How to Cook Southern Hot Water Cornbread

Serve up a mouth-watering spread of some good ole Southern home-style cooking. Add Southern hot water cornbread, and your guests will be licking their fingers for more. Hot water cornbread is a different recipe than what is shown on a typical cornmeal box. You exclude the common wet ingredients such as milk and eggs and replace them with hot water. You also fry instead of baking. Hot water cornbread takes only minutes to make and can have your guests raving about this deliciously awesome crispy treat.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• Vegetable oil
• Large bowl
• Skillet
• Small pot
• Fork
• Plate
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Pour the water into the small pot and bring it to a boil. As the water is heating prepare the cornbread dough.

2. Measure the four, cornmeal, sugar and baking powder into the large bowl. Use a fork to mix the dry ingredients together.

3. Add a few teaspoons at a time of boiling water into the dry mix. Stir the mix periodically until the dough is stiff and not runny. Continue to add the boiling water until the batter has a consistency like grits.

4. Add one tsp. of oil to the batter. Kneed the dough for a few seconds until all the oil is completely mixed in.

5. Put oil on your hands and scoop up about 1/4 cup of batter in your hands. Roll it and then smash it flat. Lay the uncooked hot water cornbread patty onto a plate. Continue this process until all the mixture is in patty form.

6. Heat 1/2 cup of oil in a skillet on medium heat. Test how hot the oil is by dropping a few drops of water in the skillet. The water will sizzle when the oil is hot and ready.

7. Place the hot water cornbread patties into the hot grease in the skillet. Cook on each side for about two minutes or until it is light golden brown. Place your Southern hot water cornbread on paper towels to drain off the excess oil .

8. Serve your Southern hot water cornbread with black-eyed peas, collard or mustard greens, chili, cheese or any mouth-watering home-style Southern dish of your liking.

Tips & Warnings

• The batter does not have to be perfectly shaped.

• Put chopped onions and peppers in your Southern hot water cornbread to add a personal flare.

• Take extra safety precautions when working around hot water and oil to avoid getting burned.

• Never leave the oil unattended, to prevent a fire.

References

• The Joy of Cooking Decadently with Kimberly Edwards: Kimberely's Soouthern Hot Water Cornbread
• My Recipes: Hot-Water Cornbread