Source Attribution
Original Cookbook Name: Big Mama’s Old Black Pot
Published By: Stoke Gabriel Enterprises, Inc.
Year of Publication: 1987
Page Number: 21
Author / Contributor: Ethel Rayson Dixon (author)
Hoe cakes are a cornerstone of Southern and African American culinary history. Born out of necessity and ingenuity, these flat cornmeal cakes were originally cooked on the blade of a hoe over open fire by enslaved people and field workers—hence the name. This practical technique allowed laborers to prepare a hearty, portable bread with simple ingredients like cornmeal, bacon drippings, and milk. Hoe cakes remained a staple in Black Southern kitchens, celebrated for their comforting texture and smoky flavor. In Big Mama’s Old Black Pot, Ethel Rayson Dixon honors this culinary tradition rooted in survival, resilience, and communal meals across Louisiana and the broader Deep South.
Ingredients (As Written in the Book)
- 2 cups yellow cornmeal
- 1 cup flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 4 Tablespoons bacon drippings
- 1 cup milk
Instructions
Original Instructions:
Combine dry ingredients. Mix with one Tablespoon bacon drippings and milk (more milk may be used if needed). Stiff batter is needed to form small, flat cakes. Heat remaining bacon drippings in skillet and fry cakes on medium low heat until brown on both sides. Turn only once.
Serves 4–6
Editor’s Note (Optional Modern Guidance)
Editor’s Note: For stovetop preparation, preheat a cast iron skillet on medium-low. Fry each hoe cake 3–4 minutes per side or until golden brown and crisp on the edges.
Cultural or Historical Insight
The hoe cake’s evolution tells the story of African American perseverance under oppressive conditions. Using what was available—cornmeal from Native American foodways, and fat from cured meat—enslaved cooks created sustenance that has persisted across generations. Its name and cooking method are living evidence of how African American culinary culture made do with ingenuity and spirit, forming the backbone of many Southern tables.
Visual Reference
ALT Text: Scanned recipe page from 1987’s Big Mama’s Old Black Pot, showing hoe cake and couche couche recipes under the “breads” section, with illustration of a field worker.
