Cowboy Cornmeal Omelets

In this post we begin with a recipe for an omelet made from a cornbread batter as opposed to eggs. I could not find white cornmeal mix in our local grocery store. Instead I used plain yellow cornmeal in place of the mix. Not completely satisfied I decided to try a few more variations. I found a lovely recipe for cornmeal cakes on Cow Girl Chef and learned how to make my own chorizo.

If you cannot find cornmeal mix then use the recipe below for cornmeal cakes.

Cornbread Omelets:
Source: Southern Living September 2009

3/4 pound Chorizo sausage, castings removes (about 3 links), or see recipe below
6 tbsp butter, divided
3 green onions, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1-2 jalapeno peppers, minced
1 cup self-rising white cornmeal mix (such as Martha White)
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup flour
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Cooking spray
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend

Sauté chorizo in an 8-inch nonstick omelet pan or skillet with sloped sides 7 to 10 minutes or until browned. Remove from skillet, and drain on paper towels. Wipe skillet clean.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in skillet, and sauté green onions, bell pepper, and jalapeño peppers over medium-high heat 3 to 5 minutes or until tender. Transfer to a bowl; stir in chorizo. Wipe skillet clean.

Whisk together cornmeal mix, buttermilk, milk, all-purpose flour, and 1 large egg.

Coat skillet with cooking spray; melt 1 tablespoon butter in skillet over medium-high heat, rotating pan to coat bottom evenly. Pour about 1/3 cup cornmeal mixture into skillet. Tilt pan so uncooked portion flows around to coat bottom of pan, cooking until almost set, bubbles form, and edges are dry (about 1 1/2 minutes). Gently flip with a spatula.

Sprinkle 1 side of omelet with about 1/2 cup onion mixture and about 3 tablespoons cheese. Fold omelet in half; cook 30 seconds or until cheese is melted. Transfer to a serving plate; keep warm. Repeat procedure 4 times with remaining butter, cornmeal mixture, onion mixture, and cheese. Serve immediately.

Makes 5 servings

Cow Girl Chef Cornmeal Batter Cakes:
1 cup cultured buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2/3 cup white cornmeal
2/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons melted butter or bacon fat

Pour the buttermilk into a bowl and stir in the baking soda. Whisk in the egg, and gradually whisk in the cornmeal, then the salt and fat and 1/4 cup water.

Cowgirl Homemade Chorizo:
If you have your butcher grind your pork, ask him to include some fat, and to grind it coarsely for a nicer texture. You can use any type of paprika although the Spanish variety has a wonderful smokey flavor that adds depth to the chorizo. To watch a video on how to make chorizo follow this link.

2 pounds ground pork
2 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp Spanish paprika
1 tsp dried Mexican oregano, stems removed
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp sea salt

Mix everything together in a big bowl with your hands. (Taste for seasonings by making a small patty and cooking it in the skillet.) Form into patties and cook  over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through.

Freeze for 1-2 months or refrigerate for 1-2 days, or simply freeze the uncooked chorizo for 1-2 months, and thaw and cook when ready to use.