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These crunchy cornmeal vegan savory waffles have hints of citrus and just enough spice to tantalize your tongue. I’m so addicted to them!
I have a new obsession and it’s these Crunchy Corn Waffles from Celine Steen’s new cookbook, Bold Flavored Vegan Cooking!
These are vegan savory waffles, but I think they would be just as perfect with maple syrup as they are with the cucumber pineapple salsa I paired them with. With hints of orange and just enough spice to keep things interesting, the flavors are perfectly balanced. The outside is crunchy, while the inside is light. You MUST try these!
Keep reading for the recipe and a full review of the cookbook.
Celine Steen is the blogger behind Have Cake Will Travel. She has co-authored a slew of vegan cookbooks, including The Complete Guide to Vegan Substitutions and Vegan Sandwiches Save The Day, and she did the photography for them all.
Bold Flavored Vegan Cooking is her first solo cookbook and it’s a GREAT one! You’ll want to add it to your collection pronto!
Bold Flavored Vegan Cooking
Bold Flavored Vegan Cooking: Healthy Plant-Based Recipes with a Kick is for anyone who thinks plant based food is nothing but lettuce and seeds. This book will change your mind. It’s also for those that know vegan meals can be all sorts of delicious – a variety of textures and flavors to please all tastebuds.
“With the myriad of spices, umami-rich ingredients and clever cooking techniques that are all within our reach, there is no reason for anyone to ever eat a boring dinner again.” ~ Celine Steen
Take a Look Inside
The book is broken down into 4 chapters – Savory, Spicy, Sweet, and Staples.
Here’s a sneak peak at a few recipes you’ll find in each chapter.
Savory: Matcha Tempeh and Pickled Veggies Sandwiches; Tamarind Miso Soup; Gochujang Kimchi Bowl; Roasted Fingerling Potatoes w/ White Barbecue Sauce
Spicy: Harissa Sprouts and Chickpeas; Asian-Style Peanut Salad; Red Curry Scramble with Lime-y Broccoli; Citrusy Pepper Chili
Sweet: Miso Sweet Cookies; Grilled Pineapple with Tahini Lime Nuts; Balsamic Berry Panna Cotta; Orange Creamsicle Tartlets with Ginger Pears
Staples: Chinese Five-Spice Powder; Harissa Paste; Mushroom Dashi; Pomegranate Molasses; Pineapple Pepper Jelly
And as if that’s not enough, Celine includes a section at the end with tips on how you can add big bold flavors to your own recipe creations. She describes the vegan ingredients you should keep in your pantry and where you’ll find them in the most markets. There’s even a list of umami-rich vegan ingredients (And a detailed explanation of what umami is. Hint – it’s your fifth taste).
Many recipes in this book are gluten-free, soy-free, and oil-free, and all recipes are clearly marked. You’ll also find many that can be made in 30 minutes or less (hooray!) and those are clearly marked as well.
These Crunchy Corn Waffles seriously blew me away. I’ve never made waffles before, let alone vegan savory waffles, but this recipe was calling to me and I knew I had to have them.
I borrowed a waffle maker from my neighbor, but I’m now convinced I need my own if for nothing but this recipe!
You’ll find this recipe in in the Spicy chapter, but the heat is not overpowering at all. It’s perfectly balanced with citrus notes and a bit of sweetness.
I have always liked my cornbread on the sweet side (like my Pumpkin Maple Cornbread), but from now on I’ll be eating it with a little sweet heat. And you certainly can’t get this amazing crunch with cornbread done traditionally. Turning them into waffles is pure genius!
Try them for brunch with the usual breakfast fare. Or make them the perfect accompaniment to chili, soup, or a big green salad. Celine suggests pairing them with her Pineapple Hot Pepper Jelly.
I decided to do a lazy version of the pepper jelly and made a fresh pineapple salsa instead – chopped pineapple, cucumber, red onion, and a little lime juice. I added some halved cherry tomatoes on top of all that. And for a touch of added richness, I drizzle a bit of melted dairy-free butter (I used Earth Balance) right before serving.
Get a bit of everything on the fork and you’ve got one perfect bite of flavor and texture!
More vegan brunch recipes
- Oat Flour Pancakes
- Blueberry Breakfast Cake
- Veggie Potato Fritters
- Eggless Banana Scones
- Breakfast Nachos
- Vegan Cinnamon Coffee Cake
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you tried it, please use the rating system in the recipe card and leave a comment below with your feedback.
Be sure to sign up for my FREE Newsletter to be the first to get my NEW recipes! You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
For even more easy family recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook!
And don’t forget to order your copy of Bold Flavored Vegan Cooking!
Crunchy Corn Waffles
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups (295 ml) unsweetened plain plant-based milk of choice
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) apple cider vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoons (4 g) organic cornstarch
- ¼ cup (60 ml) water
- 1 teaspoon 8 g smoked sea salt or fine sea salt
- 2 tablespoons (24 g) Sucanat or organic light brown sugar
- ¼ cup (60 ml) grapeseed oil or olive oil
- ¼ cup (60 ml) fresh orange juice
- 1 cup (120 g) whole-wheat pastry flour or all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (160 g) organic medium-grind cornmeal
- 2 tablespoons (10 g) nutritional yeast
- 2 teaspoons (9 g) baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon chipotle powder
- Nonstick cooking spray or oil spray
Instructions
- In a medium glass measuring cup, combine the milk with the vinegar and let stand 5 minutes to curdle.
