MF DOOM : Hoe Cakes

“Average emcees is like a TV blooper. MF Doom, he’s like D.B. Cooper.”

Inspired by MF DOOM “Hoe Cakes” from MM..FOOD
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This is part of the Cooking The Album project for MF DOOM’s MM..FOOD.

I’m going to skip connecting this recipe to the inspiration track. Suffice it to say this is one of the low points on the album and completely unnecessary. DOOM is smarter than to run a ho rap even if some of the rhymes are well played. It’s just needless pandering and beneath DOOM’s usual stellar work. 

Many a Southern traditionalist would likely say the same thing about my hoecake recipe. I know I am pandering to Yankee tastes making a “pancake” version. Hoecakes are traditionally nothing more than cornmeal, salt, and water fried in bacon fat. They get their name because they were originally fried on hoe blades over open fires. I’ve made those (not with a hoe blade) and prefer getting a little Yankee up in here.

Oh and if you want to avoid the whole “hoe/ho” thing (and you should), these are also known by the less questionable name Johnnycakes.

HOE CAKES
Cornmeal pancakes with bacon & parmesan, fried in bacon fat and served with whatever toppings you want
Makes about 6-8 hoecakes

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 egg, beaten
6 tablespoons whole milk
1/4 cup  water
2 1/2 tablespoons melted butter
4-5 strips of bacon
1/4 cup grated parmesan
Bacon fat, butter, or oil for frying

Cook the bacon however you prefer & set aside. Save the bacon fat to fry the hoe cakes.

Mix cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Combine the eggs milk, water, and butter in a small bowl. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and pour in the milk-egg mixture. Thoroughly mix until the batter is smooth.

Dice the bacon & add it along with the parmesan to the batter. Mix to combine.

Heat a lightly oiled cast iron or frying pan over medium-high heat. Scoop about 2 tablespoons of the batter onto the pan. Fry each hoecake until brown and crisp; turn with a spatula, and then brown the other side. Serve immediately with syrup, butter, sour cream, jam, BBQ sauce, smoked meat, or whatever you want.