Heart-Healthy Homemade Maize Puffs

Light, crispy, and bursting with comforting flavors, these Heart-Healthy Homemade Maize Puffs are the perfect guilt-free snack to satisfy your cravings. Made with wholesome cornmeal, a touch of olive oil, and just the right amount of seasoning, these golden-brown bites are oven-baked, not fried, making them a nutritious alternative to traditional puffed snacks. Choose to keep them simple or spice things up with a dash of paprika or cayenne for an extra kick. Ready in just 40 minutes, these maize puffs are easy to prepare and ideal for everything from midday snacking to party platters. Plus, they store well for up to five days, so you can enjoy their crispy goodness all week long! Discover the perfect blend of flavor, health, and convenience with this quick and versatile recipe.

Nutriscore Rating: 68/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup cornmeal (medium grind)
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon paprika (optional, for extra flavor)
• 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for a spicy kick)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan, bring the 2 cups of water to a boil over medium-high heat.

Step 3

Gradually whisk in the cornmeal, stirring continuously to prevent lumps. Lower the heat to medium-low and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens and pulls away from the saucepan sides, about 5-7 minutes.

Step 4

Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the olive oil, baking powder, salt, paprika, and cayenne pepper until well combined.

Step 5

Let the mixture cool slightly, then use a spoon or small cookie scoop to drop small mounds (about 1 teaspoon each) onto the prepared baking sheet. Leave some space between each puff as they will expand slightly during baking.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until the maize puffs are golden and crispy on the outside.

Step 7

Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack. The puffs will continue to crisp up as they cool.

Step 8

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(637.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	705.4

Total Fat 30.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 4.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1653.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 98.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 9.9g	0%
Total Sugars 0.9g
Protein 8.9g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 43.9mg	0%
Iron 3.1mg	0%
Potassium 216.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 38.9%

Protein: 5.1%

Carbs: 56.0%