Cornmeal is an ingredient that is used to give a thick texture and add flavors to the recipe/dish. It has many varieties of fineness and color. Cornmeal is used in Mexican and Italian cuisines mostly. If you are cooking something that calls for Cornmeal as the main ingredient and you don’t have it right now, you can use Cornmeal Substitutes. Before going ahead to know its substitutes, you have to know about what is Cornmeal, actually.
Table of Contents
What is Cornmeal, Actually?
Cornmeal is made from dried corn or maize. It is not well-grounded as the Cornstarch but in coarse form. Finely grounded Cornmeal is known as Corn Flour in the United States. Boiled Cornmeal is known as Polenta in Italy. Earlier, Cornmeal was grounded with stone but in the modern era, corn is grounded with steel rollers that discard most of the husk and germ.
Nutrient Profile of Cornmeal:
- Calories: 221
- Fat: 2.2g
- Sodium: 21mg
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 5g
- Sugars: 0.4g
- Protein: 4.5g
Health Benefits of Cornmeal:
- Cornmeal is gluten-free.
- It may help in obesity prevention.
- Cornmeal may boost heart health.
- It is a good source of vitamins and minerals.
What can I Substitute for Cornmeal?
If your recipe calls for Cornmeal and you run out of it, you need to use its substitutes. Substitutes work pretty much the same as the original ingredient. If you don’t know what to choose, you can see our list of substitutes for Cornmeal right here and check what is available in your pantry.
1. Corn Grits:
Corn Grits are made from white corn. It is the more coarse version of Cornmeal. This can be easily used as a Cornmeal replacement. There will be no such difference in the taste after using it as a Cornmeal substitute but in the texture. Using Corn Grits adds a grainier texture to the dishes/recipes, sometimes it makes recipes thicker when we add it to a liquid kind of dish/recipe.
The grain size of Corn Grits is larger than that of Cornmeal. You can swap it in 3/4 cup of Corn Grits with one cup of Cornmeal. If you want to grind it more to make finer grains like Cornmeal, then you can swap it in a ratio of 1:1.
2. Corn Flour:
Corn Flour comes with both flavor and texture. In case your recipe calls for the finer Cornmeal, using Corn Flour would be a better option for you. If you use Corn Flour as a Cornmeal alternative, your recipe would get an intense flavor of Corn. It would be great to use for recipes that include deep-fat frying.
3. Wheat Flour:
Wheat Flour is an easily available substitute for Cornmeal. It would work similarly to Corn Flour, but it is free from Corn Flour. If any person is allergic to Corn, he can use it as a Cornmeal replacement. The resulting texture of the recipe would be the same as Cornmeal, but the taste wouldn’t be.
4. Semolina:
Semolina is a kind of flour that is made by grinding durum wheat kernels to a fine powder. Semolina is not that much finer than wheat flour, but more coarse. It may look almost the same as Cornmeal. The taste of Semolina is slightly earthy and naturally wheaty. The Coarse texture of Semolina helps to give a thick consistency to the recipe/dish.
5. Polenta:
Polenta is widely used as a Cornmeal substitute. Polenta is made with yellow corn. It is more coarse than Cornmeal. We recommend using Polenta in finer form. You can grind it to make the same coarse grain as the Cornmeal. The texture and taste would be the same.
6. Breadcrumbs:
If you need a perfect Cornmeal alternative to bread, breadcrumbs would be the best option for you. It would not lose the texture you are expecting for your dish/recipe. Yes, you won’t get the same flavor but the texture. You can add some Corn Flour to your recipe/dish to get the same corn flavor.
7. Tortilla Chips:
Crushed Tortilla Chips would be a great option to use where Cornmeal is the base like hotcakes or cornbread. Tortilla Chips are made from Corn but don’t have the exact flavor of Corn. This Cornmeal substitute is only advisable when you don’t have any other substitute mentioned in this list.
8. Corn Chips:
Using Corn Chips as a Cornmeal replacement may sound weird. Just put the Corn Chips into a grinder/blender or food processor until you reach the right consistency almost similar to the Cornmeal. Now, add it to a recipe with a 1:1 swap. Keep in mind that some Corn Chips are salted in flavor, so to maintain the consistency of salt in your dish/recipe, don’t oversalt the dish.
9. Rice Flour:
Rice Flour is finer than Cornmeal but almost similar to Corn Flour. Using Rice Flour as a Cornmeal alternative gives a somewhat sticky texture and a sweet flavor that is hard to identify. I encourage you to experiment with this and get back to us. This might be a good substitute for you.
10. Ground Oats:
When you are looking for a similar texture to Cornmeal, Ground Oats would be a great option to use. This would not add the flavor of Corn. If you want a little touch of Corn in your recipe, you can add Corn Flour. This would give a similar result in the end without sacrificing the Corn flavor. Ground Oats are low in carbs which makes them a perfect Cornmeal replacement.
11. Ground Flaxseed:
Ground Flaxseed mimics the texture of Cornmeal but not the flavor. Flaxseeds are bitter in taste due to the protective nature of plant seeds. It has a high nutritional value that’s why it refers to the most healthies Cornmeal substitute. You can mix some Corn Flour to get the same taste as the Cornmeal.
12. Masa Harina:
Masa Harina is a kind of Corn Flour that is popular for making tortillas. This is a kind of flour that is used in some meals in place of Cornmeal. I’ve experimented with this substitute with Cornbread and it worked perfectly. You may find a slightly different flavor due to a bit of lime in it. If your recipe calls for Cornmeal, you can easily swap it with its substitute Masa Harina in the same ratio of 1:1.
FAQ:-
Can I use Jiffy instead of Cornmeal?
No, both are different Cornmeal is just ground corn. Jiffy corn muffin mix is cornmeal, flour, and leavening. Jiffy can be viewed as a recipe from the side of a cornmeal box that someone mixed ahead of time.
Does Cornmeal raise blood sugar?
Cornmeal is relatively high in carbs that can cause unwanted blood sugar spikes.
Now, you know the best Cornmeal Substitute. You can choose according to what you have in the kitchen or you can also buy from amazon. Please! comment down below your questions, and let us know how much informative is this article for you. 🙂
