Arepas, enchiladas, tamales, quesadillas, polenta, or popcorn are well-known dishes cooked with corn. However, thanks to its culinary properties and its gluten-free, it is a good idea to prepare other recipes, such as a sponge cake with cornmeal.
This ingredient gives you a light, juicy cake like a few others and a delicious flavor. It has nothing to envy a wheat flour cake. If you have eggs, sugar, and oil, you only need corn to get to work.
Contents
Why prepare a cake with cornmeal?
The main ingredient of the cake is cornmeal. This grain has been cultivated traditionally by the indigenous peoples of America. For this reason, it is that in this continent, it is consumed more frequently than in others. It is also common in Africa, where its use can be compared to rice in other latitudes.
Its main nutritional characteristics are similar to those of cereals. It is a source of carbohydrates, with the primary function of providing energy. It also provides 10% protein and significant amounts of fiber.
Scientific studies have highlighted the presence of group B vitamins and some minerals such as iron, magnesium, and potassium. It also contains phenolic compounds and beta-carotene with antioxidant and prebiotic action.
One of the most outstanding characteristics of wheat is the absence of gluten in its composition. Consequently, it has become one of the most used grains to prepare various products, such as bread, pasta, or cookies. As well as in cakes, which rise and are very tender .
The recipe below is cooked quickly and easily, following the same steps as those for a traditional sponge cake with or without yogurt. And success is so sure that you will undoubtedly repeat it when preparing it.
It can be an option to accompany breakfast, snack, or dessert not only for gluten intolerant but for the whole family. In addition, it represents a good energy source for athletes and people with significant physical activity.
Ingredients to prepare a sponge cake with cornmeal
With the quantities indicated, a cake of about six servings is obtained. Some elements can be changed according to the taste of each one, and the necessary materials are common in many kitchens:
- Four eggs size L or large
- 70 grams of mild olive oil
- 190 grams of sugar
- 170 grams of uncooked yellow cornmeal
- 14 grams of chemical pastry yeast
- Lemon zest
- One teaspoon of butter to grease the mold
- In addition, it requires a round crown mold of 24 centimeters in diameter and a whisk
Step by Step
The preparation of this cake is straightforward. The total time used is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, counting the hour of cooking.
- Before starting the preparation, turn on the oven at 170 degrees Celsius.
- Grease the mold with a bit of butter and cornmeal. Shake to remove excess.
- Next, place the eggs in a large bowl or bowl along with the sugar and lemon zest.
- Beat those ingredients for about 6 minutes or until they turn whitish and more or less double their volume.
- Then gradually add the oil while continuing to beat. Stop when everything is incorporated.
- Mix the flour with the yeast, pour into the bowl with the eggs, and mix with the whisk gently and carefully so that it is not too beaten. Stop when the lumps disappear.
- Add the dough to the mold and bake for 1 hour or until it comes out clean when inserted with a toothpick,
How to present and accompany
As it is a delicious cake with few seasonings, it can be said that it is an essential all-rounder and will serve you on multiple occasions. It can be sweet to offer children at breakfast or snack time. Make it healthier and more complete by accompanying it with some fresh fruit.
But if you want to prepare a birthday cake, there are many possibilities to obtain something more elaborate. In this case, it will only take more time and dedication.
An alternative is to cut it in half and fill it with orange marmalade, whipped cream, or homemade truffle. On the other hand, if you want exterior decoration, it combines well with a chocolate coating, icing sugar sprinkled on top, or some fresh strawberries.
How to achieve a perfect cornmeal cake
Cornmeal is obtained by grinding the whole grain, so its color is yellow. Not to be confused with cornstarch, as it is prepared from starch. Consequently, it has a different texture and behavior in recipes, and it is not advisable to interchange them.
Although it is a grain that provides certain nutrients and is a good energy source, it is ideal to find various ways to introduce it into the diet. In this way, you can leave the cake with cornmeal to eat occasionally.
If by chance there is any uneaten piece of cake, it is necessary to keep it in a cool and dry place, never in the fridge. Packaging it in a plastic or glass container with airtight closure is best.
Sometimes, the lack of gluten in flour leads to failures in cake recipes. But have no fear, as that is not the case here. You will get a gluten-free cake with all the flavor you want to put on it.