Description
Colonial Spoon Bread is a classic Southern dish with a creamy, custard-like texture made from fine-ground cornmeal, milk, and eggs. Lightened by whipped egg whites, it’s baked to golden perfection and served hot, making it a comforting and hearty side dish or breakfast option.
Ingredients
Scale
Liquid Ingredients
- 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 and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 2-quart baking dish or a cast iron skillet thoroughly to prevent sticking and ensure easy serving.
- Heat Milk and Salt: In a saucepan, bring the whole milk and salt to a gentle simmer over medium heat. This helps dissolve the salt and prepares the milk for the cornmeal.
- Add Cornmeal: Slowly whisk in the fine-ground yellow cornmeal to the simmering milk. Stir constantly for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture thickens noticeably and becomes smooth.
- Incorporate Butter: Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the unsalted butter until fully melted and integrated, enriching the mixture.
- Cool and Add Yolks: Allow the cornmeal mixture to cool slightly to avoid cooking the eggs prematurely. Then stir in the egg yolks and baking powder until fully blended.
- Beat Egg Whites: In a separate clean bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. This adds air and lightness to the batter.
- Fold Egg Whites: Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the cornmeal mixture in batches, being careful to preserve the airy texture.
- Bake: Pour the combined mixture into the prepared dish and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the spoon bread is golden on top and set in the center.
- Serve Hot: Remove from oven and serve hot, optionally topped with additional butter or your preferred toppings for extra flavor.
Notes
- Use fine-ground cornmeal for a smoother texture.
- Be gentle when folding in the egg whites to maintain lightness.
- Serve immediately for best texture, as spoon bread tends to firm up upon cooling.
- Optional toppings include honey, maple syrup, or savory butter herbs.
