Italian Cornbread Food

CHEF JOHN'S RUSTIC ITALIAN CORN BREAD

Steps:

• Stir warm water, 1/2 cup bread flour, yeast, and sugar together in a bowl. Let stand until the yeast softens and forms a creamy mixture, about 40 minutes.
• Mix 1/2 cup cornmeal, olive oil, and salt into yeast mixture. Gradually add bread flour to yeast mixture until a dough pulls together.
• Knead dough on a lightly floured work surface until smooth and elastic, 10 to 12 minutes. Place dough in a large, lightly-oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 2 hours.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 14-inch wide rectangle. Roll dough, starting from the long-end, into a loaf, finishing seam-side down.
• Dust a baking sheet with 1 tablespoon cornmeal. Place loaf on baking sheet, cover with a dry towel, and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Place a shallow pan of water on the lower rack of the oven.
• Cut a 1/2-inch deep slash down the center of the loaf.
• Bake in preheated oven until the top is golden brown and the bottom of loaf sounds hollow when tapped, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

SAVORY ITALIAN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven 400 degrees F; then spray a loaf pan with cooking spray (mine was 9"x5").
• In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, all purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt; mix until well blended.
• Next, in a separate smaller bowl, combine the egg, milk, sour cream and melted butter; then add this mixture to the dry ingredients.
• Add in your "mix-ins": zucchini, chopped sun dried tomatoes, fresh chopped rosemary and grated Pecorino Romano cheese; then mix the dough well.
• Pour in the batter into the pan; then bake 30 minutes. Bread is done when the top springs back when you touch it (time will vary if pan is bigger or smaller)

SPICY ITALIAN CORN BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Whisk the muffin mix and chili powder in a large bowl to blend. Mix in the milk and eggs. Stir in the tomatoes. Spread the batter in the prepared pan. Bake until the corn bread is firm to the touch and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Cool slightly. Cut into squares and serve hot.

ITALIAN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl and stir together.
• Measure the buttermilk and milk into a measuring cup and add the egg. Stir together with a fork. Add the baking soda and stir. Add the Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes and oregano and mix together. Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and stir with a fork until combined.
• In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt 1/4 cup shortening in the microwave. Slowly add the melted shortening to the batter, stirring until just combined.
• In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons shortening over medium heat. Pour the batter into the hot skillet (the batter should sizzle) and spread to even out the surface. Cook on the stove top for 1 minute, then transfer to the oven and bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. The edges should be crispy!

PARMESAN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F Place a 9 or 10 inch cast-iron skillet in the oven for 5 minutes while you mix up the batter.
• Remove the skillet from the oven and add the butter; swirl it around to melt it and coat the inside completely. Then pour the rest of the butter into the batter. Stir until just combined. Pour the batter into the skillet.
• Bake until the top is golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
• Enjoy!

TUSCAN STYLE CORNBREAD (POLENTA BREAD)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F In a medium bowl combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Add 1 tablespoon oil to a 10 inch cast iron skillet or 9-inch round cake pan and place in oven for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and swirl oil around to coat bottom and sides.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine half-and-half, eggs, and remaining oil. Crumble in bacon, then stir in tomatoes, shallot, and rosemary. Add dry cornmeal mixture and stir just until moistened. Pour batter into skillet or cake pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean.
• Cut into wedges and serve with softened butter.

IRRESISTIBLE ITALIAN CORN

Steps:

• Heat a skillet over high heat. Heat butter in hot skillet until almost completely melted; stir in corn. Season corn with Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Cook seasoned corn until light golden brown, about 5 minutes.