Here's a spiffed up waffle recipe that has both a crunchy outer texture, and a soft interior texture The ricotta and whipped egg whites gives these waffles a moist and very tender texture, while the cornmeal adds a subtle crunch to each bite. I haven't bought waffle mix in years, since homemade taste a whole lot better and take about 10 minutes more to make, from scratch.
4ouncesunsalted butter1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted, plus more for serving
Pure maple syrupfor serving
Crisp bacon stripsfor serving (optional)
Instructions
Heat an 8-inch square waffle iron and preheat the oven to 200°F. Set a baking sheet with a rack on top (this keeps the waffles warm and not soggy, as air can circulate better).
In a large bowl, whisk the ricotta with the milk, egg yolks, vanilla (if using) and sugar.
In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with the cornmeal, baking powder and salt. Whisk the dry ingredients into the ricotta mixture until combined. Stir in the melted butter.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until firm peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the waffle batter until no streaks remain.
Coat the waffle iron with vegetable-oil spray and spoon about 1 1/2 cups of the batter onto the waffle iron. Close and cook until the waffles are golden and crisp.
Serve the waffles immediately or transfer them to a rack in the oven to keep warm.
Serve the cornmeal waffles with melted butter, maple syrup and crispy bacon.