Simple Skillet Cornbread

Makes 12-14 pieces

Recipe from 100 Days of Real Food: Fast & Fabulous by Lisa Leake

Husband-Tested in Alice’s Kitchen

This “real food” cornbread recipe is super easy and will go great with soups and stews.  Make a couple of batches and crumble the cornbread.  Freeze the crumbles and use later to make cornbread dressings like this one or this one. 

2 cups finely ground cornmeal

1 teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

1½ cups buttermilk

2 large eggs, beaten

5 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Preheat a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet in a 450F oven for at least 10 minutes while you prepare the batter.  (You can add 1 Tablespoon bacon grease to the hot skillet as it preheats. This is totally optional, but I think it adds a nice southern flavor to the bread.)

In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.  Make a well in the center of the mixture and pour in the buttermilk, eggs, and melted butter.  Use a whisk to mix the wet and dry ingredients together until thoroughly combined.

Pour the cornbread batter into the hot skillet and bake until the cornbread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 15 to 18 minutes. 

Serve warm.  Freeze leftovers (or freeze all the cornbread) for later.