Simple, Whole Grain Vegan Cornbread

One of my intentions lately has been to post more of my staple recipes–the ones I find myself making at least every couple of weeks, if not more. I’ve shared some of these in recent months already, including my go-to cashew cheese and all-purpose cashew cream, my two lentil chili, and my chickpea oat balls, all of which make frequent appearances in my weekly menu plans. As we sit perched on the divide between August and September, I think it’s now high time for cornbread. This simple, whole grain vegan cornbread recipe is my go-to, and it’s a perfect accompaniment for any bowl of chili, soup, or stew.

Making cornbread has become a cherished ritual at home, for many reasons. First is knowing that I’m making one of Steven’s favorite things; one of the pleasures, I’m learning, of living with someone is that you start to develop as intimate a sense of their food likes and dislikes as your own. Cornbread is at the top of his list, and since I love it, too, it’s an easy side dish for us. I used to worry about making it because I feared that I wouldn’t be able to finish a loaf once I made it, but we polish off leftovers with breakfast, or sometimes I freeze them: either way, it’s all good.

I also can’t help but associate cornbread with hearty, healthful, comfort food. I’ve served this cornbread recipe with tofu scramble, with barbecue tempeh kebabs, with stewed beans and collards, and with just about any dish that involves vegan gravy. More often than not, I serve it with a pot of chili, a big bean or lentil stew, or some other kind of soup. You can do a lot of things with cornbread, but it tends to accompany dishes that are soulful and satisfying, and the associations are pleasurable in their own right.

Cornbread isn’t difficult to make vegan, and there are plenty of recipes out there. The one I’m about to share is simply my favorite, the one I return to and modify again and again and again. I love its ease and simplicity, as well as the fact that it stands up nicely to variation. I like to make it with whole grain flour, such as spelt, white spelt, or whole wheat.

But as you’ll see, I’ve made the recipe with all-purpose and gluten free all purpose flour, too, with excellent results. I typically choose to use a medium-grind cornmeal, which results in a nice, hearty crumb, but if you’d prefer the cornbread to be a little lighter and more cake-y, you can use corn flour or finely ground cornmeal instead. And finally, there’s the choice of baking vessel. I usually make it in a square baking dish, but there’s no reason not to use a 12″ skillet, if you prefer to.

If you’re serving the cornbread on its own, a pat of Earth Balance or jam is very nice, or simply use it to sop up any goodness from the dish you’ve prepared it with. And if you want to get creative, you can try stirring in corn kernels, chopped jalapeno or poblano peppers, or a some nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.

So there you have it: one of the recipes I love most, finally put down on the page. Perhaps you’ll love it, too, and come to rely on it as much as I do. I hope you do.

For what it’s worth, making a batch this week compelled me to actually give some thought to cornbread pairings that aren’t in my usual repertoire of soup, stew, chili, and so on. And the recipe that emerged is fresh, summery, and really delightful. Can’t wait to share it with you in a day or two!

xo