Vegan Jalapeño Pimento Cornbread

This vegan jalapeño cornbread is made extra delicious with the addition of pimentos. This easy dish makes the perfect sweet and spicy comfort food, and it’s on the table in just about 30 minutes.

Jalapeños and pimentos are the stars of the show in my twist on this classic comfort food dish.  Why make a vegan jalapeño cornbread…with pimentos?

Let me be honest from the beginning: I love pimento cheese. Like…I love it. I rarely eat it because A) it’s not the healthiest choice and B) I’m trying to cut down on my dairy consumption. But, dang, it’s one of those things that makes my heart sing, no matter how much some may turn their noses away in disgust (some as in the majority of people I know- what can ya do?)

I recently realized that I’ve never had pimentos in anything other than pimento cheese and olives. What better way to pay tribute to my favorite Southern fare than by combining two of my great loves: pimento cheese (minus the cheese) and jalapeño cornbread. A star is born!

This cornbread is made with medium ground cornmeal, making it a touch healthier than its classic counterpart, because it retains some of the hull that fine ground cornmeal loses.

How do I make vegan cornbread?

I leave out the buttermilk and mix soy milk (or any other non-dairy milk) with 1 tablespoon of vinegar to make a vegan version that’s lower in fat but otherwise gives the same result. The vinegar adds a slight tang-y flavor like dairy buttermilk does. It also curdles the milk a bit, which makes it slightly thicker.

Although butter is the traditional way to make cornbread, I’ve always used oil. I grew up on cornbread mixes (think Jiffy Cornbread mix – the best!!), and my mom always used canola or vegetable oil in it. Without butter, the final texture is still moist & crumbly as can be!

And if you’ve made it this far and you’re still not convinced, this spicy pepper cornbread is not that spicy. The jalapeños turn much sweeter as they bake- they really only retain a bit of their initial spiciness.

I used to never eat anything remotely spicy – like, red pepper flakes on my pizza? No way! Hot sauce on my mac n cheese? Nope. Ever since I started dating my boyfriend, I’ve transitioned from Midwestern palette (love you mom and dad) to dousing everything in hot sauce. What can I say, it just makes everything taste that much better! You can take my word for it 😉

Pair vegan jalapeño pimento cornbread with the cozy peach comfort bowl for a delicious feast of flavors, or keep things simple with slow cooker chipotle black bean soup. The photo above is of a delicious brunch I made the other day. It includes a few components from my cozy peach comfort bowl (savory breaded tofu, garlicky greens) and a few other favorites, like pimento mashed potatoes and a fresh spinach salad.

For further reading on why cornbread is the best non-yeast bread side dish ever (this is a fact, not an opinion) see below:

• Of course I have to share a tidbit about the southern history of cornbread. (Hint: other cultures and regions were making cornbread far before it became a “southern” thing)
• “Why southern cornbread shouldn’t have sugar” aka my tastebuds aren’t a fan of no sugar in my cornbread, so instead of following through with it on my recipe, just read about it.
• To elaborate on the above point, sweet vs. non-sweet is a big talking point that I didn’t know about until delving into cornbread history. FYI I grew up eating Jiffy cornbread mix in Illinois, so I’m not sure where I fall into this argument.

Print Recipe

Vegan Jalapeño Pimento Cornbread

Jalapeño Pimento Cornbread is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy vegan comfort food, and it's on the table in less than 35 minutes.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time25 mins

Total Time35 mins

Servings: 8 large slices

Calories: 259kcal

Author: Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LDN

Ingredients

• 1 cup all purpose flour (substitute for whole wheat as desired)
• 1 cup whole grain cornmeal, such as Bob's Red Mill
• 1/3 cup white sugar*
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup unsweetened soy milk
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1 egg or flax egg (1 tablespoon flax seed, 3 tablespoons water)
• 2 small jalapeños, diced small
• 1/4 cup pimentos (from a jar)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375° F. Make your flax egg by combining flax and water. Let sit for at least five minutes before using. Stir together soy milk and apple cider vinegar and let sit for at least 10 minutes before using.
  
• Combine dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl: flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt. 
• Pour all remaining ingredients, except peppers, into dry ingredients. Stir until just combined. Fold in jalapeños and pimentos. 
• Pour cornbread batter into a well oiled medium cast iron skillet. Baking at 375°F for 25-30 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
  

Notes

It's preferable to make cornbread in a preheated cast iron skillet. Place your medium sized cast iron skilled in the oven while it's preheating, then add your batter when the oven is heated. This yields nice and crispy cornbread edges.

*Not all white sugar is vegan. If you follow a vegan diet, make sure to choose a white sugar that has vegan on the label. 

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