Traditional Appalachian Spoon Bread Recipes

KENTUCKY SPOON BREAD

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat 3 cups milk over medium heat until bubbles form around sides of pan. , Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the cornmeal, sugar, salt and remaining milk until smooth. Slowly whisk cornmeal mixture into hot milk. Cook and stir until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. , Remove from the heat. Sprinkle baking powder over the cornmeal mixture, then stir it in with the butter. In a small bowl, beat egg yolks; stir in a small amount of hot cornmeal mixture. Return all to the pan and mix well. , In a small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold a fourth of the egg whites into the cornmeal mixture. Fold in remaining egg whites until blended. , Transfer to a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Serve immediately.

SOUTHERN SPOON BREAD

Steps:

• Heat the milk on top of the stove until hot (do not boil).
• Add cornmeal and continue cooking for about 3 or 4 minutes until thickens. Remove from heat and mix in the butter and salt. Let cool for about 15 minutes.
• While the cornmeal is cooking separate the eggs into two different bowls. Beat egg yolks and egg whites separately. Make sure you beat whites until stiff.
• Once cornmeal is cooled, add egg yolks mixing with a spoon. Fold in whites and spoon mix. Pour into a 1 1/2 quart sprayed baking dish and bake in preheated 325 degree oven for 45 minutes or until brown on top and center is cooked.

BAKED SPOON BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Butter a casserole or souffle dish.
• Combine cream, butter, sugar, honey, and salt in a saucepan over low heat; cook and stir until butter melts, 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly stir cornmeal into cream mixture until thickened but not boiling, 3 to 5 minutes. Pour cornmeal mixture into a large bowl.
• Beat egg yolks, 1 at a time, into cornmeal mixture, ensuring egg yolk is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir baking powder and white pepper into cornmeal-egg yolk mixture.
• Beat egg whites in a glass or metal bowl until stiff peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the egg whites will form sharp peaks. Fold egg whites into cornmeal-egg yolk mixture; pour into the prepared dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden and puffed, about 35 minutes.

SPOONBREAD

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, baking powder and pepper.
• To another medium bowl, add the melted butter, corn kernels, creamed corn, sour cream, eggs and vanilla, and stir to combine.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until just combined, making sure not to overmix.
• Fold in crawfish and chives, if using. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly to the edges of the pan.
• Bake until set and lightly browned, about 40 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the middle to test. If it comes out clean, pull it out of the oven. If not, bake the spoonbread for another 5 to 10 minutes. Garnish with extra chives, if desired, and serve the spoonbread hot, with butter.

OLDE TAVERN SPOON BREAD

Steps:

• Measure the milk into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the cornmeal; cook and stir for several minutes, until cornmeal has absorbed all of the milk. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for about 1 hour. The mixture will be very stiff.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.
• Place the cornmeal mixture into a large bowl. Stir in the eggs, salt, baking powder and butter. Pour into the prepared casserole dish.
• Bake for 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges become lightly toasted. Serve hot directly from the dish by the spoonful.