Food
Food plays a large role in African American culture. Different dishes that are made in the African American culture are closely linked to food that was consumed during slavery, incorporating the various fruits and vegetables which were accessible. Food in African American culture also incorporates different cooking styles used by African slaves that were brought to the states with slavery.
Cuisine in the African American culture is also known as “soul food” today. Soul food has become a popular cuisine not just among African Americans, but across different races and cultures in the country. During the slave trade, Africans were expected to fend for themselves, creating meals out of whatever ingredients were available to them. These creations have transcended African American culture and have formed what we know as soul food today. Variations of soul food are seen in different parts of the country, including Cajun and creole food within creole culture (Bernstein, 2005).
Popular fruits and vegetables used in soul food cuisine came from African traditions in food and cooking. These include okra, which is an African-imported vegetable. Greens, potatoes, cabbage, watermelon, corn, cornmeal, and yams are also commonly used.
Chicken, fish, and goat were seen as important sources of protein within the African culture. This meat was often cooked over an open flame. However, slaves adapted to a Eurpoean way of cooking by frying meat, using protein available in America. Fried chicken became a common component of the cuisine, and became widely popular throughout the United States. Different pork parts, such as pork chops and chitterlings, are commonly used in soul food also. Other popular soul food dishes include fried catfish, macaroni and cheese, corn bread, gumbo, black eyed peas and red beans.
Barbeque is known as a popular way to cook meat in the African American culture, and has also become widely popular throughout the United States. This way of cooking was learned from the West Indies. When cooking meat over a fire, slaves started the tradition of basting their meats in sauces rather than serving them on the side, which had been a practice of cooking in Africa. The term “barbeque” meant pork in the Eastern United States and beef in the Western United States due to regional differences in the availability of livestock.
Soul food also includes popular desserts. Most of these desserts include fruits or vegetables, such as sweet potato pie, pecan pie, or peach cobbler.
Sweet tea is a popular beverage in the soul food cuisine. Molasses water is also enjoyed, which is composed of molasses, water, mint, and citrus juice (“African American culture”, 2013).
Cuisine in the African American culture is also known as “soul food” today. Soul food has become a popular cuisine not just among African Americans, but across different races and cultures in the country. During the slave trade, Africans were expected to fend for themselves, creating meals out of whatever ingredients were available to them. These creations have transcended African American culture and have formed what we know as soul food today. Variations of soul food are seen in different parts of the country, including Cajun and creole food within creole culture (Bernstein, 2005).
Popular fruits and vegetables used in soul food cuisine came from African traditions in food and cooking. These include okra, which is an African-imported vegetable. Greens, potatoes, cabbage, watermelon, corn, cornmeal, and yams are also commonly used.
Chicken, fish, and goat were seen as important sources of protein within the African culture. This meat was often cooked over an open flame. However, slaves adapted to a Eurpoean way of cooking by frying meat, using protein available in America. Fried chicken became a common component of the cuisine, and became widely popular throughout the United States. Different pork parts, such as pork chops and chitterlings, are commonly used in soul food also. Other popular soul food dishes include fried catfish, macaroni and cheese, corn bread, gumbo, black eyed peas and red beans.
Barbeque is known as a popular way to cook meat in the African American culture, and has also become widely popular throughout the United States. This way of cooking was learned from the West Indies. When cooking meat over a fire, slaves started the tradition of basting their meats in sauces rather than serving them on the side, which had been a practice of cooking in Africa. The term “barbeque” meant pork in the Eastern United States and beef in the Western United States due to regional differences in the availability of livestock.
Soul food also includes popular desserts. Most of these desserts include fruits or vegetables, such as sweet potato pie, pecan pie, or peach cobbler.
Sweet tea is a popular beverage in the soul food cuisine. Molasses water is also enjoyed, which is composed of molasses, water, mint, and citrus juice (“African American culture”, 2013).