This week, in celebration of the upcoming, very long-awaited, premier of the 4th season of Arrested Development (my most favorite TV show of all time) on Netflix, I am doing a week of Arrested Development-themed recipes. It’s sort of a week-long Arrested Development premier celebration, if you will (“Oh, sure, I will. Look, I have…”). To answer your questions: Yes, I am a huge Arrested Development fan and yes, I am also kind of a dork.
“Michael was making cornballs, a Bluth family favorite since George Sr. unsuccessfully tried to market it in the mid-seventies.”
George Bluth Sr. once invented a faulty deep-frying contraption for making “cornballs” which easily burns whoever goes near it. I can only guess as to what cornballs actually are since I’ve never had one. I can however, create my own interpretation of the cornball.
“Hey, the Cornballer. Thought these things were only legal in Mexico.”
My version is made of cooked polenta and corn rolled into balls. I chose to not deep-fry them for health purposes. Instead, I baked them and they were absolutely wonderful.
“In fact, the Cornballer wasn’t legal anywhere, but George Sr. continued to market it in Mexico, anyways.”
I served the cornballs with some very quickly-made spicy marinara sauce. The final product was so delicious! If these are anything like the Bluth’s version, I can see why they love them so much! Chris and I ate half the batch while re-watching the old Arrested Development episodes, preparing for the new season. Not that we needed to watch them- we’ve only seen every episode about a hundred times. I must say, though, the old episodes were even more enjoyable while eating these cornballs with brownie ice cream sandwiches for dessert.
“Muy delisioso. Es verdad. Soy loco por los Corn Balls!”
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup ground polenta
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- pepper to taste
- 1 cup frozen corn kernals, defrosted
- 1 15oz can of organic fire-roasted tomatoes
- ¼ cup vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Bring the water to boil in a medium pot. Once it is boiling, add the salt. Slowly add the polenta, stirring constantly. Lower the heat to a simmer and continue to stir constantly until very thick, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in the spices and the corn. Remove from heat. Pour into the prepared baking dish, cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours up to overnight.
- Once the polenta mixture is firm, remove from the refrigerator. Preheat the oven to 400.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use an ice cream scoop or a large spoon to scoop out the polenta mixture and use your hands to roll it into 1-2 inch balls. Place on the baking sheet.
- Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until firm and slightly golden. Remove from oven. Serve immediately with spicy marinara sauce. Enjoy!
- Combine all ingredients in a small pot. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Once heated, use an immersion blender to pulse the sauce until just slightly chunky. Remove from heat and serve hot or chill until ready to use and serve cold.
Are you looking forward to season 4 of Arrested Development? Who is your favorite character?
Photography by Chris Miller
You’ve done it again…these look amazing! And I can’t wait till Arrested Development starts!! 🙂
Stephanie recently posted…Quick & Easy Baked Taquitos
Thank you! And meeee toooo! 🙂
😉 You should have named this “Cornballs with Spicy Club Sauce.” (Yes, I’m totally late to the party.
I hate myself for not coming up with that myself. 😉
These look really yummy! I love polenta and the sweetness of corn. I betcha these are awesome with that spicy tomato sauce!
Maria Tadic recently posted…How-To: Cooking With Kohlrabi
The spicy tomato sauce was Chris’s favorite part. It was a perfect pairing. 🙂
WOO! the corn baller! these look fabulous! making these over the weekend FOR SURE.
Caitlin recently posted…Peanut Butter Banana Waffles
Si! The cornballer! 😉 I ended up liking these WAY more than I expected to. I can see them becoming a regular meal in this house. 🙂
I’m not a follower of AD, but I can get into these!
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan recently posted…Spring Quinoa Salad
AD or not, I think you will love these, Abby. 🙂
These look amazing! I’m going to bust them out for an AD marathon this weekend. We’ve also watched all the episodes hundreds of times. My family is going to be so excited for cornballs! “Everybody’s laughing and riding and cornholing except for Buster. What’s wrong with Buster?”
Portia recently posted…Health and Happiness
That’s one of my favorite quotes (It gets me EVERY time), but I chose to not use it in the off-chance that it might offend someone. 😉 Have fun at your marathon this weekend! 🙂
i dont have a clue abt arrested development phrases:) i dont watch much anything:).. but these look like a fantastic appetizer!
Richa recently posted…Pasta Sauces in a Jar. White sauce, Spicy Sriracha, Chipotle, Ranch, Mac ‘n’ Cheese and more. Vegan Glutenfree recipe
Thanks, Richa! 🙂
Yum! We’re re-watching the old episodes in preparation this week too 🙂
these looks awesome…never got into AD but I know a lot of people are waiting in anticipation…
I’ll take these tho
These will be good with or without AD. 😉
I don´t know much about Arrested Development but I´m in love with this cornballs. They would look great at every gathering!
