Corn Bread with Basil (Pão de Milho com Manjericão)

Corn Bread with Basil (Pão de Milho com Manjericão) — that’s all I want… Just its aroma baking in the oven is enough to make me happy.

But this corn bread with basil is not exactly like the corn bread that you might be familiar with. Brazilian corn bread looks more like a bread loaf rather than a cake. Moreover, the corn bread recipe that you are making today has a twist… instead of a plain corn bread, it incorporates both Parmesan and provolone cheeses and basil, which make the bread even more aromatic and flavorful.

Yes, it is an Italian-style corn bread with basil on account of its ingredients and also due to its origin. This type of corn bread (pão de milho com ervas finas) is very popular in the countryside of Rio Grande do Sul State, where there are many corn plantations belonging to descendents of Italian immigrants to Brazil. The milled corn is used to make other dishes than just polenta– like this tasty bread, for example…

Pão de milho (loosely pronounced similar to this: POWM jee MEEL-yoo ) or corn bread is ideal for breakfast or as a snack, accompanied by a good cup of coffee. I also think that it would be interesting if eaten as a side dish with a hearty stew, like picadinho, on top. It’s all up to you…

Now if you will please excuse me, my loaf of corn bread with basil (pão de milho com manjericão) is hot from the oven and calling my name… 😉
xx

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Corn Bread with Basil

Italian-style corn bread with basil -- super easy to make and quite aromatic.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings 8

Author Denise Browning

Ingredients

• 2 large eggs at room temperature
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup all-purpose flour sifted
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup grated provolone cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1-1/3 cup fresh or frozen corn cooked
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or 2 tablespoons dried

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350º F (180º C). Grease a retangular bread pan and sprinkle with cornmeal. Reserve.
2. Beat eggs slightly and stir in the butter and milk. Reserve. In a separate, large bowl, mix the dry ingredients together: flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and sugar. Then, add the beaten egg mixture and stir with a wooden spoon. Add the cheeses and corn and mix well.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of bread comes out clean. Unmold bread onto a rack and let cool slightly until warm. Serve corn bread warm with butter and /or honey, or as an accompaniment for picadinho. Serves: 8 people

Recipe Notes

Recipe adapted from MdeMulher Culinária.