Christmas

Polenta, Parmesan, and Prosciutto Spoon Breads,

by:
December  5, 2009
4.5
2 Ratings
Polenta, Parmesan, and Prosciutto Spoon Breads,
  • Serves 6
Author Notes

I know people who eat spoon bread with butter, as if it were plain cornbread, which it is not. It's rich a custardy breadlike food eaten the South. I first had it at the Hotel Roanoke, in Roanoke, Va., as a kid, and never forgot it. This, however, is spoonbread as I imagine Italians might make it if they lived in the South. I used Bob's but I'd rather have Anson Mills fine ground, because I like the finer texture of softer white cornmeal, which is what spoon bread is all about, but it still has the nice corny polenta flavor. I used Andrew Carmellini's Urban Italian as my guide in cooking the polenta (although he cooks his for TWO hours, and is compulsive about clean), then took it from there. You can cook these in a casserole, but don't do it in a large shallow one. The spoon bread should be puffed and browned at the edges but slumped in the middle. The pancetta and parmesan layer gets broiled at the end to ramp up the flavor. —EmilyNunn

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 cup polenta, preferably fine mill
  • 2 cups water (more if needed)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 sprigs thyme, intact
  • 11/2 cup buttermilk, divided
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 1/2 cups Parmigiano Reggiano, divided
  • 3 eggs, separated
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • Pinch cayenne
  • 1 1/2 ounces thinly sliced proscuitto (about 3 pieces), cut crosswise into 1/2 inch ribbons
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 400. In a large heavy saucepan, combine water, salt, pepper, thyme; bring to boil and let simmer for 2 minutes. Bring it back to a boil and slowly add the polenta, whisking constantly, until you have a smooth porridge. Stir in 1 cup of the buttermilk, and continue to cook over medium heat, for 2 more minutes. Remove the thyme; reduce heat to low and continue to cook, whisking occasionally, for 35 minutes. It should bubble like a tar pit. If it gets too thick, stir in hot water as necessary. You want it to remain very thick, however.
  2. Remove polenta from heat and let cool slightly. Stir in remaining half cup of buttermilk, butter, and 1 cup of the Parm. Beat the egg yolks; stir into mixture.
  3. Meanwhile, beat egg whites in a separate bowl, until soft peaks form. Fold a spoonful of the egg whites into the polenta mixture; sprinkle baking powder into polenta mixture and mix well by hand. Fold in remaining egg whites.
  4. Spoon mixture (about one cup) into prepared 1 1/3 cup ramekins or souffle dishes. Bake for 25 minutes. Once the spoon breads have puffed and browned, sprinkle with remaining cheese and the prosciutto shreds. Turn on broiler and let the cheese brown and the prosciutto crisp. Let cool slightly before serving.
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6 Reviews

EmilyNunn
EmilyNunn December 7, 2009
Thanks, Kelsey, Antonia, Miss Kitty, Winnie, and Lastnightsdinner!

I'm so happy to share a spoon bread recipe, albeit not a strictly authentic one.
 
Kelsey B.
Kelsey B. December 5, 2009
I love spoonbread! I have a recipe I make it with using lots of vegetables in the summer. This looks fantastic!
 
AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames December 5, 2009
I grew up in Virginia, where one of my first food memories as a young child was the lightest, tastiest spoonbread imaginable, made a family friend. They were from Macon, Georgia and Mrs. P's spoonbread was phenomenal. Spoonbread is one of the most underappreciated foods in America. Thank you for posting this. It's on my must-try list; I expect it will probably be on my table tomorrow evening !! P.S. The photo is gorgeous, too.
 
Miss K.
Miss K. December 5, 2009
I haven't had spoonbread since a trip through Berea, Kentucky, 20+ years ago. Can't wait to try this!
 
WinnieAb
WinnieAb December 5, 2009
Have never made spoonbread before...this looks delicious.
 
lastnightsdinner
lastnightsdinner December 5, 2009
Wow, these sound fabulous!