Hoecakes With Fruit

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups cornmeal (fine or medium grind)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water
• more as needed
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup chopped fresh or frozen fruit (berries
• apples
• pears
• bananas
• mango or pineapple)

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 200 degrees.
2. Combine cornmeal and salt in a medium bowl.
3. Gradually pour in boiling water, whisking constantly.
4. Let mixture sit until cornmeal absorbs water, 5 to 10 minutes.
5. Stir in half the oil and a little more boiling water, a little at a time, until batter is pourable.
6. Fold in fruit.
7. Put a large skillet or griddle, preferably cast-iron or nonstick, over medium heat.
8. When a few drops of water dance on the surface, add a thin film of remaining oil.
9. Working in batches, spoon in batter, making any size cakes you like; they will be thinner than pancakes.
10. Cook until bubbles appear and burst on the tops, and the undersides are golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes; turn and cook on other side until golden, another 2 or 3 minutes.
11. Transfer to warm oven and continue with next batch, adding more oil to skillet if necessary.
12. Serve warm with syrup, jam or compote.