**Jefferson's Spoon Bread: A Southern Classic with a Presidential Twist**
In the realm of Southern cuisine, Jefferson's spoon bread stands as a culinary gem, a delectable cornbread-like dish that has captivated taste buds for generations. This unique creation, attributed to Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, is a delightful blend of cornmeal, milk, eggs, and butter, baked to golden perfection. Its distinctive name originates from the traditional method of serving, using a spoon to scoop out generous portions of the fluffy, spoonable bread. Jefferson's spoon bread is often accompanied by savory dishes like stews, soups, or roasted meats, serving as a hearty and flavorful accompaniment. This article delves into the history, variations, and two enticing recipes for Jefferson's spoon bread, offering home cooks a chance to savor this Southern classic in their own kitchens. Whether you prefer a traditional rendition or a modern twist with added ingredients like cheese or vegetables, these recipes provide a culinary journey through time, honoring the legacy of President Jefferson's beloved dish.
KENTUCKY SPOON BREAD
This is a lovely side dish to accompany most any dinner, but especially prime rib.
Provided by thedailygourmet
Categories Side Dish Casseroles Corn Casserole Recipes
Time 1h15m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Combine milk and cream in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat, whisking occasionally. While whisking, pour in cornmeal in a steady stream. Whisk vigorously to incorporate the cornmeal, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Transfer cornmeal mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add eggs, 2 tablespoons butter, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix on medium speed until uniform and aerated, about 15 minutes. Mix in the corn by hand.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Lightly butter a round 1 1/2-quart casserole dish with remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Pour batter into the casserole dish.
- Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and puffy and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 227.6 calories, Carbohydrate 27.8 g, Cholesterol 86.4 mg, Fat 10.4 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 7.4 g, SaturatedFat 5.6 g, Sodium 477.5 mg, Sugar 5.6 g
TRADITIONAL APPALACHIAN SPOON BREAD
Creamy and comforting side dish that goes well with a hearty beef stew or winter-time soup. My grandfather made this and shared his recipe with me. Dish out with a spoon and serve with plenty of real butter. Enjoy!
Provided by GagesMom2
Categories Bread Quick Bread Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an oven-proof cast iron Dutch oven or a deep baking dish.
- Heat milk and cornmeal in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently, until thick and creamy, about 5 minutes. Remove cornmeal mixture from heat and stir in butter and 1 teaspoon salt until well combined.
- Beat egg yolks, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar together in a bowl until smooth; stir into cornmeal mixture.
- Beat egg whites, 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar, and 1 pinch salt together in a separate bowl using an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the egg whites will form soft mounds rather than a sharp peak. Gently fold egg white mixture into cornmeal mixture until well mixed and fluffy; pour into prepared Dutch oven.
- Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown with a moist center, about 30 minutes. Allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 220 calories, Carbohydrate 23.4 g, Cholesterol 143.1 mg, Fat 10.1 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 9.6 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 514.6 mg, Sugar 7.7 g
OLD FASHIONED SPOON BREAD
As a child growing up with a southern born mixed heritage grandmother we had the pleasure of experiencing all of her wonderful soulful recipes. From Sweet Potatoe Biscuits to Sweet Potato Pone. To Corn pudding to turnip greens with turnips. Soooo many love filled dishes all passed down through the generations. One of my...
Provided by Kadijah James
Categories Savory Breads
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° and gather your ingredients.
- 2. Grease an 8-inch baking dish or 1 1/2-quart casserole or a small cast iron pan.
- 3. Mix cornmeal and salt in a mixing bowl ( add the baking powder until step 7).
- 4. Gradually add the boiling water while whisking out the lumps. Add the melted butter and stir to blended. Let the mixture rest for about 5 minutes.
- 5. Whisk the milk into the cornmeal mix
- 6. In a small bowl, beat the eggs thoroughly.
- 7. Whisk the beaten eggs into the cornmeal mixture along with baking powder. Blend well with a whisk or electric mixer. (Preferably a whisk as you dont want to over work the batter)
- 8. Turn the batter into the prepared baking dish.
- 9. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until set and lightly browned.
- 10. Once out of the oven top with butter and honey while hot. Serve hot with lots of butter. Enjoy!!!!
OLDE TAVERN SPOON BREAD
Good ol' Southern style spoon bread made with a cornmeal mush which adds extra moistness.
Provided by Stephanie Holt
Categories Bread Quick Bread Recipes
Time 1h50m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 6
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 118.7 calories, Carbohydrate 14.5 g, Cholesterol 56.5 mg, Fat 4.6 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 4.6 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, Sodium 322 mg, Sugar 3.2 g
SPOONBREAD
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter 2 quart baking dish. In a 3 quart saucepan heat milk, salt, sugar & butter to boiling point. Slowly add cornmeal and stir with a wooden spoon for a few minutes or until mixture is thick. Remove from heat and transfer to a mixing bowl. Beat in baking powder and baking soda, Beat in buttermilk, scallions and egg yolks, one at a time.
