Much like Macaroni and Cheese, Hominy Au Gratin is a straightforward casserole that speaks of comfort and satisfies big appetites on a budget. Even if you don’t have fond childhood memories of hominy, I think you’ll enjoy this introduction to nixtamalized corn à la Julia Child.
Hominy on the Side
Do you remember hominy? I ate it growing up. Aunt Hen served it as a side dish; warmed up, seasoned a bit, but more or less plain from the can. The giant puffy kernels, mild flavor and unexpectedly chewy texture appealed to my childish imagination. I thought hominy was fantastic and a bit mysterious. I enjoyed it as a gentle foil to the more complex flavors of casseroles and other mid-century main dishes that challenged my tender palate.
Recently I ran across an article I clipped some years later, but now many years ago. Perhaps it came from the Sunday magazine insert of our local newspaper. It featured Julia Child and two recipes that were surprisingly approachable. One was for fresh green beans, cooked simply. The other was for Hominy Au Gratin, a cheesy hominy casserole that sounded delicious. Since green beans and hominy are two side dishes that have always remind me of home, I clipped the article and tucked it away for future reference.
Hominy in the Lime-light
This time around the mystery of hominy finally got the best of me. Curiosity demanded I do an internet search to see what this interesting grain is all about. What I learned is fascinating, though not wholly appetizing. I found that hominy is dried field corn, or maize, soaked in a lye or slaked lime solution to soften the outer husk. Later that part is rinsed off along with the solution. This process, called nixtamalization, kills the germ of the kernel and prevents sprouting during storage.
But what sounds bad (food treated with lye or slaked lime), and is hard to say, (nixtamalization), turns out to be a good thing. Reading on I learned that nixtamalization also acts on the corn, enhancing its protein and transforming it into a useful source of calcium and niacin. This process also acts on the protein structure of the corn. Ultimately it allows the meal ground from hominy, called masa harina, to form a dough used to make tortillas.
Hominy à la Julia Child
Hominy Au Gratin is a nice recipe for bringing hominy to those who may resist both the mystery and the details. Like making Cheese Grits Casserole for the grits-averse, this cheesy hominy casserole dresses those curiously large kernels of nixtamalized corn in a familiar flavor and context. Much like Macaroni and Cheese this casserole speaks of comfort and satisfies big appetites on a budget. Even if you don’t have fond childhood memories of hominy I think you’ll enjoy this introduction à la Julia Child.
For more information and ideas on using hominy:
What is Hominy Again? at FarmFlavor.com
What Is Hominy and How Is It Used? at TheKitchn.com
There are some great ideas in these posts and in the comments. I have found several here that I hope to try soon.
Hominy Au Gratin
Course: Vegetables, SidesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy8
servings20
minutes25
minutes45
minutesFrom an old newspaper clipping featuring Julia Child, this hominy casserole speaks of comfort and satisfies big appetites.
Ingredients
4 15oz. cans of hominy (white, golden or a mix of both)
3 Tablespoons butter
4 Tablespoons flour
1½ cups milk, warmed
¼ teaspoon salt
1 pinch of white pepper
3-4 ounces grated Cheddar or Swiss cheese, divided
Directions
- Generously grease the bottom of a shallow 2 quart casserole (I used a 7.5” x 11” rectangular glass baking dish.) Set aside.
- Drain hominy in a colander and rinse well with cold water. (You can use white or golden hominy. I used a mixture of the two.) Set aside.
- In a sturdy saucepan, melt 3 Tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until smooth. Cook and stir over moderate heat until the mixture has bubbled for two minutes without deepening beyond a buttery yellow. Remove from heat.
- When the bubbling stops, add the warm milk, whisking into the butter mixture until smooth. Return to heat, and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Continue to simmer and stir for 2 minutes, adding the salt and white pepper and a few more drops of milk to thin the mixture as necessary. (The sauce should be thick enough to coat a spoon with a light creamy layer.)
- Remove from heat. Stir in 2 ounces of grated cheese. Adjust seasoning as needed.
- Spread a thin layer of the cheese sauce in the bottom of the buttered casserole dish. Add the hominy and cover with the remaining sauce, shaking the pan and stirring a bit, to let the sauce drip down among the kernels of hominy. Scatter the remaining grated cheese on top.
- Bake at 425F for 25 minutes or until bubbly and browned on top.
- Serve and enjoy!
I never heard of hominy until I was married. Hominy and sausage for breakfast. Tired of potatoes at dinner I found this recipe. Have made it several times since then even using left overs with breakfast. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. If you are not a hominy fan, before you dress hominy up it really is very bland. Try this recipe, you may change your mind.
I made 6 cups hominy using wood ashes, rinsed and simmered a couple hours in chicken stock and drained. Mixed in pack of cream cheese, added milk, buttermilk, flour, cheddar cheese, spices right in the casserole dish and baked straightaway. Super good. Probably should have added a little cumin.
I have always loved hominy but am not sure why people say they hate it! I tell them it's corn, but that doesn't seem to matter. I'm from Texas but have lived in Ohio a long time & most people up here have never heard of hominy. I've always eaten it from the can cooked in butter, but can't wait to make this. It sounds wonderful, because I'm crazy about cheese grits.
Hi Grace. That sounds like such a wonderful opportunity to learn while building special memories. Thanks so much for sharing!
Jeff – Interesting thought!
Stefanie – Sounds fantastic! So glad the post inspired you. Thanks for sharing your twist on the recipe!
I made this tonite with a bit of a twist. I used buttermilk to make the white sauce and chopped up a small bunch of spinach to make it more of a one-dish meal. Then for an added zing a crumbled up some blue cheese on top along with the cheddar. Totally yummy! Thanks for the recipe.
It looks intriguing! From your description it sounds like the Southern version of Lutefisk! 🙂
my grandpa makes hominy for our family every year using his own corn, and it's so special. it's sad to think that most people have never tried it or only associate it with posole!