- In a small bowl, place the cornstarch and whisk with water to dissolve. Cook in the microwave for 30 seconds, or until cloudy and thickened to a jelly-like consistency. Don’t overcook or the mixture will get clumpy. For guaranteed non-clumpy results, double the amount of cornstarch and water, cook 1 minute, and use ¼ cup (50 g) of the mixture. Discard the rest. Alternatively, do this in a small saucepan over medium heat for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Whisk the cornstarch mixture, salt, Sucanat, oil and orange juice into the curdled milk. Sift the flour, cornmeal, nutritional yeast, baking powder, baking soda and chipotle powder on top of the wet ingredients, and briefly whisk to combine. Don’t worry if a few lumps remain, just be sure not to overmix.
- Let stand 15 minutes, and then preheat the waffle iron. The longer the batter sits, the better the outcome. Once the iron is hot, give a quick stir to the batter, generously coat the waffle iron with spray, and cover the entire heating plate with batter, or follow the manufacturer’s specific instructions. I get a total of 12 deep-pocketed, ¾ -inch (2-cm)
- thick Belgian waffles on my iron, cooking 4 at a time. Cook until golden brown and crisp. It usually takes 8 full minutes on my waffle iron heated to 400°F (200°C).
- Transfer to a cooling rack and repeat with the remaining batter. Reheat in a 325°F (170°C or gas mark 3) oven until crisp again, about 10 minutes.
Maryann says
I like to add a small pinch of fine sea salt after every addition of veggies as I add them to the pot. The finished dish never ends up too salty !
Jenn S. says
Great idea!
Linda from Veganosity says
I make cornbread waffles often. We cover them with spicy black beans, spinach, and tomatoes. These look delicious, Jenn!
Jenn S. says
Sounds amazing, Linda!
Sarah says
These look so good. BEAUTIFUL photographs, too!
Jenn S. says
Thank you, Sarah!
Lydia Claire says
When appropriate I like to use cilantro in cooking. I’m one of the people who love it!
Jenn S. says
I love it too, Lydia! But I used to be one of those that really disliked it. My tastes changed in my 20’s…for the better! 🙂
Lydia Claire says
It’s my understanding that cilantro tastes like soap to some people. In that case I wouldn’t like it either. My mom loves beets but to me there is always a dirt flavor with them so no thanks!
Jenn S. says
Yes, that’s exactly how it used to taste to me. I’m just lucky my tastebuds changed. I like beets ok…with certain other flavors. My mom makes a Polish beet soup, however, and I can’t even be in the house when she’s cooking it because of the smell, let alone eat it! Ha!
Cadry says
Smoked sea salt in waffles? Color me intrigued! I loved the recipe for kimchi fried rice that I made from Celine’s book. I need to pull it back out for these waffles. They sound like the perfect addition to Saturday brunch.
Jenn S. says
I’ll admit the smoked sea salt doesn’t really come through…regular salt would be just fine. BUT I do think a little smoked paprika would be awesome in these too!
Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite says
I’m loving the crunchy factor in these. Nothing worse than soggy waffles, yuck! I’m always on the fence when it comes to sweet things that are savory versions but these sound delicious!
Jenn S. says
I hear ya – think of this as crunchy cornbread instead of waffles and you’ll be all good! 🙂
Greg says
Never had savory waffles before but this looks like an excellent place to start! What a great idea!
Jenn S. says
Definitely a great place to start! Thanks, Greg!
Ashley | Fit Mitten Kitchen says
Love how awesome vegan cooking is. You really can make such flavorful and satisfying meals that are vegan-friendly – without anyone even knowing any different! I LOVE cornbread so I bet I would love these corn waffles too. They look so perfect.
Jenn S. says
I couldn’t agree more! Thanks, Ashley!
Trinity Bourne says
Wow – looks like a fab book. What a tasty treat to make.
Jenn S. says
Thanks, Trinity!
Mel | avirtualvegan.com says
I need this book in my life. I love big, bold flavours! I also love waffles and have never eaten a savoury one. I think I need to change that. They look awesome!
Jenn S. says
You would love it, Mel! I love this savory waffle more than any sweet one I’ve ever had!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says
Looks like another great recipe I need to check out from this book! If you haven’t tried it yet, the Smoky Kale and Chickpeas are really good! I shared that recipe on my blog.
Jenn S. says
I’ve got my eye on those too! So many recipes I want to try!
Dahn says
omg, the citrus and chipotle in these waffles sound absolutely amazing, what a great combination
Jenn S. says
It really is! The flavors are perfect! Thanks, Dahn!
Kristina @ Love & Zest says
Now this is a creative waffle! I need to try them out very soon! I also must check out this cookbook!
Jenn S. says
You’d love it, Kristina! Thanks!
jacquie says
i love cornbread but never thought of making in a waffle maker. Perhaps i should purchase one …..
Taylor Kiser says
I can see why these are addicting! The flavors in these savory waffles sound perfect! Need to make asap!