Cinco de Quatro CornBall with Burnt Tomato Salsa
Equipment
- You could use an illegal cornballer...or not.
Ingredients
- 3 cups Masa Harina
- 4 ounces Coconut oil melted
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 Tbsp Salt
- For filling:
- Avocado oil for cooking ingredients
- 1 cup fresh grilled or roasted corn
- 1 cup diced sweet onion
- 1 Tbsp Fresh chopped garlic
- 1/2 cup diced sweet peppers (preferably red)
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or jack cheese (or combined)
- 1/2 cup Chopped Fresh Scallion
- 1 Tbsp corn meal
- 1 tsp sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 large egg, beaten for sealing the dough.
- Neutral oil for frying
- For the Salsa:
- 1 Lb Whole plum tomatoes tomatoes cut in 1/2
- 1 large red onion, cut in thick slices
- 1 large jalapeno, seeded, stemmed, and diced
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/2 cup Fresh chopped scallions
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1/4 cup avocado or olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mix the masa Harina, coconut oil, salt and 1/2 of the water either by hand or in a food processor. Add more water as needed to make a pliable dough. Set the dough aside to rest at least 30 minutes.
- Make the filling. Heat oil in a saute pan. Add in onion and garlic. Cook over medium high heat until translucent. Add in the cornmeal and stir. Then add all other ingredients. Remove from heat, and mix well.
- Make the salsa: Toss the tomatoes and onion slices in a little oil and season with salt and pepper. Grille over high heat on a pre-heated grille. You want to get a good char on them. Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend. Put salsa in a bowl and reserve for service.
- Heat oil to fry or use a fryer.
- Cut the dough into 24 pieces and roll out into rounds. Press them flat. Brush them with egg around the edges. Fill the middle with the corn and cheese filling. Fold the dough to create a ball and pinch the edges to seal in the filling. (you could also forego the ball shape and do a more traditional empanada shape.
- Fry the cornballs in 350 degree oil until golden brown. Serve with salsa.
Notes
This recipe is really and empanada. It is inspired by the show Arrested development. I have seen other people make "cornballs which are basically hush puppies. But, when I re-watched the scenes, it is clear that Michael is folding dough, more like an empanada.
Please, don't use a "cornballer". They are illegal everywhere according to the show.
These "cornballs" are deep fried. But, you could brush them with a little extra egg and fry them. They would probably work in an air fryer too. I am not sure how crispy they would get though.