Spoonbread is a wonderfully old-fashioned dish that should not be relegated to the tables of old-fashioned cooks.
It’s a perfect holiday side; a pudding-esque interpretation of grits; a softer version of cornbread; perfection alongside a roast of any kind. It’s got the slightest hint of sweetness thanks to the maple syrup (and, you know, the sweet potatoes), but remains firmly a savory side dish. You could add a bit of nutmeg, cinnamon and/or more cloves for more autumnal flavor, but I happen to like the way the sweet potatoes’ natural flavor carries this dish, so I leave it largely unseasoned, with just a touch of cayenne and cloves.
I can’t think of a lovelier Thanksgiving side dish. It’s a winner alongside a roasted turkey. But don’t stop there. This would turn a roast chicken into a feast, with just a green salad to round things off. Maybe even a rotisserie chicken. Who says you have to make the whole meal? You are busy, I know.
When the spoonbread first comes out of the oven, it will be lovely and puffed. It will settle fairly quickly, and that’s OK — it’s not mean to be served like a souffle, where time is of the essence. If you can get it to the table straight from the oven when it is at its most majestic, great, but really by the time you serve it up it will have settled into its delicious self anyway.
SWEET POTATO SPOONBREAD
Start to finish: 2 hours
Servings: 8
4 tablespoons butter, divided
3 sweet potatoes
2 1/2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch ground cloves
Pinch cayenne pepper
3/4 cup finely ground cornmeal
4 large eggs, separated
2 teaspoons baking powder
Nutrition information per serving: 229 calories; 98 calories from fat; 11 g fat (6 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 130 mg cholesterol; 464 mg sodium; 26 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 10 g sugar; 7 g protein.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 44 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.