If You've Tried 15/20 Of These Soul Food Dishes, Your Tastebuds Are Not Bored

Have you had a good, southern, home-cooked meal?

If you finally get invited to the cookout, we can't have you out here looking silly in these streets. It's time to add a little seasoning to your cultural palette.

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Soul food is a cuisine from the southern United States. Soul food dishes were traditionally prepared and eaten by the African American community and southerners. Main ingredients include beans, greens, cornmeal, fried meats, and zesty seasoning.

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During the slave trade, enslaved Black Americans were given low-quality food, scraps, and leftovers to eat. Thanks to full access to the kitchen and the garden, my ancestors threw some cornmeal and spices on those scraps and turned them into American delicacies. Fun fact: Dishes like fried chicken were brought to America by Scottish immigrants, and Black people just added a little herbs and spices to it. It's the collaboration for me.

Following "The Great Migration," many freed Black Americans spread out across the United States, bringing their southern cooking style along with them. While the main ingredients of these dishes are used worldwide in many cultures, the particular style of fried foods and seasonings are unique to Americans.

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If you're from the South and you protest, "But my family ate this type of food for years, and we're not Black!" I want you to think about who did all the cooking in early American history. We're in this together.

Now, let's see who has a little soul in their taste buds.

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If not, let this be a history lesson in American cuisine and a wake-up call that you need to get some Black friends.

**A lot of the food listed contains ingredients people have a lot of opinions about, but there will be no food shaming here.**

Now, when you get to the cookout, you can make yourself a plate with confidence and soul. What's your favorite soul food recipe?

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