- Cool to room temperature. Whip egg whites until stiff and fold in. Bake 40 minutes or until top is puffy. Spoon out onto plates alongside salad. Serve with soup of choice.
THOMAS JEFFERSON SPOON BREAD
Make and share this Thomas Jefferson Spoon Bread recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Lori 13
Categories Grains
Time 1h20m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Mix together the cornmeal, salt and sugar.
- Heat milk in a double boiler.
- Whisk in mix to blend.
- Cook slowly, whisking very often, until thickened.
- Heat oven 400.
- Remove pot from heat. Whisk in eggs quickly.
- Pour into a sprayed baking dish.
- Bake 30 minutes.
- YUM!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 497, Fat 22.6, SaturatedFat 12.5, Cholesterol 178.8, Sodium 748.8, Carbohydrate 52.1, Fiber 2.2, Sugar 3.5, Protein 22.8
JEFFERSON'S SPOON BREAD
From the cookbook "Specialties of the House". A cookbook from the Kenmore Museum (the nation's oldest museum house) in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Provided by Miss Annie
Categories Breads
Time 1h50m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Place the milk in a double boiler and scald.
- Stir in the dry ingredients and continue to stir until thickened.
- Let cool 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Beat eggs and stir into the cornmeal mixture with the butter.
- Place in a baking dish and bake for 30 minutes, or until brown.
SPOON BREAD
This recipe has been in my family for over 100 years. My great-grandmother first made it in her one-room log cabin over an open fire! This recipe is still a family favorite as a side dish with pork and fresh vegetables. Add 1/2 cup of sugar or honey to turn it into a wonderful, old-fashioned dessert.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 1h20m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Scald milk (do not boil); stir in the butter, cornmeal and salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until cornmeal comes away from sides of pan and thickens. Set aside to cool until lukewarm. , Add beaten egg yolks; mix thoroughly. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites; mix gently but thoroughly. Pour into greased 2-qt. baking dish. Bake at 375° for 1 hour or until top is golden brown. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts :
SPOONBREAD
Popular in Virginia, the Carolinas and elsewhere in North America, spoonbread has a long history thought to date back to the Sewee tribe of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Somewhat closer to soufflé than cornbread, its tender texture comes from eggs and the creamed corn. It's slightly sweet from the kernels, a bit of sugar and vanilla extract, but gently tangy from sour cream, relying upon simple ingredients that come together into something great. This version uses fresh or frozen crawfish, but don't worry if crawfish isn't available to you: Spoonbread is still wonderful without it.
Provided by Millie Peartree
Categories dinner, casseroles, seafood, main course, side dish
Time 1h
Yield 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
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.
SPOONBREAD WITH CHEESE AND SCALLIONS
Spoonbread, a sort of cornmeal soufflé, is far more popular in places like Virginia and the Carolinas than in Tennessee and Mississippi, where I did my formative eating. I love it, but I never understood why nobody ever made it with cheese (cheese grits being one of the world's great creations), so I did. Purists will likely curse me, but I have to say that cheese spoonbread is possibly the most inspired idea I've ever had. It's great with sausage, but it would also pair well with country ham or any kind of stew or daube.
Provided by Julia Reed
Categories dinner, casseroles, side dish
Time 1h
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 2-quart soufflé dish or casserole and sprinkle with enough Parmesan (about 1 tablespoon) to lightly coat the dish. Set aside.
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet, add the scallions and cook until just wilted. Set aside.
- In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, heat the milk, half-and-half and salt until bubbles form around the edges. Slowly sprinkle in the cornmeal, stirring constantly. Continue to stir and cook over low heat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Remove pot from the heat and add the remaining butter and Parmesan, the scallions and the Cheddar cheese. Stir vigorously until well incorporated.
- Lightly beat the egg yolks and add them, stirring vigorously. Beat egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Beat a large spoonful of whites into the cornmeal mixture; then gently fold in the rest of the whites. Pour into the prepared dish and smooth the top. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until puffy and golden brown on top. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 283, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 22 grams, Fat 16 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 12 grams, SaturatedFat 9 grams, Sodium 364 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. Fresh cornmeal and buttermilk will give your spoon bread a delicious, creamy texture.
- Make sure to preheat your oven before baking the spoon bread. This will help it to rise evenly and prevent it from becoming dense.
- Bake the spoon bread until it is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Overbaking will make it dry and crumbly.
- Serve the spoon bread hot with butter, honey, or your favorite toppings. It can also be served cold as a side dish or snack.
Conclusion:
Jefferson's spoon bread is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. Whether you like it sweet or savory, creamy or crumbly, there is a spoon bread recipe out there for you. So next time you are looking for a comforting and delicious meal, give Jefferson's spoon bread a try. You won't be disappointed!
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