Cornbread and Buttermilk
Cornbread and buttermilk is a classic Southern/Appalachian bowl: crumbled cornbread topped with cold buttermilk and eaten with a spoon. It’s humble, filling, and tied to farm kitchens and mill-town suppers.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
We grew up on 'cornbread and buttermilk' - and salt is required. If you're out of buttermilk, regular milk will do in a pinch. Pronunciation
[CORN-bred and BUT-ter-milk]
/ˈkɔɹnˌbɹɛd ən ˈbʌtɚˌmɪlk/
/ˈkɔɹnˌbɹɛd ən ˈbʌtɚˌmɪlk/
Meaning & Usage
- Traditional Bowl-Supper (food, noun)
Mamaw:
You want yours sweet or plain?
You want yours sweet or plain?
Papaw:
Plain. Cornbread an’ buttermilk hits the spot after hayin’.
Plain. Cornbread an’ buttermilk hits the spot after hayin’.- Quick Meal / Snack
Estel:
I’m fixin’ a bowl of cornbread an’ buttermilk.
I’m fixin’ a bowl of cornbread an’ buttermilk.
Elmer:
Save me a bite - I ain’t had that since last summer.
Save me a bite - I ain’t had that since last summer.★ Best with day-old skillet cornbread (not sweet cake-style). Crumble coarse; drown in cold buttermilk; add a pinch of salt if you like. ★
Origin and Etymology
Draws on Native American cornmeal traditions and Old-World buttermilk use. The combo became a rural Southern staple - cheap, cool, and sturdy after fieldwork.
Usage Notes
Also called a "buttermilk-and-cornbread bowl." Variations swap sweet milk, add a drizzle of sorghum, or crumble cracklin’ cornbread for extra depth.