African American Soul Food Recipes - Soul Food and Southern Cooking (2024)

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African American Soul Food Recipes - Soul Food and Southern Cooking (1)African American Soul Food Recipes

Hey there, food lovers! 🍗🍲 Welcome to our little corner of the internet where we celebrate the rich, flavorful world of African American Soul Food. So, let's get right to it—what's your go-to comfort dish? With such an incredible array of options, it's like choosing your favorite child, isn't it?

Ah, fried chicken—crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. It's a classic that never fails to hit the spot. Pair it with some collard greens cooked to perfection with a hint of smoky bacon, and you've got yourself a plate of heaven. And let's not forget the creamy, cheesy goodness of macaroni and cheese. It's the side dish that often steals the show!

But hey, maybe you're more of a chitterlings kind of person? No judgment here! Chitterlings, or "chitlins" as they're affectionately known, have a special place in soul food history. Served alongside fluffy white rice, crumbly cornbread, and black-eyed peas that are seasoned just right—this is a meal that speaks to the soul.

Or perhaps you're in the mood for smothered pork chops? Imagine tender pork chops, smothered in a rich, savory gravy, accompanied by cabbage that's cooked until it's just tender but still has a bit of crunch. Add some buttery lima beans, and you've got a meal that's fit for Sunday dinner. And let's not forget about pigs' feet, pinto beans, and that ever-so-comforting combo of rice and cornbread.

For those of you who love firing up the grill, we've got you covered too! There's nothing like the smoky aroma of barbecued chicken and ribs wafting through the air. Pair them with a side of baked beans that have been simmering in a blend of spices and a potato salad that's the perfect balance of creamy and tangy. Trust us, your taste buds will thank you.

Now, what's a soulful meal without the perfect drink to wash it all down? Whether you're sipping on some classic iced tea, enjoying freshly squeezed lemonade, or opting for a glass of orange juice, we've got the ideal beverage to complement your feast.

So, as you can see, when it comes to African American Soul Food, the options are endless and the flavors are out of this world. We can't wait for you to dig in and explore all the deliciousness we have to offer.

Bon appétit!

Below you will find photos and links to some of our most popular soul food recipes. Pick and choose your favorites until you have yourself a meal. With recipes in hand, you only need to do a little grocery shopping to get all the ingredients you need to cook a mouthwatering meal just like Grandmama. Enjoy!

African American Soul Food Recipes - Our Favorites

Fried Chicken

Creamed Corn

Salmon Croquette Patties

Black-eyed Peas

Fried Catfish

Homemade Biscuits

Chitterlings

Homemade Meatloaf

Collard Greens

Smothered Pork Chops

Lima Beans

Potato Salad

Banana Pudding

Sweet Potato Pie

Tomato Soup

Sweet Tea

Well after looking at our favorites list above you might be thinking, everything looks and sounds so good so what should I eat?

If you ask me, I like them all.

I don't have just one African American soul food recipe favorite. I like to say, I enjoy eating and feasting on them all. You don't have to try them all in one weekend. We recommend that you pass yourself. At least give yourself a month or two to work you way through the list of African American soul food recipes you see below.

There are some awesome African American cooks all around the country who love to get in the kitchen and whip up delicious meals. Are you one of these cooks? If so, look below for a fewAfrican American recipefavorites.

More Soul Food Recipe Favorites

Drink and Southern Beverage

  • Homemade Pink Lemonade
  • Sun Tea
  • Sweet Tea

==> More beverage recipes

Bread, Rolls, and Biscuits

  • Corn Bread
  • Homemade Biscuits
  • Fried Hush Puppies
  • Cinnamon Bread Rolls

==> More rolls and biscuits

Soups and Chili

  • Homemade Chicken and Dumplings
  • Vegetable Soup
  • Cabbage and Chicken Soup
  • Tomato Soup
  • Oxtail Soup

==> More savory homemade soups

Sides

  • Soul Food Macaroni and Cheese
  • Candied Yams
  • Southern Style Potato Salad
  • Herbed Cole Slaw

==> More side dishes

Desserts

  • Soul Food Sweet Potato Pie
  • Soul Food Peach Cobbler
  • Red Velvet Cake
  • Banana Pudding

==> More Soul Food Desserts

Meats

  • Fried Catfish
  • Honey Baked Ham
  • Southern Fried Pork Chops
  • Oven Baked Ribs
  • Chitterlings and Hog Maws
  • Salmon Croquette Patties
  • Liver and Onions
  • Neck Bones and Rice
  • Southern Fried Chicken

==> More meats

Vegetables

  • Collard Greens
  • StuffedBell Peppers
  • Boiled Cabbage
  • Buttered Mashed Potatoes
  • Creamed Corn

==> More vegetable recipes

Beans

  • Blackeyed Peas
  • Lima Beans
  • Pinto Beans
  • Red Beans and Rice

==> More Beans and Legumes

Traditional Soul Food Cooking Methods

There are several traditional techniques that make up soul food cooking methods, including:

  1. Slow-cooking: Many soul food dishes are cooked low and slow to allow the flavors to meld together and create a rich, savory taste.
  2. Frying: Deep-frying is a popular technique for preparing chicken, fish, and other meats in soul food cuisine. The crispy exterior contrasts with the juicy meat inside.
  3. Braising: This involves searing meat on high heat then simmering it in liquid for an extended period of time to produce tender and flavorful results.
  4. Seasoning: Soul food relies heavily on seasoning blends like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, and other spices to add depth of flavor.
  5. Using animal fats: Lard or bacon grease is often used in cooking instead of vegetable oil or butter as it adds richness to the dish.

These techniques have been passed down through generations and continue to be an integral part of soul food cooking today.

Well that should be enoughsoul food recipes to keep you busy in the kitchen for a little while. Be sure visit us again because we add new southern cooking recipes all the time.

This soul food recipes page is a celebration of the rich history and culture of African American cuisine. By sharing these favorite recipes, I am preserving important traditions and helping to keep them alive for future generations to enjoy.

Not only is soul food delicious, but it also has a deep connection to the African American experience in the United States. By exploring the unique flavors and techniques that make up this style of cooking, visitors to this page can gain a greater appreciation for the resilience and creativity of enslaved people who created these dishes out of necessity.

This page serves as an important resource for anyone looking to learn more about African American soul food or wanting to try their hand at making some classic dishes themselves. Whether it's fried chicken, collard greens or macaroni and cheese, our recipes offer something for everyone to savor and enjoy.

African American Soul Food Recipes - Soul Food and Southern Cooking (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between soul food and Southern cooking? ›

Adrian Miller, author of Soul Food: The Surprising History of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time, told Epicurious that Southern food is the foundation, but “soul food tends to be more intense in terms of flavors and seasoning.”

What is a traditional black Southern meal? ›

The staples of soul food cooking are beans, greens, cornmeal (used in cornbread, hush puppies, johnnycakes, and as a coating for fried fish), and pork.

What are the soul foods in black history? ›

Traditional African American comfort foods include homemade macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, red beans and rice, cornbread, seasoned greens, mashed potatoes and gravy, and ice-cold sweet tea. Although many of these foods are not considered the healthy choices, they excite our taste buds and warm our hearts.

Is Southern food black or white? ›

Southern food encompasses the cultural identity of three races: African, Native American, and White. Throughout the years from the beginning of the Americas to present day, Southern food has taken the influences from these races and evolved around them.

What is the style of Southern cooking? ›

Some popular cooking styles include Cajun, Creole, Floribbean, Gullah, Low Country, and Soul Food. What is traditional Southern food? Southern cuisines use elements from various cultures and global influences to create some of the most recognized foods associated with the region.

What are black African American foods? ›

Ingredients & foods
  • Black-eyed peas. These are actually beans even though they are called peas. ...
  • Chitlins. Chitterlings or chitlins are an African American culinary tradition. ...
  • Cracklin' Bread. Corn (maize) was ground into cornmeal for cornbread. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Okra/Gumbo. ...
  • Molasses. ...
  • Peanuts. ...
  • Rice.
Feb 27, 2024

What did slaves eat for dinner? ›

Faunal remains in excavations have confirmed that livestock such as pigs and cows were the principal components of slaves' meat diets. Other sites show remnants of wild species such as opossum, raccoon, snapping turtle, deer, squirrel, duck, and rabbit.

What is black African food? ›

The same African heritage staple-dishes are found here: soups and stews are very popular, as are rice and beans, and tubers like yuca and cassava. Okra, peanuts, squashes and plantains appear on many plates, as do fruits and fruit juices like mangoes and guava.

What are six popular Southern dishes? ›

10 iconic dishes to try in the Southern states
  • Shrimp po'boy, Louisiana.
  • Banana pudding, Tennessee.
  • Burgoo stew, Kentucky.
  • Fried green tomatoes, Alabama.
  • Fried catfish, Arkansas.
  • Biscuits, Tennessee.
  • Beignets, Louisiana.
Jul 18, 2023

What was the original soul food? ›

Enslaved people were typically given a peck of cornmeal and 3–4 pounds of pork per week, and those rations formed the basis of African American soul food.

What's a good Sunday soul food meal? ›

Smothered Chicken and Rice

Our smothered chicken recipe features fall-off-the-bone tender thighs simmered in rich brown gravy and spooned over a bed of fluffy white rice. Smothered chicken and rice is an irresistible southern soul food classic that's perfect for Sunday dinner!

What soul food did slaves eat? ›

Black-eyed peas, yams and sweet potatoes are a few of the foods that commonly appear in soul food dishes. Enslaved Africans also brought over okra and the kola nut, which Western Africans often chewed as a source of caffeine for energy.

What is the most famous black food? ›

Jambalaya is a Creole/Cajun rice dish traditionally filled with chicken, andouille sausage, shrimp, okra, celery onion, bell pepper, tomatoes, and garlic, all cooked in one pot in spices and oil to taste. This dish pulls from French, Spanish, Indigenous, and West African traditions in cooking.

What was one of the most common foods that slaves ate? ›

The standard rations enslaved people received were cornmeal and salted fish, which they harvested themselves. These monotonous rations provided protein and carbohydrates but lacked essential nutrients and were not always sufficient for the demands of daily work.

Why is soul food sometimes referred to as Southern food? ›

Soul food originated in the home cooking of the rural Southern United States or the "Deep South" and has its origins in slavery, using locally gathered or raised foods and other inexpensive ingredients.

What is the Southern soul food cooking Show? ›

The Great Soul Food Cook-Off.

Is cornbread considered soul food? ›

Cornbread is the item that pulls the whole soul food plate together. My favorite way to eat cornbread is to simply put a piece of cornbread in a cup and put black-eyed peas or red beans all over it. The juice from the beans, greens, or stew, we call that pot liquor.

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