African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (2024)

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African American Recipes @ soulfoodandsoutherncooking.com

Welcome, soul food lovers and culinary adventurers! If you're on the hunt for the most authentic and delectable African American recipes on the internet, you've just hit the jackpot. Trust me, you're in for a treat that goes beyond just satisfying your taste buds; we're talking about a culinary journey that takes you back to your roots.

Ah, the joys of good old-fashioned, heartwarming, soul-stirring cooking! You know what I'm talking about—the kind of food that not only fills your belly but also warms your soul. That's exactly what you'll find here. From the classics you grew up loving to some hidden gems you might not have tried yet, we've got it all.

So go ahead, kick off your shoes, grab a comfy seat, and make yourself at home. I've curated a treasure trove of the finest soul food recipes that celebrate the rich culinary heritage of the African American community. These are the dishes that have graced our family tables for generations, and now, I'm thrilled to share them with you.

Let's talk favorites, shall we? When it comes to African American cuisine, certain dishes are simply iconic. I'm talking about mouthwatering collard greens, heavenly banana pudding, decadent pecan pie, and oh-so-tender neck bones. And let's not forget the staples like black-eyed peas, crispy fried chicken, succulent pigs feet, hearty pinto beans, and the ever-controversial chitterlings. The list goes on-and-on with cornbread, sweet potato pie, oxtails, and cabbage. These are the foods that tell our stories, the recipes that have been passed down through the ages.

Growing up, these dishes were the stars of every family gathering, Sunday dinner, and holiday feast. Now, as an adult, I find immense joy in cooking up these samebeloved recipesfor my own family. My wife and son can't get enough, and I have a feeling your family will feel the same way.

Ready to dive in? Below, you'll find our top twenty most popular recipes, each one a testament to the richness and diversity of African American cuisine. And because we know how hard it can be to choose one, we've also included links to fifteen other authentic soul food dishes that are sure to tickle your fancy.

The only challenge now is deciding which masterpiece to whip up first. But don't worry—I'll leave that delightful dilemma up to you.

Popular Soul Food African American Recipes

1 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (2)Fried Chicken

Southern Fried Chicken
Perfect fried chicken is crunchy and crispy on the outside. Tender and juicy on the inside. Break the hot sauce out the cabinets for some good eating. Like many other people, this is one of my favorite African American recipes.

2 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (4)Creamed Corn

Creamed Corn
This southern staple, is one of the easiest, riches, and most creamiest side dishes you will ever make. This is a must try recipe favorite.

3 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (6)Salmon Croquette Patties

Salmon Patties
Perfect salmon patties are golden and crispy on the outside and tender and flaky on the inside. They are quick and easy to prepare and I've had many a meal that includes these little delicious patties.

4 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (8)Black-eyed Peas

Black-Eyed Peas
These peas can be cooked separately or with rice as hoppin' john. Black eyed peas is a popular soul food dish that many black people look forward to eating on New Year's day.

5 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (10)Fried Catfish

Southern Fried Catfish
This iconic dish is another soul food and southern cooking favorites. Most often dredged in seasoned cornbread and then deep fried. Serve with some fried hush puppies, fries, and slaw.

6 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (12)Homemade Biscuits

Homemade Biscuits
Love the smell of homemade biscuits and nothing taste better this warm bread
straight from the oven. Break them open and spread on your favorite jam or
honey. Jam, spreads, cheese, eggs, and sausages all go great with biscuits.

7 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (14)Chitterlings

Chitterlings
Some folks call chitterlings, the cleaned and prepared intestines of hogs is a southern delicacy. Chitlins are slow-cooked and often eaten with vinegar and hot sauce.

8 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (16)Homemade Meatloaf

Mom's Homemade Meatloaf
As traditional soul food meatloaf is typically served with brown gravy. But some people (like me) prefer their meatloaf cooked and topped with ketchup sauce like what you see pictured above.

9 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (18)Collard Greens

Collard Greens
Most often cooked with ham hocks, but sometimes salt pork, who doesn't love collard greens? When it's time yo eat just pass the vinegar, hot sauce, and reach for a piece of cornbread.

10 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (20)Smothered Pork Chops

Smothered Pork Chops
Lightly breaded pork chops smothered in a rich and savory gravy is what we call good eating. This is one of my favorite soul food and southern cooking dishes and one you have got to try preparing and see for yourself.

11 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (22)Lima Beans

Lima Beans
You can find a pot of Lima beans cooking in the kitchen on Sunday all across America. We like the prepared with ham hocks for additional flavor. When it's time to eat we reach from corn bread and hot sauce.

12 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (24)Potato Salad

Potato Salad
Old-fashioned potato salad doesn't take too many ingredients to make. It's easy to whip this awesome side dish up for any occasion and it's sure please the crowd.

