Definition
Milk that has soured and curdled naturally, thick and lumpy in consistency, traditionally used in Southern and rural American cooking. Clabber can be eaten plain or used as an ingredient in baking, cornbread, and other dishes.
Example Usage
Grandma made her famous clabber cornbread using fresh clabber from the porch, where the milk had soured overnight.
Origin
From Dutch 'klabber' or German 'klabber,' possibly influenced by Old English or Scandinavian roots; the word arrived in American English through colonial settlers.
Fun Fact
Clabber was an essential ingredient in Depression-era and pioneer cooking as a way to use milk that was going bad, and it provided a tangy flavor that was valued in traditional Southern cuisine.
Related Terms
Translate This Term
See “Clabber” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
Try the Translator