Air Fryer Cornbread with Pickled Hot Peppers
Steps
- 01
In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients: cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- 02
In another bowl, combine melted butter, eggs, and buttermilk. Pour wet ingredients over dry and stir just until incorporated. If using, add chopped pickled peppers and gently mix.
- 03
Preheat air fryer to 165°C (330°F) for 5 minutes. Grease a small bundt pan (17-18 cm) with nonstick spray. Pour batter, leaving about 2.5 cm from the rim.
- 04
Cover pan loosely with aluminum foil. Cook at 165°C (330°F) for 35 minutes.
- 05
Remove foil, increase temperature to 175°C (350°F), and cook for another 9 minutes until golden. Carefully invert bread onto a plate, slice, and serve warm.
Recipe story
Cornbread has its origins in the peasant cuisine of southeastern Europe, where corn brought from the New World became a staple. In the Balkan regions, this simple bread was baked in stone ovens and served at festive meals. Pickled hot peppers, introduced by traders from Asia, were gradually integrated into local recipes, offering a spicy contrast. Today, cornbread is reinterpreted in the air fryer for a fluffy texture and reduced cooking time.
Ingredient Secrets
Discover the culinary secrets and flavor history of key ingredients in this dish.
Black pepper
Known as 'black gold' in antiquity, pepper was so valuable that it served as currency and tribute. In the Middle Ages, Venetian merchants controlled the pepper trade, and individual peppercorns were often counted. Legend has it that when Alaric, king of the Visigoths, demanded tribute from Rome, he included 3,000 pounds of pepper.
Sea salt
Sea salt, extracted from ocean waters by evaporation, was one of the most precious goods of antiquity, used both as food and as currency. In ancient Rome, soldiers were paid with salt, which is the origin of the word 'salary'. Salt roads connected entire civilizations, and in the Middle Ages, salt was so valuable it was called 'white gold'.
Corn
Corn, native to Central America, was domesticated over 9,000 years ago in Mexico. After the discovery of the Americas, it spread rapidly to Europe, Africa, and Asia, becoming a global staple crop. Fun fact: in Italy, corn was called 'grano turco' (Turkish wheat) because it was believed to originate from the East.
You may also like
MiscAir Fryer S'mores – Quick Campfire Treat Without Fire
MiscHow to Reheat Frikandellen in Air Fryer: Quick and Crispy Recipe
MiscHow to Reheat Chicken in Air Fryer (Crispy and Juicy)
MiscCrispy Reheated Chicken Pieces in Air Fryer
MiscStuffed Bell Pepper with Mozzarella in Air Fryer
Misc