13 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (26)Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding
Banana pudding is the simplest of desserts. The layered dessert is very popular among soul food and southern desserts. Pudding, vanilla wafers, and sliced bananas is all you really need.

14 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (28)Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Pies
This is one of my most favorite soul food desserts and it could be yours too. There's nothing like the smell of freshly baked sweet potato pie straight from the oven

15 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (30)Tomato Soup

Creamy Tomato Soup
This is how you make creamy tomato soup scratch. Pour yourself a bowl of delicious soup made with only a handful of quality ingredients.

16 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (32)Sweet Tea

Homemade Sweet Tea
Nobody make tea better than us southerns. So if you want a sweet and refreshing beverage this sweet tea will surly hit the spot.

17 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (34)Oxtails - www.iheartrecipes.com

Oxtails and Rice
Want some good eating? Try oxtails slow cooked until the meat is tender enough to fall off the bones. Smother them oxtails with some gravy and then serve them up on rice for a classic meal.

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (35)

18 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (36)Fried Fish and Grits - www.dudethatcookz.com

Fried Fish and Grits
Fish and grits are the ultimate breakfast foods on a Sunday morning before heading out the door for a few hours of church. This meal will get and keep you full so you're not thinking about eating. I had to add fish and grits to my collection of African American recipes.

19 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (38)Pigs Feet

Pigs Feet
Traditional pigs feet is slow cooked like chitterlings and sometimes pickled too. Tender and good tasting, serve pigs feet with some vinegar and hot sauce. Don't forget you favorite side dishes too.

20 of 20

African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (40)Chocolate Pecan Pie

Chocolate Pecan Pie
Every had classic pecan pie with a twist? Add in chocolate and coconut for a delightfully tasting dessert. But don't just eat one piece of pie, you'll want to eat two.

Our Favorite Recipes

  • Chitterlings - I Folks it doesn't get any country'er than this. Love those chitterlings and hog maws.
  • Oxtails - An old-fashioned oxtail soup recipe using either fresh or frozen vegetables and oxtails.
  • Neck Bones - Want some lip smacking neck bones and rice? This recipe works well for pork neck bones and beef neckbones to.
  • Pigs feet recipe - If you think boiled pigs feet are delicious, I have just the recipe for you. Give barbecued pigs feet a try.
  • Fried Chicken - Are you tired of tough crispy fried chicken? If, so try this southern fried chicken recipe and cook chicken that melts in your mouth.
  • Corn Bread - The recipe calls for yellow corn meal flour and sugar. Join the rest of the south and serve corn bread tonight.
  • Collar Greens - This is a great recipe to complete your meal. People love this traditional southern style collard greens recipe.
  • Cabbage - Get ready to cook boiled cabbage with these important details and free recipe. Learn how to cook cabbage that taste like Grandmas
  • Black eyed Peas - Eat black eyed peas and bring good luck to your family year-round. This african american new years favorite can be eating throughout the year.
  • Lima Beans - This old fashioned lima bean recipe is both healthy and nutritious. Serve lima beans with whole grain rice for a highquality protein packed meal.
  • Pinto Beans - Are you looking for tasty soul food that is also healthy? Cook pinto beans and rice for an essentially fat-free side dish packed with protein.
  • Sweet Potato Pie - Go ahead and try this easy to make southern dessert favorite. You want be disappointed, you'll be surprised.
  • Pecan Pie - Try pecan pie if you like desserts with nuts. This irresistible dessert is my personal favorite.
  • Banana Pudding - Eat banana pudding, the anytime healthy snack that's loved by both adults and children. Go ahead and try this easy to follow recipe today.

We're sure you will enjoy this collection of African American recipes for many years to come. That said don't keep this black recipe resource a secret all for yourself. So be sure to share this page withyour family and friends.

List of common soul food seasonings and their measurements

Here are some common soul food seasonings and their measurements:

  1. Garlic powder: 1 teaspoon
  2. Onion powder: 1 teaspoon
  3. Paprika: 1 tablespoon
  4. Cumin: 1 teaspoon
  5. Cayenne pepper: ½ teaspoon (or more if you like it spicy!)
  6. Salt: 1-2 teaspoons (or to taste)
  7. Black pepper: ½ - 1 teaspoon (or to taste)
  8. Thyme: ½ - 1 teaspoon (dried) or a few sprigs of fresh thyme leaves

These are just a few examples of the many seasonings that can be used in soul food cooking, but they should give you a good starting point for seasoning your dishes with authentic southern flavor! Of course, feel free to adjust the amounts based on your personal preferences and the recipe you're following.

