Recipe video by Vic Chin
Down-home southern spoonbread is a kind of cornbread soufflé pudding-like dish that is served either on its own or as a side dish. It’s great piled into a bowl with butter melting all over it (and sometimes maple syrup), and equally delicious alongside roasted meats and poultry.
The most classic version is simply cornmeal mixed with milk, salt, egg yolks, and beaten egg whites. But loads of embellished variations exist, from adding corn kernels and cheese, to spicing it up with jalapenos, to folding in sautéed bell peppers and onions.
I took this version to the Thanksgiving table because I’m always looking for fun new ways to make sweet potatoes, and because, being from the south, I’m partial to classic southern cuisine. Made with a baked, orange-fleshed sweet potato and roasted poblano peppers (often mislabeled pasilla peppers at the grocery store), this slightly spicy, just-a-bit-sweet, earthy version makes a great companion to roast turkey. And if you are looking for a southern-inspired Thanksgiving, try it with braised collard greens and smoked turkey!
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Recipe: Sweet Potato Spoonbread with Roasted Poblanos
Makes about 8 servings