Thanksgiving Cornbread with Caramelized Leeks & Apples

HomeClinics & ProgramsELLICSR KitchenThanksgiving Cornbread with Caramelized Leeks & Apples

Skill Level	Easy

Preparation Time	10 minutes	Total Time	40 minutes
Servings	12	Cost Per Serving	$0.85

Cornbread Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup	Cornmeal (preferably organic)
3/4 cup	Spelt Flour
1 cup	Buttermilk
2	Eggs
1 tbsp	Olive Oil
1 1/2 tsp	Baking Powder
1/2 tsp	Baking soda

Vegetable Stuffing Ingredients:

3	Leeks, thinly sliced
2	Apples (I prefer Granny Smith, but any variety will work), small dice
1 tsp	Thyme, fine chop
1 tsp	Sage, fine chop
1 tsp	Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 tbsp	Olive Oil
To taste	Sea Salt and Ground Black Pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
In a medium saucepot, over medium heat, add olive oil.
Once hot enough, (the oil will begin to ripple), add leeks and about a /4 tsp of salt.
Cook slowly until the leeks begin to soften and brown slightly (about 5 minutes).
Add the apples, thyme and sage. Mix well and continue to cook for another 5 minutes.
Add the vinegar and continue to cook for 2 minutes. Allow to cool.
For the cornbread, combine your dry and wet ingredients separately. Then mix together with a spoon or whisk.
Stir in your vegetables.
Pour into a parchment lined baking dish or cast iron skillet. Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.

PDF link to nutrition facts table for cornbread with caramelized leeks and apples

Whole corn is a whole grain. At 4.6 grams of fiber per cup, corn is high in fibre. Fibre helps control blood sugar, cholesterol and helps promote a healthy digestive system.
You may be surprised to learn that corn contains several antioxidants. Lutein and zeaxanthin are antioxidants in corn that may help prevent and manage arthritis, cataracts, and vision loss.
Squash and apples both contain pectin. Research suggests that pectin may act as a prebiotic, or food for healthy bacteria in the gut. Pectin may also have heart benefits by lowering LDL (bad or “lousy” cholesterol).