully pour polenta into pan. Using a spatula, spread polenta to a thickness of 3/4 inch. Cool to room temperature to allow polenta to solidify. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. For soft polenta, add 6 tablespoons butter to pot and stir well. Serve immediately or transfer to a double boiler set over low heat, cover and keep warm for up to an hour or so. (Or set the saucepan in a pot of barely simmering water.) Stir well before spooning into low soup bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan, if desired.

CORNMEAL MUSH

Steps:

• 1. Stir together the water, salt, and cornmeal until well combined. Add a dab of butter. While constantly stirring, bring to a boil then reduce to a slow simmer. Cook until thickened and then a minute or so more. Spoon into a bowl, top with butter and a splash of cold milk.

CORNMEAL MUSH BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Boil 4 cups water. Dissolve cornmeal in 1 ½ cup cold water (if using cracked corn, skip this step and add it to total amount of water). Add cornmeal mixture to boiling water, stirring constantly. When it begins to thicken simmer for approximately 30 minutes, stirring often.
• Add butter, sour cream, cheese and spices, mixing very well, but slowly. Pour into uttered 8 x 8" casserole.
• Bake for 50-60 minutes.

FRIED MUSH

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring the water to a boil.
• In a small bowl, mix together the cornmeal, milk and salt.
• Slowly pour the cornmeal/milk mixture into the boiling water, stirring constantly.
• Bring it to a boil again, then reduce heat and stir almost constantly (to avoid clumps) for about 15 minutes or until the mixture is thickened to the consistency you like.
• Pour this mixture into a lightly greased 9x5 loaf pan and allow it to cool to room temperature.
• Once the cornmeal has cooled, cover it with plastic wrap and place the pan in the refrigerator overnight or until the mixture has become firm (at least 8 hours).
• Remove the cornmeal loaf from the pan and slice it into 1/2" to 1" slices. (We usually slice the loaf into 10 slices, then cut those slices in half so they cook more quickly and make smaller pieces.)
• Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat.
• Once the pan is hot, add the slices and fry for 3-4 minutes on each side until they are golden brown and heated through. Watch them closely so they don't burn.
• Serve immediately with maple syrup or honey if desired.

FRIED CORNMEAL MUSH

Steps:

• Boil 3 cups water. Combine remaining water with cornmeal and salt; add to boiling water. Stir until mixture returns to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. , Pour into a greased 8x4-in. loaf pan. Chill for 8 hours or overnight. Cut into 1/2-in. thick slices. , In a large skillet, fry slices in oil until browned on each side. Serve with syrup.

CORNMEAL MUSH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine cornmeal, sugar, salt and pepper in heavy large saucepan. Pour reserved corn liquid into large measuring cup. Add enough water to measure 2 3/4 cups; whisk mixture into cornmeal. Add corn. Using wooden spoon, stir over medium-high heat until mixture is thick and begins to boil, about 10 minutes. Cool to lukewarm, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Mix in eggs. Spread in buttered 10-inch-diameter pie dish (or atop chili).
• Bake cornmeal mixture in dish until firm to touch, about 40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut into wedges.

GRANDMA'S CORNMEAL MUSH WITH CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. Bring water to a boil in an oven-proof pan. When boiling, add salt and pepper and remove from heat.
• 2. Stirring constantly, slowly trickle cornmeal into water. Stir well, to eliminate lumps. Return to heat and bring back to a boil. Turn down the heat and cook slowly until the mush thickens, about 20 minutes, stirring often. It should be about the thickness of thick cake batter - if too thick, stir in a bit more water.
• 3. Melt butter, pre-heat oven to 350. Pour butter to cover bottom of baking dish. Spoon in half of the cornmeal mush to cover bottom of baking dish. Spread half of the sour cream over the mush,then sprinkle with half of each cheese. Repeat the layers - mush, sour cream, cheeses.
• 4. Place in the oven for a few minutes, just until the cheeses are melted and the top is lightly browned. Serve and enjoy!