In honor of Black History Month, I am going to attempt to present food that is good for your soul. Because I do not want to co-opt the culture, I borrow (steal with citations!) from authors that do not.
Good For Your Body, Good For Your Soul
From this website, I gathered several recipes that have been modified for healthier living. The author explains the origins of African American soul food, from the left-overs off the masters’ tables to the foods that were available to them to grow and gather. To make the foods healthier for the 21st Century, she suggests using “rich, colorful foods like beans, fruits, whole grains, and vegetables that are rich in nutrients and low in unhealthy fats,” and suggested using “colorful spices like paprika, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger.”
- Jamaican Jerk Chicken
- Spicy Southern Barbecued Chicken
- Good-for-You Cornbread
- Caribbean Pink Beans
- Smothered Greens
- Barley Hoppin’ John
- Red Beans and Rice
Food From The African Diaspora
From another author and another website, I pulled this introduction. “…you can tell a lot about a culture and its history by exploring its food. What is now typically called “soul food” had its roots in African staples merged with the inexpensive foods that were given to African-American slaves. In current times, there are a variety of foods eaten by Black people – from healthy African-influenced classics to food influences from other cultures. … I enjoy being able to share food and recipes from the African diaspora. As such, I am sharing some of my favorite African, Caribbean and southern “soul food” as Black History Month recipes.”
African
Caribbean
Southern
- Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- Fresh Black-Eyed Peas
- Quick and Easy Mashed Potatoes
- Smashing Sweet Potato Casserole
- Southern Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey Wings
- Easy Southern Pan Fried Chicken
- BBQ Pork Ribs
- Easy Barbecue Meatloaf
- Red Velvet Cupcakes
- Sweet Potato Pie
- Peach Cobbler
From 28 Bloggers
“This virtual potluck … is made up of 28 bloggers who’ve each created one dish for the occasion. … You can try a new dish every day this month. And [they are] here for the diverse cuisines featuring African, Caribbean, Southern, and Creole recipes.”
Go to the website for links to the recipes. You’ll see photos of all, and, well, good luck not making them all at the same time!
- Pineapple Lemonade
- Better-Than-Jiffy Cornbread from Scratch
- Honey Turmeric Chicken
- Southern-Style Mac and Cheese
- Shrimp With a Spicy Cream Sauce
- Sausage-Stuffed Collard Green Wraps
- Smothered Turkey Wings
- Carrot and Zucchini Noodles Stir Fry With Shrimp
- Nigerian Jollof Rice
- Red Lentil Soup With Roasted Okra
- Olive-Oil-Braised Collard Greens
- Braised Short Rib Meatloaf
- Mofongo Relleno
- Pilau Masala
- Orange-Glazed Brussels Sprouts
- Bourbon, Peach-Glazed Salmon
- Creole Seafood Courtbouillon
- Fresh Corn Pudding
- Creamy Seafood Stew
- Crawfish Étouffée)
- Buttermilk Biscuits With Fried Chicken and Honey Tabasco
- Sweet Almond Tea Cakes
- Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding With Maple Glaze
- Fried Sweet Potato Hand Pie
- Candied Bourbon Peach Cobbler
- Fried Peach Pies
- Orange Bundt Cake With Vanilla Glaze
- Blackberry Cobbler
In Closing
Salivating…..