Hot Water Cornbread – Warm, crispy edges and soft-centered fried cornmeal patties – a wonderful side to any greens, beans, soups and even fried dishes. So easy to make with less ingredients!
Hot Water Cornbread is a Southern staple. But even back in Cameroon and most parts of Africa, cornmeal is an integral part to our diet. I already lost count on how many “corny treats” are there, and each of them is dear to my heart. As for the name, it points back to its cooking method in which cornmeal is softened by hot water before forming them into patties and frying on the skillet.
These corn treats can be in ball forms like these Hush Puppies HERE or a breakfast favorite like this Southern Hoe Cakes.
But unlike those two cornmeal recipes above, this Hot Water Cornbread doesn’t contain any leavening agent. Yes, you heard that right! It usually calls for 3 basic ingredients (how cool is that? 😉 ), however, if you’re like me who wants doesn’t settle for bland recipes, I’d say throw in sugar or salt to add flavor.
The batter’s consistency will be determined on how you want your cornbread’s texture to be. If you want soft and dense water corn bread, then your batter should be thick, however, if you love that crunch, you can make your batter thin with the consistency of oatmeal.
In short, it all boils down to your cornmeal and water ratio. Don’t worry though, if you’re not sure yet, you can start with a thicker batter and fry two patties and see if it hits the spot. If not, add more water to the mixture to have a thin consistency.
This Water Corn bread (okay technically, it’s not a bread..there I said it) can be served with your favorite bean dishes, collard greens or this popular fried catfish. I swear, if you can’t get enough of cornmeal, you can add this to your regular snack time. You’ll surely be jumping for joy.
Now buckle up and grab all the cornmeal you’ll have for this year.
Enjoy eating!
Watch How to Make It
Tips and Notes:
- If you want soft and dense batter, you can have a thick batter, but if you love that crunch, you can make your batter thin with the consistency of oatmeal.
- To lighten the texture of your cornbread, replace 2 tablespoons of cornmeal with 2 tablespoons of flour.
- You can also snack on these with maple or cane syrup as toppings.
Southern Water Cornbread - warm, crispy edges and soft center fried cornmeal patties that serves as snacks and a wonderful side to any greens, beans, soups and even fried dishes. So easy to make with less ingredients!
- 2 cups Cornmeal (Yellow or White)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 cup grated onion or chopped
- 1-2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 cup ( or more ) Boiling Water
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In a large bowl, mix cornmeal, salt, sugar, grated onion, melted butter. Add boiling water. Through mix until cornbread mixture is smooth.
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Heat oil in a cast iron or frying pan over medium high heat.
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If using your hands, wet them then scoop about 3 tablespoons each of the batter into the palm of your hand. If mixture crumbles, add more water. Flatten then gently drop into batter. Or use a spoon to drop into oil.
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Fry each cornbread until brown and crisp; turn with a spatula, and then brown the other side about 3-5 minutes.
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Remove, drain on paper towels and serve immediately with greens, pinto beans or for breakfast.
In a large bowl, mix cornmeal, salt, sugar, grated onion, melted butter.
Add boiling water.
Thoroughly mix until cornbread mixture is smooth.
Heat oil in a cast iron or frying pan over medium high heat. If using your hands, wet them then scoop about 3 tablespoons each of the batter into the palm of your hand. If mixture crumbles, add more water. Flatten then gently drop into batter. Or use a spoon to drop into oil.
Fry each cornbread until brown and crisp; turn with a spatula, and then brown the other side about 3-5 minutes. Remove, drain on paper towel and serve immediately with greens, pinto beans or for breakfast.
Wow this is so easy to make and so yummy. I’m surprised I’ve never heard of these! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Awesome! I am glad you discovered something new and that it was a hit for you! Please spread the word haha 🙂
Thank you for this recipe and video. I somehow stumbled onto this today in my quest on how to make cornbread. I’m an Australian and this was not something I grew up with. My husband is a Minnesotan and his mum did a baked cornbread, today I made a stove top version. But I love the idea of these so I’m going to give it a try. I’m a spicy person so I might play around with some additions, if my first attempt works ok.
Please do try it out. And we would love to hear how it works out for you. Thanks .
pls what can u eat it with?and can i use our nigerian corn starch to prepare it?
You can eat it with beans. Corn meal would work out just fine.
Yes you can use Jiffy Mix, and sorry South Carolina lady it is not an abomination, it helps make a quick late evening suppee. I had to play with the amount of water but 1/3 cup works. Letting it sit allows it to firm up. When I have time I make a white cornmeal version that isn’t as sweet. I made an extra batch let then get stale and made cornbread dressing. That turned out well.
do you use egg also.
I have no flour either
I live in Southern California, but am southern by birth, Louisiana. This brings back so many sweet memories of my childhood, thank you. My mother raised us eating cornbread, not johnny cake, cornmeal mush, not polenta, and my personal favorite corn bread and milk.
I honestly thought hot water fried corn bread was a cost effective recipe my mom had to use because we were poor! But I loved it anyway, it was always a treat to us! Thank you, thank you…Thank You!
My Pleasure Linda. Thanks for taking time out to share your thoughts with us.
I liked my mother n laws hot water corn bread. I had never heard of such until I started dating my husband back in the mid 80s. Mother n law never used recipes for things she cooked frequently. She just put stuff in a bowl and mixed it up, so I never perfected hot water cornbread and haven’t tried to make it in years, because mine never tasted good. Hubby requested some and with the internet I found this recipe. I added more onion to mine and 2 cups hot water. Wow, it was delish! Actually I think it was better, but maybe because instead of oil this recipe called for butter and I used 2 Tbs real butter and I did mince the onion instead of diced. If your looking for a hot water corn bread recipe look no further.
