Buzz
Corn nuts are a personal favorite of mine. The crispy, nixtamalized kernels are not just a snack, but a full experience. However, these tasty morsels aren’t made from fresh corn on the cob. Instead, they’re crafted from hominy—a type of corn that’s been processed with an alkaline solution, making it more flavorful, nutritious, and easy to digest.
Making your own hominy is possible
You can create your own hominy at home, but it’s also available for purchase, either dried or canned. I grew up enjoying canned hominy as a side dish (with a generous amount of butter), but just like canned chickpeas, you can easily toss it in some oil and pop it into the air fryer to make a crispy, savory snack.
Hominy takes a bit longer to crisp compared to chickpeas, but the entire process will take under 30 minutes. Grab a can of hominy (for an even better result, opt for ‘giant white corn,’ a special Peruvian hominy perfect for making Corn Nuts), drain, rinse, and drain again. Allow the puffed kernels to dry a little in the air fryer as it preheats, then lightly coat with oil and air fry at 400℉ until they’re nice and crispy.
Now comes the fun part—seasoning. You can create ranch-flavored Corn Nuts with Hidden Valley seasoning, or use Kraft cheese powder for a cheesy twist. Old Bay makes for a great seasoning too, or you could go for a cajun version. Any seasoning mix from Trader Joe’s would be fantastic, or simply raid your spice cupboard and craft your own unique, flavorful blend.
The quantity of Corn Nuts you make will depend on the size of your air fryer. Just ensure you add enough hominy to form a single layer. If you have a basket-style air fryer, remove the tray to allow the hominy to sit directly on the basket for easier tossing.
How to make air fried Corn Nuts
Ingredients:
Canned hominy
Any kind of cooking fat you prefer—olive oil, vegetable oil, bacon grease, or whatever you like!
Your favorite seasonings—go wild with whatever you’re in the mood for!
Start by draining the hominy in a colander and give it a good rinse. Break apart any kernels that have clumped together, then let it sit in the colander to drain for a few minutes. Remove the tray from your air fryer basket, then spread the hominy evenly on the bottom to form a single layer. Close the air fryer, set the temperature to 400℉, and let it dry out so it can better absorb the oil.
Once the air fryer has heated up, drizzle oil over the hominy and toss it to ensure it's evenly coated. Close the air fryer and cook for 13-22 minutes, shaking 3-4 times, until the Corn Nuts make a hard, crunchy sound when shaken in the basket. Transfer them to paper towels, season generously—don’t hold back—and let them cool completely. (Corn Nuts continue to crisp as they cool. Hot nuts=chewy nuts.)
