Description
Colonial Spoon Bread is a traditional Southern comfort dish featuring a creamy, light, and fluffy cornmeal-based casserole. Made with simple ingredients like milk, cornmeal, eggs, and butter, it combines the rich flavors of corn with a soufflé-like texture, baked until golden and tender. Perfect as a side dish for hearty meals or enjoyed on its own.
Ingredients
Scale
Liquids & Dairy
- 2 cups whole milk
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal (fine-ground)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Eggs
- 4 large eggs, separated
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 2-quart baking dish or a cast iron skillet to prevent sticking and prepare it for baking.
- Simmer Milk and Salt: In a medium saucepan, combine the whole milk and salt, then bring them to a gentle simmer over medium heat, ensuring the salt dissolves fully into the milk.
- Whisk in Cornmeal: Gradually whisk in the yellow cornmeal to the simmering milk mixture. Stir constantly for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture thickens, creating a smooth and creamy base.
- Add Butter: Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the unsalted butter until it melts completely into the cornmeal mixture, enriching the flavor and texture.
- Incorporate Egg Yolks and Baking Powder: Let the cornmeal mixture cool slightly to prevent cooking the eggs on contact. Then stir in the separated egg yolks and baking powder thoroughly.
- Beat Egg Whites: In a clean, separate bowl, whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form, meaning they hold firm shapes when the beaters are lifted.
- Fold Egg Whites: Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the cornmeal mixture in batches to maintain the airiness, ensuring the batter stays light and fluffy.
- Bake: Pour the combined mixture into the prepared baking dish or skillet. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the spoon bread is golden brown and set in the center.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve hot. Enjoy it as is or topped with additional butter or your favorite toppings for extra richness.
Notes
- Use fine-ground cornmeal for a smoother texture.
- Be careful not to overbeat the egg whites, or they may deflate when folding.
- Let the mixture cool slightly before adding egg yolks to avoid scrambling.
- This dish pairs well with savory mains like fried chicken or roasted meats.
- Spoon bread can be made ahead and reheated gently in the oven.