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback, Renee. And I’m so happy this turned out well for you. 🙂
I am slightly offended (not really) that this is labeled African american when even in the description you put Native American. I have been cooking his since I was little because my father would make it. Our Cherokee, Apache, and Southern roots all love it! Even my husbands strict southern roots loves this! Thanks for the recipe! I couldn’t remember the one ingredient I was missing.
I am always saddened when I hear or read comments about those who were born and reared north of the “mason-dixon line” are clueless related to African American cuisine. There were years of migration that moved us in different directions. Most of it was not of our choosing. But the recipes followed us and were passed down. I can not trace my roots to the deep south as there are not always available documentation to support that history. What I can tell you is having lived in “the North” for over sixty years prior to moving to the south and tasting what was called “real southern cooking” was a true disappointment. I was reared on “soul food”. What was identified as “southern cooking” was horrible. Perhaps not all of the south has crap but it is wide spread in Tennessee. I gave up trying to find a decent meal. My attempt to limit my time in the kitchen was an epic failure. Yours is close to what I remember.
Northeast Tennessee has authentic Soulfood. Soul food varies by region. Soul food can differ by region, family, faith denomination, and ethnic background. These factors are what make African-American soul food so special and unlike any other cuisine in the world. America is more multi-cultural than any other country – we enjoy African-American soul food, European soul food, Asian soul food, Native soul food, Polynesian soul food, and many others. Soul food describes food and recipes that originated in the roots of the people that came here, and became adapted to the locations families settled down in. Local cultural attributes caused these soul food recipes and cooking methods to amalgamate into today’s regional favorites.
Come to Louisiana. You won’t be disappointed. I grew up on purple hull peas, turnip greens and hot water cornbread.
Thanks!
P.S. #Proofread
Thanks My Friend. Recipe updated!
These are so gpod! I made these to go with my home canned pinto beans. My son was like what is that, and I was like mines, not yours, lol! Another keeper recipe.
Thanks for this recipe! I’d never heard of hot water corn bread, but I’m going to surprise my (very southern) girlfriend with it tomorrow:) I really appreciate the care you took in fool-proofing this recipe with photos and simple tips for changing the texture.
Awww, that’s sweet of you, E.R. Hope she likes it. Happy cooking and thank you for stopping by!
I grew up in the Deep Southern U.S. There were catfish restaurants outside the city limits of each southern town. The main selling item was southern fried catfish (just like your recipe), hush puppies which are a couple ingredients more than your “Hot Water Cornbread”. There was steak & chicken on the menu for those who didn’t know what they were missing w/ catfish. My husband wants me to make “Hot Water Cornbread” with beans, greens or cabbage. It’s not easy where we live now to get the true southern ingredients but found a World Seafood Market 100 miles away where we shop & eat after Dr’s appts. I was amazed at how immaculately clean the Market was; nothing fresh or frozen smelled like fish & the market didn’t smell like previously frozen fish, thawed laying on ice like butcher blocks in grocery stores. YUK! We had farm raised southern catfish filets & hushpuppies for dinner. Each filet was flash frozen & vacuum sealed individually. I paid about $3 per filet. Cheap! Would I try making “Hot Water Cornbread” with Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix? Not on your life. Native northerners above the Mason Dixon Line don’t know cornbread or hushpuppies are not supposed to taste like cake. Your recipe reminded me of my childhood & college yrs. Then I moved away to the
N. Rocky Mts & Rainbow Trout grilled or cooked in a Rottisserie with lemon, butter & onion is better than salmon. But neither one are Southern Fried Catfish, hushpuppies or Hot Water Cornbread (we called those Corn Fritters). When the craving hits…..well, you know!
5 stars+ for your recipes!
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, Patty! I appreciate it. Nothing beats a recipe that brings more than just good flavor but also happy memories. 🙂 You’re always welcome here in my humble little kitchen online. Happy weekend!
I love reading your story. My friend from Texas now lives up north after we retired because the deceased parents property was
up there. She took the Southern style cooking – hot water corn bread and other Southern dishes along with her. Lord, your story is so interesting!!
Great! So happy to hear this. Thanks for stopping by!
Good one can you use jiffy corn meal for this thanks.And please can you do some YouTube videos.Have you thought of that
Hi Mimi, I haven’t tried using jiffy mix on this recipe. But I guess you can, although there’d be a slight difference in texture. Please let me know how it goes.
I love reading your story. My friend from Texas now lives up north after we retired because the deceased parents property was
up there. She took the Southern style cooking – hot water corn bread and other Southern dishes along with her. Lord, your story is so interesting!!
Thank you for sharing! I love Southern style cooking, too. =)
Nope it will break up…but you can add a little to make the consistency better.
Oh please please please don’t use Jiffy freaking corn mix! It’s an abomination, and no easier than homemade!
Thank you
South Carolina Lowcountry Girl
This looks very delicious! Although Nigerian am going to try it! Thanks a lot for this recipe!
This is another twist to our Nigerian cornmeal. Will definitely try it for my daughter…
wow,,,great…I think this is a simple dish and easily prepare…This is really a time saving one..so I can make it for my kids when they are coming back from their school.
I am a city girl with southern roots. I enjoy hot water cornbread and cook it as a side to any greens or beans. My Cameroonian husband loves it too.