Plain corn meal

[mbrookes]

Does anyone know where I can find plain white cornmeal, preferably to order? All I can find is self-rising (contains wheat flour) or coarse grind, makes AWFUL cornbread. I am in Mississippi. I think it is a law that I make cornbread at least twice a week. I know the Hebrews had to make bricks with no straw, but I can't make gluten free cornbread with no plain corn meal.

[Scott Adams]

I am not sure how important "white" cornmeal is, but have you tried this one?

https://www.bobsredmill.com/gluten-free-medium-cornmeal.html 

[mbrookes]

Yes, I have. I made cornbread with it once; threw out the cornbread and the rest of the cornmeal. It is a very coarse grind and is not suitable for traditional southern cornbread. I am from Mississippi and we are picky about cornbread. Once you taste our traditional one, you will know what I mean. It does need to be white to be authentic. Thanks for trying.

[Scott Adams]

Perhaps get a mill and then just mill the Bob's down? Just a thought, as a hand cranked mill is not expensive. I still have one from when I used to brew gluten-free beer.

[mbrookes]

I will try that as a last resort. Thanks for the idea.

[knitty kitty]

@mbrookes,

Have you tried this one?

Indian Head Corn Meal Old Fashioned Stone Ground White 

It's available at Wal-Mart and Amazon. 

My people used Sunflower self rising corn meal mix.  Like you pointed out, it's got wheat flour.  

Start with the white corn meal and add gluten free flour.  King Arthur is a good gluten free flour.  You'll have to add baking soda or powder to it as well.  

Hope this helps!

[Rick Sanchez]

On 1/14/2023 at 7:54 PM, mbrookes said:

Does anyone know where I can find plain white cornmeal, preferably to order? All I can find is self-rising (contains wheat flour) or coarse grind, makes AWFUL cornbread. I am in Mississippi. I think it is a law that I make cornbread at least twice a week. I know the Hebrews had to make bricks with no straw, but I can't make gluten free cornbread with no plain corn meal.

I've ran into this, I have a "Type N600" (only label on it) coffee grinder. They are like $70 on Amazon. I have been grinding field corn. Set on the fine setting, run through, sift, and run the coarse back through.   I kinda "invented" an awesome GFcornbread recipe, that is really good.  Once I get it tweaked I'll post it, but it is "hot water cornbread" (hushpuppies), inspired, but baked instead of fried. 

Basically, 

Two cups of milk, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup veg oil, 2 tsp salt. Bring all to a boil, stirring constantly. Watch out, you have to remove from heat the instant it boils, or it will froth over.  Stir in 2-3 cups of corn meal, go by consistency, drywall paste basically. Cover with lid, let set an hour, stir in 2 tsp baking powder, (takes some elbow grease, and a stout spoon) spread into a grease 9" cake pan, bake on 325 for approx 25 mins, varies by moisture content, when the top starts to crust, it's done.  The oil and milk make some magic when boiled together, no eggs or beans gum needed.

I'm going to call it Naudderwahn bread, because every time my little 5 year old eats a piece he says "nauder wahn"...till it's gone lol.

[mbrookes]

Sounds like youhave found a winner for your family. Great! I had a heart-to-heart with my local grocer and low and behold he now carries Martha White Plain corn meal. Exactly what I have needed! It is perfect for Mississippi cornbread, dredging catfish, coating green tomatoes for frying and a million other things we down here use cornmeal for. Thanks for your help and I wish you all the best and happiness. 

[Rick Sanchez]

On 4/6/2023 at 5:10 PM, mbrookes said:

Sounds like youhave found a winner for your family. Great! I had a heart-to-heart with my local grocer and low and behold he now carries Martha White Plain corn meal. Exactly what I have needed! It is perfect for Mississippi cornbread, dredging catfish, coating green tomatoes for frying and a million other things we down here use cornmeal for. Thanks for your help and I wish you all the best and happiness. 

Do you ever do the hot water cornbread?  Been messing with it, came up with some good batters, just substituting masa for the flour.  Just a hard learned lesson, if you try on your catfish, don't use cornstarch, really any starch in any deep fry batter. Kinda cool that they seal and start moving around the fryer like little jet skis, until they explode and blow hot grease everywhere.

Thanks for the well wishes, and absolutely back to you and yours.

*of course cornstarch is great for the first dredge, just a little explody when mixed in.