Author Notes
Why not!? I love the elemental sweetness in spring onions and leeks and think it pairs well with the saltiness of bacon and earthiness of corn. As well, I’m a nut for muffins of all stripes- sweet, savory, for breakfasts, snacks, sides, dessert. This hearty yet super light “cupcake” combines all these elements and is topped with a “frosting” made of goat cheese and Greek yogurt and lastly, a fried ramp leaf. —em-i-lis
Ingredients
- For the “cupcakes”
4
strips bacon
1 cup
leeks, white and light green parts chopped
½ cups
spring onions, tough green part of stalks removed
2
ramps, bulbs diced, leaves reserved
1¼ cups
stone-ground yellow cornmeal (medium grind)
¾ cups
all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoons
salt
¾ teaspoons
baking powder
¾ teaspoons
ancho chile powder
¼ teaspoons
baking soda
1
large egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons
butter, melted
1 tablespoon
honey
½ cups
buttermilk
½ cups
whole or 2% milk (or you can use 1 c of either buttermilk or milk)
- For the “frosting” and fried ramp leaves
¼ cups
Greek-style yogurt
¼ cups
crumbled goat cheese
1 teaspoon
honey
1 tablespoon
olive oil-
reserved ramp leaves, slivered
Directions
- For the “cupcakes”
-
Preheat oven to 375, and prepare a 12-cup muffin tin.
In a large skillet, cook the bacon. Remove it, drain on paper towels and set aside. Pour out all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon drippings. In that 1 tablespoon, set over medium heat, cook the leeks, spring onions and ramp bulbs until tender and turning golden. Set aside to cool. - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, ancho powder, and baking soda. In a smaller mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, butter, honey, buttermilk and regular milk. Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture and stir until just combined.
-
Chop 3 strips of the bacon and add to your batter. Reserve the 4th strip for topping the cupcakes. Then add the leek/onion/ramp mixture. Fold the bacon and veggies in gently until everything is well dispersed. Fill 10 muffin cups with the batter (you won’t get 12 nicely sized ones) and bake for 16 minutes or until firm and golden.
Let rest on a rack while you make the “frosting.”
- For the “frosting” and fried ramp leaves
-
In a small bowl, stir together the yogurt, goat cheese and honey until well combined.
Set aside. -
In a small skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat and fry the ramp leaves for 2-3 minutes until nicely crisped.
Chop the remaining strip of bacon. -
Place a dollop of “frosting” on each cupcake and top with a fried ramp leaf and a few bits of bacon.
Serve warm.