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African American Recipes - Just Like Grandma Used to Cook (2024)

FAQs

What is a traditional black southern meal? ›

Particularly in rural areas, foods like fried chicken, fried fish, sweet potato pie, red drinks, black-eyed peas and others were served during Emancipation celebrations and church gatherings.

What do they eat in black history? ›

Soul Food: The cornerstone of African American Cuisine is the child of adversity. Collard greens, cornbread, fried chicken, and sweet potato pie are just a few of the many recipes that tell the stories of survival and community.

What are some of the oldest recipes? ›

The World's 10 Oldest Dishes And Where They Are Today
  1. Indian curry, circa 2200-2500 B.C. ...
  2. Pancakes, circa 11650 B.C. ...
  3. Linzer Torte, circa 1653. ...
  4. Tamales, circa 5000 B.C. ...
  5. Burgers, circa 100 century A.D. ...
  6. Mesopotamian Stew, circa 2140 B.C., and bone broth, circa 400 B.C. ...
  7. Rice dishes, circa 4530 B.C. ...
  8. Beer, circa 3500 B.C.
Sep 2, 2023

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 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 a typical Southern meal? ›

A traditional Southern meal may include pan-fried chicken, field peas (such as black-eyed peas), greens (such as collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, or poke sallet), mashed potatoes, cornbread or corn pone, sweet tea, and dessert—typically a pie (sweet potato, chess, shoofly, pecan, and peach are the most ...

What food makes your soul happy? ›

Since up to 90% of your body's serotonin is produced in your gut, a healthy gut may correspond to a good mood. Fermented foods like kimchi, yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and sauerkraut are rich in probiotics that support gut health.

Is soul food black culture? ›

soul food, the foods and techniques associated with the African American cuisine of the United States. The term was first used in print in 1964 during the rise of “Black pride,” when many aspects of African American culture—including soul music—were celebrated for their contribution to the American way of life.

What candy was invented by a black person? ›

In the 1800's, when women had very little prospects or freedom, and couldn't even vote, Mary Spencer from Salem, Massachusetts created a candy called Gibralter.

What did slaves eat in the morning? ›

As Booker T. Washington recounts in his Slave Diet Bulletin, a common breakfast was cornbread and pork. On days when that wasn't available, he'd head to the animal shed. There, he'd steal some of boiled Indian corn kernels used to feed the cows and pigs.

What did black cowboys eat? ›

Typical meals included hardtack bread (which is more like a biscuit, made from flour and water), and then dried meats (jerky), beans and coffee. “Every once in a while they had some luxuries, like tinned food – sardines or something like that,” the expert adds.

What is the oldest food we still eat today? ›

The oldest foods still eaten today
  • Stew. Who can say no to a delicious, heart-warming stew? ...
  • Tamales. Made from starchy, corn-based dough, tamales are still enjoyed today all throughout Mexico and Central America, South America, the Caribbean, the US and even the Philippines. ...
  • Pancakes. Yep. ...
  • Bread. ...
  • Curry. ...
  • Cheesecake.

What is the oldest edible thing? ›

Here is the answer for you! Bread is considered to be first prepared probably some 30000+ years back and is one of the very first foods made by mankind. The earliest proof of making bread loaf occurred with the Natufian hunter-gatherers that lived in the Levant.

What is the most loved food in the whole world? ›

Pizza has rightfully earned its place as the world's most beloved food. This Italian creation has become a staple in numerous countries, with endless variations to suit every taste bud. Whether you prefer thin crust or deep dish, classic Margherita, or loaded pepperoni, pizza has something for everyone.

What is a stereotypical Southern meal? ›

A traditional Southern meal may include pan-fried chicken, field peas (such as black-eyed peas), greens (such as collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, or poke sallet), mashed potatoes, cornbread or corn pone, sweet tea, and dessert—typically a pie (sweet potato, chess, shoofly, pecan, and peach are the most ...

What is tradition black food? ›

These include pigeon peas, black-eyed peas, okra, and sorghum. It has also been noted that a species of rice was domesticated in Africa, thus many Africans who were brought to the Americas kept their knowledge for rice cooking. Rice is a staple side dish in the Lowcountry region and in Southern Louisiana.

What is a typical soul food meal? ›

A typical soul food meal would feature: Sides: black-eyed peas, candied yams (dark-fleshed sweet potatoes), macaroni and cheese, and stewed greens (cabbage, collard greens, kale, mustard, or turnip); Entree: chicken (fried or smothered), fried fish, or pork (smothered chop or "chitlins," which are pig intestines);

What is the traditional African meal? ›

A typical West African meal is made with starchy items and can contain meat, fish as well as various spices and herbs. A wide array of staples are eaten across the region, including fufu, banku, kenkey (originating from Ghana), foutou, couscous, tô, and garri, which are served alongside soups and stews.

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