Fried Cornbread Recipe: How to Make the Cornmeal Pancake

Fried cornbread is a cornmeal pancake. Other names for the dish include hoe cakes (or hoecakes) in the Southern United States and johnnycakes on the East Coast of the US. Fried cornbread is different from a regular cornbread recipe, in that it is denser and cooks on a griddle or in a cast-iron skillet. The cornbread becomes golden brown and crispy, unlike regular cornbread, which bakes in the oven until it’s soft and tender.

Making fried cornbread uses a batter similar to that of regular cornbread. Follow these tips for a golden-brown and tender dish:

1. 1. Fry the cornbread in bacon grease. Save the excess grease from cooking bacon in a glass jar and use it instead of a neutral oil for frying the cornbread. Bacon grease adds salt and a pork flavor.
2. 2. Use buttermilk or a similar alternative. While it’s traditional to use buttermilk in most fried cornbread recipes, you can also substitute regular milk that you modify. To do this, measure out a cup of milk and add one tablespoon of an acid, such as white distilled vinegar or lemon juice. Let that sit for about ten minutes, then use the mixture in place of buttermilk. Another alternative is to mix equal parts Greek yogurt and milk to equal the amount of buttermilk the recipe requires.
3. 3. Use self-rising flour. Instead of adding baking powder to flour for a cornbread batter, use self-rising flour, which already contains baking powder. Use self-rising flour as a one-for-one substitute for all-purpose flour (and leave out the baking powder). Alternatively, you can use a store-bought cornbread mix. Keep in mind that some store-bought cornbread mixes have extra ingredients, such as preservatives and anti-caking agents.

Fried cornbread is a dish of light, fluffy, and salty cornmeal pancakes. These pair well with Southern cooking and other rich and savory dishes. Here are ideas for what to serve with fried cornbread:

1. 1. Eggs and bacon: Serve fried cornbread alongside eggs and bacon at breakfast. Top the corn cakes with butter and maple syrup, just like you would regular pancakes. Save the bacon grease to use in a future recipe.
2. 2. Pork chops: Serve fried cornbread in place of hush puppies with grilled or smoked pork chops. Add side dishes like collard greens and black-eyed peas—classics in the US South.
3. 3. Southern fried chicken: Salty and juicy fried chicken pairs well with sweet, breaded foods, such as waffles, biscuits, and fried cornbread. The crunch of the fried chicken and the crispiness of the fried cornbread complement each other.
4. 4. Stews: Instead of making biscuits, garlic bread, or traditional cornbread to serve with soups and stews, make fried cornbread. Add various ingredients, like cheddar cheese or jalapeños, to complement the flavor of the stew.