Food So Delish and Distinct: 3 Recipes of Southern Staples

It’s about time you fixed yourself some sides of southern staples!

Consider yourself a person with a real personality? Then you need food to match that outsized personality. With cuisine names that command attention, and flavors that tickle your pink, our 3 recipes of Southern staples sides will keep you company when you want something warm and distinct to give you comfort. Allow the magic to waft through your kitchen!

Treat yourself to some southern food on the plate!

Dish #1: Southern black-eyed peas recipe

Ingredients

• 1 lb dried black-eyed peas
• 2 lbs smoked turkey, diced
• 6-8 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup bell pepper, chopped (any color)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 jalapeño, chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• Salt, to taste

Instructions

• Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat until it becomes hot.
• Stir in onion and cook until the root vegetable turns translucent.
• About 3 minutes into the cooking, add the garlic and cook for another minute.
• Add the thyme, bell peppers, smoked turkey, jalapeño, smoked paprika, and salt.
• Stir often and continue to cook until the food becomes tender.
• Add the chicken broth and the peas and cook until the legumes become tender. Stir until creamy texture is achieved, adjusting seasoning if needed.
• Stir and keep the peas on the stove a little longer, if you want the dish to become thicker.
• Serve with collard greens and cornbread.

Dish #2: Breakfast southern grits recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup light cream or milk, as needed
• 1/2 cup quick-cooking or regular grits
• Salt, to taste
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1-2 Tbsp maple syrup (or honey agave, brown sugar, or any other sweetener you like)
• Strawberries or whole berries

Instructions

• In a saucepan, stir in together the milk, water, grits, and salt.
• Over medium heat, boil the mixture while stirring.
• Once boiling point has been reached, lower the heat and cook and stir for 8-10 minutes or until the mixture is thick.
• Add in the butter.
• Serve warm with maple syrup and topped with berries or fruit.

Dish #3: Southern fried green tomatoes

Ingredients

• 4 large green tomatoes (or 2 lbs), sliced
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs, whisked
• 1 Tbsp Creole seasoning
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2/3 cup finely ground cornmeal
• 3/4 cup plain dry bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil, for frying
• Black pepper, to taste
• Salt, to taste

Instructions

• Sprinkle kosher salt onto the slices of green tomato and let air for 10 minutes.
• For breading the tomato slices, combine the Creole seasoning and flour in a first bowl, stir in the buttermilk and whisked eggs in a second bowl, and mix the cornmeal and breadcrumbs in a third bowl.
• Coat each tomato slice with the seasoned flour mix, then dip into the second bowl of egg batter and buttermilk. As a final third step, coat each slice with the cornmeal-breadcrumb mixture and place it on a plate or tray. Repeat the process until done with all the slices.
• In a skillet, heat the vegetable oil to 370º F.
• Fry batch by batch of tomato slices for about 1.5 to 2 minutes on each side. Once done, place these on a rack or paper towels to drain, sprinkling pinches of salt and black pepper to taste.

The southern staples above hail from a mix of old south, Creole, and African cuisine traditions and have been tried and tested as favorites of the all-American kitchen table for generations now. How could so many people get it wrong? (They didn’t.) Join the dance on the table and fix yourself the above southern dishes today!

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