I have a soft spot for anything savoury 🙂 Whenever I get an opportunity, I try to make savoury things to nibble on. This is Dish 4 of the World Cuisine Series and it is from Mexico. One of my favourite cuisines to prepare and of course to eat (gobble ’em all up). These are muffins with Mexican flavours, corn, jalapenos, cheese, what is not to like about them. Whenever I bake anything I try to make them all with whole wheat. Along with whole wheat flour, I have also used yellow cornmeal which is maize flour, easily available in stores/supermarkets. It gives a nice texture to the muffins, you also get to incorporate another grain and cornmeal is widely used in Mexican cuisine! The most important thing about muffins is not to overmix the batter/mixture which will make them chewy and hard. Mix and make muffins, enjoy them as a snack or for a quick nibble with a glass of milk in the morning. Also try other Mexican recipes!
- ¾ Cup whole wheat flour
- ¼ Cup yellow or regular cornmeal
- 1 Tsp baking powder
- ½ Pinch baking soda
- 1½ Tsp sugar
- A Pinch of salt
- ¾ Cup milk
- 3 Tbsp butter 3 Tbsp yogurt
- ¼ Cup corn kernels
- 2 Tbsp chopped spinach
- 1 Tsp freshly pounded black pepper
- 6-7 sliced jarred or 2-3 finely chopped fresh jalapenos
- 1 Cup packed grated cheddar
- ¼ Cup roasted oats
- Muffin Tray
- Muffin liners
- In a pan, start heating the milk
- When the milk becomes warm, add butter, let it melt. Turn off heat and let it aside to cool
- In a mixing bowl, add whole wheat flour and cornmeal
- To this add baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar. Mix well and keep aside, this is the dry ingredient mixture
- In another pan add a little oil and saute chopped spinach, let it cook lightly
- Add corn, saute, mix well and set aside
- In another small pan, lightly toast the oats and keep aside to cool
- Meanwhile the milk-butter mixture would have cooled. To this add whisked yogurt, mix well
- Add black pepper powder to the wet ingredients
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients, fold lightly till everything is combined
- Add sauteed spinach and corn. Add sliced jalapenos. Fold
- To this add most of the grated cheese and fold again till cheese gets mixed
- Pre-heat oven to 180 Deg C. Line a muffin tray with muffin/cup cake liners. Grease them slightly with oil or butter
- Spoon muffin mixture into each of the muffin cases
- Add toasted oats on top. Add grated cheese on top and brush lightly with milk
- Bake at 180 for 18-20 minutes till done and the top is golden. A toothpick should come out clean when inserted into a muffin
- Lightly cool them and serve with salsa or ketchup
Only a pinch of salt will be enough as cheese renders enough saltiness to the muffins
Add any kind of cheese which melts. Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Gruyere or regular processed cheese like Amul
Oats give crispiness to the top of the muffins and they look fancy just like in the bakeries
Use frozen corn and spinach if you want
Stepwise:
In a pan, start heating the milk
When the milk becomes warm, add butter, let it melt. Turn off heat and let it aside to cool
In a mixing bowl, add whole wheat flour and cornmeal
To this add baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar. Mix well and keep aside, this is the dry ingredient mixture
In another pan add a little oil and saute chopped spinach, let it cook lightly
Add corn, saute, mix well and set aside
In another small pan, lightly toast the oats and keep aside to cool
Meanwhile the milk-butter mixture would have cooled. To this add whisked yogurt, mix well
Add black pepper powder to the wet ingredients
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients, fold lightly till everything is combined
Add sauteed spinach and corn. Add sliced jalapenos. Fold
To this add most of the grated cheese and fold again till cheese gets mixed
Pre-heat oven to 180 Deg C. Line a muffin tray with muffin/cup cake liners. Grease them slightly with oil or butter
Spoon muffin mixture into each of the muffin cases
Add toasted oats on top. Add grated cheese on top and brush lightly with milk
Bake at 180 for 18-20 minutes till done and the top is golden. A toothpick should come out clean when inserted into a muffin
Lightly cool them and serve with salsa or ketchup
