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A delightful combination of sweet and savory, this single-serve cornbread waffle pairs beautifully with ruby-red cranberry syrup for a delicious breakfast.
The whys and wherefores of masa flour
Ever since I discovered masa flour (and bought a big bag of it at Walmart), I’ve enjoyed experimenting with it in different kinds of recipes. Since starting to eat the Trim Healthy Mama way over three years ago, I cut corn almost entirely out of my diet because of its impact on blood sugar. Imagine my delight when last year I learned that masa flour is acceptable for use in the Trim Healthy Mama plan because of the nixtamalization process it goes through! Oops…sorry…big word alert. (If you’ve heard that word before, I’m impressed.) Put simply, nixtamalization is to masa flour what sprouting is to sprouted wheat flour; nixtamalization breaks down regular ol’ corn flour into something that is more easily digested by the body and has less impact on blood sugar. Even though masa flour is “on plan,” I’d still be careful not to use it super frequently because corn is, well, corn. There’s a reason it’s used for fattening animals. 😛
Other recipes using masa flour:
- Sour Cream Cornbread (THM:FP)
- Budget Friendly Cornbread (THM:E)
- I have tons of ideas in the works!
Where to get masa flour
Walmart, plain and simple. Walmart carries big bags of Maseca masa flour in the Hispanic foods section, and it’s extremely cheap. The ingredients should read something like, “Corn treated with hydrated lime.” (Lime is what breaks the corn down in the nixtamalization process.)
If you’re one of those odd people that eats chicken with waffles, well, this would be a good waffle contender. (I had to Google “chicken and waffles” to see if it was even a thing, because I was pretty sure I’d heard of it but knew nothing about it. Turns out it really is a thing. Kind of sounds like something I should try….)
Personally, I like this waffle with some Cranberry Syrup – and I just so happened to post a Cranberry Syrup recipe today. 😛 You can see it here. The sweet-tart of the syrup pairs nicely with the cornbread flavor of the waffle. Maybe cornbread and cranberries sounds just as odd to you as chicken and waffles do to me.
For a more traditional palate, top this waffle with sugar-free maple-flavored syrup. Want a big fat THM Crossover for something special? Add a nice pat of butter on top! (If you do THM with a few tweaks and use a little honey in an E setting once in awhile, this waffle is amazing with a little drizzle on top…ssshhh…don’t tell.)
As always, check out the Notes section of the recipe for tips, extra allergy info, and/or answers to FAQs. Check out the “suggested products” section below the printable recipe to see the products I use and recommend. You can also find links to these products in the recipe itself. Some of the links included in the recipe and blog post are affiliate links, which means that if you make purchases through these links, I make a small commission to help defray the costs of running this blog (at no extra charge to you). To those of you who faithfully remember to buy through my links – thank you so much! You help me keep this blog (and the free recipes) going!
You may also enjoy:
- Starting THM
- my recipe index
- my recipes grouped by fuel type, allergy info, and theme
- Christmas-themed recipes
- Sour Cream Cornbread (THM:FP)
- Budget Friendly Cornbread (THM:E)
Wouldn’t a cookbook make the perfect Christmas gift? My new cookbook, Necessary Food, is going to be released December 9th! Click here for more details.
- ¼ c. + 2 T. water
- ¼ c. egg whites
- 3 T. masa flour*
- 2 T. oat fiber (use gluten free if necessary)
- 2 T. Greek yogurt**
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp. turmeric (for color)
- 3/32 tsp. (3 doonks) THM Pure Stevia Extract Powder
- Dash salt (don't skimp on this)
- Whisk the ingredients together until smooth. Bake in a greased waffle iron.
- Suggested toppings: low-fat cottage cheese, sugar-free syrup, Cranberry Syrup
- For a big fat crossover, top with butter!
**You could probably use unsweetened applesauce instead if you have a dairy allergy.
Suggested products:
Just so you know waffles with chicken gravy is an amazing thing. Eat your first half of the waffle with chicken and gravy for the main course, the second half with ice cream, fruit and on plan syrup for dessert!
Would love a chicken gravy recipe
Perhaps you could look off of this sausage gravy and tweak it for chicken? https://www.briana-thomas.com/sausage-gravy/
I want to learn more about the nixtamalization process and this maseca flour being approved for THM food because this new info might enable me to still enjoy on plan tamales this Christmas! Where could I read more about it?
Google has a few articles – Wikipedia actually has some decent info on it. I ran it past Pearl and she said it’s fine to use in moderate amounts as an E carb source (but not as an every day thing). She didn’t give me any amounts, but you definitely want to keep your 45g carb limit for an E meal in mind when using it. 🙂
Thanks for that info, Briana.
Oh my!!!! I made these this morning with the cranberry syrup……. one word.. AWESOME!!!!! Thank you Brianna!!!!!
I’m so glad you liked it!
Do they get crispy? I have texture issues and can’t handle soggy waffles ?
They’re definitely not soggy, in my opinion, but they do not get as crispy as “regular” waffles because of the absence of gluten.
I have. Non—gmo cornmeal..can I sub this for the masa?
No, cornmeal has not been broken down by the nixtamalization process so it will have more impact on your blood sugar, plus it’s grittier than masa flour.
Made these with the Cranberry Syrup this morning – very tasty!!!!
Wow, that was fast! Thanks for the review!
That’s the joy of looking at the internet before breakfast, we get to try new recipes!
Just for general information if others may be searching for Maseca corn flour, my Wal-Mart does not carry it (Wal-Mart stock varies from store to store) but I was able to find it in my local Aldi.