Tag Archives: culinary ash

Blue Corn Tortillas

When wife Jan recently bought me blue corn meal, she also purchased some blue masa harina. Masa harina is corn that has been soaked in calcium hydroxide (AKA slaked lime) in a process called nixtamalization. This process has many benefits, making it easier to remove the hulls, breaking down toxins that may be present in the raw corn, and altering the corn’s chemistry—allowing for easier absorption of key nutrients like niacin and letting the corn flour to absorb water to make a dough. The freshly ground corn dough—masa—is dried and then reground to make masa harina.

Blue Corn Tortillas

Blue Corn Tortillas
Tortillas on top made with culinary ash,
those on the bottom made without ash

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Karl’s Blue Cornbread with Chilies

Today, I am making cornbread with blue corn meal and Hopi culinary ash—this is in no way a traditional Hopi recipe. I was unable to find any recipes online for making this bread. The first reason for this is that culinary ash is almost impossible to come by outside of the Hopi reservation, so I am adapting my own cornbread recipe to the new ingredients.

Karl’s Blue Cornbread with Chilies

Karl’s Blue Cornbread with Chilies

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Hopi Blue Tortillas

I am doing a Hopi/Southwestern Indian meal this Sunday. I am making Hopi beans and hominy and a Southwestern Indian chicken. Blue corn tortillas seems a reasonable side dish.

Hopi Blue Tortillas

Hopi Blue Tortillas

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Filed under Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian