Soul food is the Africa American cuisine that was born in the Southern part of the United States. The terminology was first used in the early 1960s during the rise of “black pride.” It was a celebration of cooks whose ingenuity and skill allowed them to create a distinctive cuisine despite limited means.
The typical soul food includes some deep-fried chicken, greens, and some fresh-baked cornbread. It may often contain African origin vegetables like okra, sweet potatoes, green beans, and ham mixed in. Many southern dishes are comfort foods that are sure to get you well fed. Read on to understand better the history of soul food, food types, seasonings, and more.
History of Soul Food
Although the name soul food was used much later in the ’60s, soul food traces its origins further back than that. The food originated in the homes of emancipated African American slaves in the rural south as they looked to build on the coarse diet of their former owners. Over time, during the great migration, these foods and food preparation techniques were carried north and became identified with African American culture. Its popularity rose within the last few decades and became a symbolism of identity, expression, and just delicious home cooking within the black community.
Soul food, like soul music, is a product of inspiration made for comfort. The African influence (especially with okra) on soul foods speaks through to its origins.
Is Soul Food Southern?
While all soul food can be categorized as southern, not all southern dishes can be considered soul food. Even though soul food is southern, there are slight differences. Some of the ingredients used in southern food dishes are also used in soul food. Familiar soul food flavors are typically intense and similar to what is obtainable with Cajun foods from the US’s south part. Many dishes are spicier, saltier, and compared to other Southern food dishes, and some are even sweeter.
Most soul foods are based on animal parts that are usually found in southern cuisine. These parts include oxtails, chicken feet, pigs’ feet, turkey necks, and ham hocks.
Different types of Soul Food
There are three types of traditional cuisine with soul foods. The first one is considered down-home healthy, mostly items marinated in vegetable oils or butter or a lard mixture like bacon grease.
The second type is the extravagant and upscale soul food, which features meats, vegetables, and duck fat. Thus one is more expensive.
Then there are the vegan-based dish varieties of soul food containing plenty of vegetables like okra, collard greens, turnip greens, and so on.
Examples of Soul food Dinner Dishes:
- Fried chicken or pork
- Fried fish, or pork with pig intestines
- Candied yams, black-eyed peas, macaroni and cheese, and stewed greens (these include collard greens, cabbage, kale, turnip, and mustard greens)
- Cornbread slices or muffin
- Red juice or punch
Soul Food Spices Mostly Used in Cooking:
Soul foods contain many spices. This is one of the ingredients that differentiate southern cooking and real authentic soul foods. Any traditional soul food without the usual spices is deemed unauthentic and not regarded as soul food.
The entrails and meats are flavored with various cayenne pepper, curry powders, cumin, black pepper, and sage. Here’s a list of the essential spices that are used in preparing the best soul foods. These are often found in the kitchen of any southerner.
- Cayenne pepper
- Black pepper
- Celery seed
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Nutmeg
- Coriander
- Curry powder
- Cinnamon
- Dry Mustard
Popular Soul Food Meats on Soul Food Menu
Meats are prominent with soul food cuisines, and while this may look odd or strange to a first-timer, they are the life in soul foods. Some of the most popular meet in soul food dishes include:
- Fried Chicken
- Fried Fish
- Fatback (Fatty and cured salted pork)
- Ham Hocks
- Oxtails
- Offal (minced entrails)
- Pigs feet
- Pickled pigs
- Pork
- Pork ribs
- Turkey
Most soul food dinner or lunch dishes include greens in them. They are usually spiced using Cajun seasoning. But you will find greens such as okra, collard greens, black-eyed peas, mustard greens, turnip greens, sweet potatoes, and more.
Best Hot Soul Foods To order
Because of the richness of soul food, this southern cuisine is frequently referred to as comfort food. Authentic soul food kitchens can still be found deep down south and in major cities there. You will enjoy a meal variety with ingredients and content, unlike many American dishes and features lots of fried foods, greens, animal organs, mac and cheese baked to perfection, and more.
Main Dishes – Best Soul Foods
- Fried Chicken: Nicknamed the gospel bird, an essential part of soul food is chicken, deep-fried, or panned in batter and includes lots of spices and seasonings.
- Fried Fish: The most popular fish for soul food dishes is Catfish, battered up in egg and deep-fried.
- Macaroni and Cheese: This includes Southern mac and cheese, well-baked cheddar cheese made with eggs, milk, sour cream, and butter.
- Greens: Turnip greens, collard greens, kale, and mustard greens.
- Chitins: This is also referred to as chitterlings, which are pig intestines, an essential part of soul food but typically eaten after a fall hog-killing.
- Black-eyed Peas: This is made on the stove in a smoky flavored ham broth.
- Offal: These include entrails from pig or liver mashed up and can be different meats altogether.
Getting Soul food in the United States
People still enjoy soul foods as always, but sadly they are dying away. The sweet, spicy, southern foods are found in most Southern towns, but finding an authentic soul food kitchen in larger cities may be challenging. You can find soul food in Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, and other bordering states and regions, even in Philadelphia.