African American Culture & Food

Sweet potatoes are a staple of African American cuisine.

Food is a huge part of the African American culture. African American dishes are closely connected with the slavery of Africans in America--many of the vegetables, fruits and cooking styles used today are the same ones that were used by African slaves that were brought to the States. The distinctive flavors and ingredients in African American cuisine have made it popular with people of all backgrounds across the country.

Origins

African American cuisine is also referred to as "soul food." It originated out of the need to make hearty meals with the least desirable cuts of meat and meager produce. During the American slave trade, slaves were left to make their own meals from whatever flavorings and ingredients they had available to them. Since African slaves were often forced to give up their culture, including their African names, the slaves held onto their heritage through the dishes they made in America.

Influences

Since African Americans have heritage that spans the globe, there are more influences on the food than just those that originated in the South, including Creole cuisine and dishes influenced by traditional foods from the West Indies and the Caribbean.

Fruits and Vegetables

Though certain crops, such as apples and peaches, are native to the American South, others such as okra and sweet yams were brought to the Americas via the slave trade. Fruits and vegetables common in African American cuisine include yams, okra, watermelon, peaches, mint, corn and cornmeal, hearty greens, potatoes and cabbage. Vegetable dishes are often seasoned with bacon or other cuts of pork. This is a practice that dates back to the slave trade, when undesirable cuts of meat were one of the few things slaves had to season their food.

Entrees and Side Dishes

Common soul food dishes include beans, such black eyed peas and red beans and rice, oxtails, recipes featuring various pork parts (such as hog maws, pork chops and chitterlings), fried chicken, fried catfish, ribs, baked macaroni and cheese, corn bread, gumbo, corn pudding and potato salad. These dishes are seen in many soul food restaurants, at African American reunions, celebrations and gatherings and as part of everyday meals in African American households.

Drinks and Desserts

Desserts considered to be part of African American cuisine often contain fruit or vegetables. Dishes such as fried apples, sweet potato pie, peach cobbler and "Sock it to Me" cake are soul food favorites. Traditional drinks include those that are composed of sweetened water, such as molasses water, which is a combination of thick molasses, water, mint and citrus juice.

References

• Sally Bernstein: Ethnic Cuisine---African American
• The Gutsy Gourmet: Soul Food---African American Soul Food
• Food by Country: United States African Americans