Sjögren's Syndrome is MORE than dry eyes and dry mouth, it may come along with severe fatigue, swollen joints, muscle pain, brain fog, thirst, persistent cough, chronic sinus problems, dry skin, brain fog, food sensitivities, burning sensation in the mouth, swallowing difficulties, to name a few. It could affect multiple organs and severely impact your quality of life.
I've struggled to find easy-to-swallow foods since childhood. That's probably why I avoid crackers and bread, I simply choke! I am always looking for different flavours to elevate my mealtime experience due to multiple food sensitivities and a diminished sense of smell and taste. Finding the right ingredients to make this traditional Maple Cornbread a Sjögren friendly side dish was magical.
Gluten-Free Soft Maple Cornbread Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
*Serving size: 1 slice
Yield: 12
Ingredients:
3/4 cup gluten-free whole-grain cornmeal flour (Bob's Red Mill)
1 cup all-purpose gluten-free flour (I used Robin Hood flour)
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup Canadian maple syrup
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons gluten-free baking powder
1 egg, room temperature
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/3 cup plain yogurt (or cultured coconut yogurt)
3/4 cup lactose-free milk (or your preferred plant-based beverage)
Instructions
1. Pre-heat oven to 400 F and grease an 8"x8" square baking pan.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together the gluten-free flour, cornmeal flour, baking powder and salt.
3. Place the egg in a medium bowl. Use an electric mixer on low-medium speed until the egg turns a pale yellow. Add olive oil, sugar and maple syrup. Mix together until combined.
4. Add dry ingredients slowly into the mixture and mix until combined.
5. Add yogurt and milk at low speed until combined. Let the mixture sit in the fridge for 15 minutes.
6. Pour the batter into the greased pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes until a tester inserted into the middle of the bread comes out clean. Remove the cornbread from the heat and let it cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Extra tips:
✔ Not all gluten-free flours are created equal. Robin Hood and President's Choice gluten-free flour worked well.
✔ Serve warm with a plant-based spread and cranberry sauce.
✔ Make the recipe completely vegan by replacing the dairy products with the plant-based alternatives aforementioned. To replace one egg, whisk together 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds or chia seeds with 3 tablespoons of water until well combined and absorbed.
Let me know if it works for you!
Curious about working with the Arthritis Dietitian? I would love to hear from you.