How Do I Love Thee, Cornbread? Let Me Count the Ways
Do you prefer your cornbread dense and crumbly, or light and fluffy as a cloud? Spicy, herb-flecked, cheesy or sweet? (Or maybe you love every kind of cornbread.) There are just as many opinions about what makes the perfect cornbread as there are ways to cook and eat it. Here, we share eight takes on the versatile dish that are sure to please even the most-passionate cornbread critics.
Photography by Kate Mathis
Herbed Cornbread
This flavorful cornbread is almost like a side dish with ample green herbs, lots of texture and sweetness from the corn pieces. One thing is for sure: This bread is great on its own, and it tastes fantastic with a little bit of fresh goat cheese spread on top.
This custard-based cornbread is a scoopable side dish you'll want to make throughout the year. The addition of garlic and thyme adds bright, herbaceous flavor. Serve it warm with a drizzle of honey for the perfect sweet and savory bite.
Though most recipes for cornbread call for buttermilk (it helps to tenderize the crumb of the bread, made with inherently grainy cornmeal), this recipe drives home the buttermilk's characteristic tang by adding white vinegar and heavy cream for more dairy richness. Brushing the cornbread hot out of the oven with more buttermilk helps keep the top moist and adds another dose of fresh, tangy flavor.
Many debate what makes a Southern cornbread. Generally it is all or mostly cornmeal — no flour — that makes cornbread crumbly and the perfect side dish to a meal with lots of sauce and flavor. The sugar content is hotly contested too: Many feel true Southern cornbread should not contain any, while others think a little bit of sugar brings out the corn flavor. We opted for just a little sugar, for that crumbly texture with the sweetness of fresh corn.
This is almost like a cornbread version of macaroni and cheese — and thus, it would be comforting and filling alongside tomato soup on a cold fall day.
For all those cornbread lovers who want a cross between cornbread and cake, this is it — a tender, sweet cornbread that is lovely and versatile. Enjoy it with a holiday meal or serve it with berries and whipped cream for a light dessert.
Cornbread never had so much flavor. The poblano chile pepper and ground coriander smooth out the heat of the cayenne and ground pepper. Serve as you would any cornbread side — but be prepared for some spice and heat!
