Allie Allen

Super Soul Food Recipes Allie Allen

What are the differences between soul food dishes and Southern cuisine dishes? Not every Southern dish is soul food, but most soul food dishes are Southern. Where did soul food recipes come from? Soul food was traditionally made and served by African-Americans living in Southern states in the United States. "Soul" refers to the culture of African-Americans. What is soul food, really? Soul food is down-home, basic cooking that has been passed through generations. The types of food used in most soul food dishes include cornmeal, greens, beans and pork. In fact, pork is used in many ways when making soul food dishes, in seasoning stews and vegetables as well as in pickling and dehydrating pork rinds and similar foods. During the years when Africans were enslaved in the United States, they were not given much food to cook with, and what they got was not of high quality or nutritional. They adapted recipes brought by immigrants and added their own ingredients to flavor them as desired. Collard greens and fried chicken are common soul food dishes. You can make authentic soul food yourself. Turn the page and learn more...