Cornmeal Porridge | Corn for Baby | Kids Friendly Meal

Cornmeal is a grain gotten from grinding dried corn. The corn can be ground until coarse, medium, or even fine uniformity.

The cornmeal we consume generally has a fine texture; though, other range such as whole grain or stone-ground cornmeal have a coarser than normal texture.

Cornmeal Nutrition

One serving of cornmeal gives 92 calories from carbohydrates, 7 calories from protein and 4 calories from fat.

Also, a single serving of this meal provides about 5% of the daily value for calories on a 2,000 calorie per day diet. Plus 4% of the daily requirements for dietary fibre

Also, it contains minerals and vitamins like thiamine, manganese, phosphorus, B6, folate, selenium, iron and magnesium.

Benefits

It contains fibre, good for the bowels and can help to keep you full and can be.

It is gluten-free and safe for those with gluten intolerance and celiac disease

This porridge is a favorite breakfast energy meal in Jamaica that is high-calorie. It is delicious, creamy and very easy to make.

Cornmeal Porridge Jamaica is normally the first “heavy” food a Jamaican baby feeds on after being weaned off the bottle.

Cornmeal porridge can be taken by infants from 4-6 months of age and as well by adults. For infants, porridge is much more than food because it supplements the nutritional and developmental needs.

It is cheap and affordable and can serve as another addition to your food menu.

In Nigeria, especially in the Eastern region, this meal is combine with cassava flour to make “nri oka” (cornmeal swallows) that pairs well with okro/ogbono/draw soup. You can substitute cornmeal with ground oats.

But there is more to this accessible and affordable meal other than for making fufu/swallows.

Jamaican Recipe for Cornmeal Porridge

Are you weary of the same oatmeal for breakfast? Why not mix it up and try this warming porridge instead!

Ingredients

• 2 cups of water
• 2-3 cups coconut milk drinkable carton variety, you can dissolve 3 tbsp of powdered milk in a cup of water. If using baby milk, mix according to instructions on the tin.
• ½ cinnamon stick
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• ½ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg adjust to taste
• Sweeteners (condensed milk coconut sugar, brown sugar. You can use pureed or mashed banana instead to sweeten the baby’s own, and as well use honey for children who are more than a year old.
• ½ cup sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

1. Firstly, in a heavy large saucepan, add about 2 cups water and 2 cups coconut milk. Put in ½ stick cinnamon stick and bring to a boil.
2. Secondly, slowly whisk in the grain, until you have added the whole thing in the pot, a little bit at a time.
3. Thirdly, keep stirring with a wooden spoon to prevent any lumps and burning.
4. After that, reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens about 15 minutes.
5. Then, add flavoring vanilla extract, nutmeg, and sweetened condensed milk.
6. You can adjust the consistency if desired.
7. Finally, turn off the heat. Serve warm alone for babies or with a side dish like moi-moi, bean cake, plantain for the kids and yourself.

Note:  Cornmeal is different from Cornflour and Corn Starch. Please do not mistake them

Difference between Cornstarch, Cornmeal and Corn Flour

Cornstarch and cornmeal are both from corn.

Though, cornmeal contains more of a corn flavor to it, as cornstarch has slightly extra starchy taste, and is mostly used to thicken up sauces.

Corn flour is mainly cornmeal, but more finely ground up.