I'm not southern, but the south has some of the best typified 'American food': BBQ, pies, and, yes, cornbread. Cornbread pairs perfectly with soups and stews on these still-chilly spring evenings. Not only is it comforting, but it is easy and the ingredients are accessible here in Turkey. Misir unu ('corn flour' in Turkish) can be found in nearly any dukan (small store).
Ingredients
6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted, plus butter for baking dish
1 cup cornmeal
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8-inch baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, buttermilk, and butter. *Note on buttermilk: my preference for a buttermilk substitute is a 1.5:1 yogurt to water ratio. Here: 1c yogurt + 1/2c water, thoroughly blended.
4. Pour the egg mixture into the cornmeal mixture and fold together until there are no dry spots (the batter will still be lumpy). Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.
5. Bake until the top is golden brown and tester inserted into the middle of the corn bread comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the cornbread from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Adapted from Paula Deen.
6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted, plus butter for baking dish
1 cup cornmeal
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8-inch baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, buttermilk, and butter. *Note on buttermilk: my preference for a buttermilk substitute is a 1.5:1 yogurt to water ratio. Here: 1c yogurt + 1/2c water, thoroughly blended.
4. Pour the egg mixture into the cornmeal mixture and fold together until there are no dry spots (the batter will still be lumpy). Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.
5. Bake until the top is golden brown and tester inserted into the middle of the corn bread comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the cornbread from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Adapted from Paula Deen.