Thank you, Ana!
Much to my shame and embarrassment, I’ve never watched Arrested Development. Is it too late ;-)? Cornballs look totally in-the-mouth-popping good!
Annie recently posted…Mango Lime Pancakes with Ginger & Coconut. Sugar- & Oil-free
It’s never too late for AD, Annie. 😉
excited to try these! They sound great
Thanks, Kate! 🙂
This. Is. Awesome. Can’t wait for AD to start up again!
Lauren @ A Nerd Cooks recently posted…Easy Salmon Baked in Foil
I hope you’re loving the new episodes as much as we are! So fun!
This series of your is making me oh so happy. Seriously Kristy, I think we are kindred spirits forced to live forever away. You must let me know what you think of the premier the moment you watch it yes?
The cornballer is one of my favourite things in AD. I just love when they all burn themselves on it! Or when George is in Mexico and all the Mexicans start attacking him because they all have serious burns. The BEST 🙂 (oh wait- did that just make me sound really sick and twisted? I hope not haha)
Gabby @ the veggie nook recently posted…grain-free, paleo and vegan carrot zucchini muffins!
I will definitely email you once we finish (I think we’re around halfway through?). We will have to have a major discussion- if only we lived closer together!
And P.S.- I love the phrase “kindred spirits.” I was a huge Anne of Green Gables fan growing up! 🙂
So was I! Die hard fan! I read all the books twice and was known to watch the movies at least every month!
Gabby @ the veggie nook recently posted…healthy vegan friday #45
Meee too! I had them practically memorized! 🙂
A totally awesome idea! I love Arrested Development too, may have to try these for Sunday!! 🙂
sara recently posted…Apple-Rhubarb Crumble
Thank you, Sara! 🙂
These look amazing..going to try them this weekend! The fork in the picture, however, looks totally acary! ha 🙂
Thanks! It is a weird little fork, isn’t it? I found it at a thrift store and thought it would be a fun prop. 🙂
You are too funny! I have been rewatching some of the Arrested Development episodes to prepare/pump myself up for Sunday! I am sooooo excited!
Produce on Parade recently posted…Spicy Peanut Thai Tacos
Soooooo excited over here too! We just dove in last night and we’re hoping to finish them up today. It feels like Christmas!
Woo! SO pumped for Arrested Development!!!! 🙂 Love that show.
This recipe looks awesome! Yum! Great idea.
Courtney @ The Fig Tree recently posted…Tzatziki Potato Salad
Yay! Another AD fan! Can’t wait to hear how you liked it! 🙂
I often wondered what exactly cornballs were — now I know, and now I think I must have some. Nice work!
Bobbie {the vegan crew} recently posted…Frozen Peanut Butter Banana Cups
Polenta cornballs…with club sauce.
I WISH I’D THOUGHT OF THAT! Seriously- you made me almost spit out my tea!
I’m in the midst of making these right now — having a very hard time getting the balls to stick together. Any tips?
Sorry- I just saw this! They will seem a little crumbly at first, and they are very sticky, but once they go in the oven, you shouldn’t have a problem. I hope they worked out okay!
Thanks! I’ll be baking/serving them this evening, so the balls spent another night in the icebox. I tried warming up the dough a bit in the microwave before rolling the balls, and that made them stick together better. Next time I might try a finer grind of cornmeal.
Good to know. I’m not sure whether my polenta is fine-grain or not. Truth be told, I bought it a long time ago and this is my first time using it. It looks the same as the last polenta I used and I don’t recall another variety so I truly don’t know whether mine is fine-grain or not. That’s just my ignorance, though. 😉 Glad to hear to they worked out. 🙂
I have to pick just one favorite character- they are all amazing! I am loving this week of themed food, awesome!!! Mys sister and I are watching this weekend 🙂
Heather recently posted…virtual vegan potluck: hot spinach & artichoke dip
Have fun watching this weekend! Chris and I have 2 more episodes left. We should have a vegan AD-lover forum so you, Gabby, Caitlin, Melissa and I can all discuss! 🙂
Yes! Surfing the net for a polenta recipe and I got an amazing Arrested Development scene. That made my day, still laughing. Thank You Mam!
Awesome recipe! Just wanted to let you know I gave you a feature in our super bowl recipe article here =): https://cheapveganshop.com/in-the-kitchen/cheap-vegan-super-bowl-snacks/
Im new to cooking and don’t understand what ground polenta is…is it dry cornmeal? Not sure how it is supposed to be “ground”?
You can purchase a bag of dry “ground” polenta, or a roll of already cooked polenta. This recipe calls for the dry, ground type.