What Is Soul Food?



Closely associated with the cuisine of the American South, soul food is a celebrated feature of mainstream American foodways.  Strongly influenced by the traditional practices of West Africans and Native Americans and originating in the southern regions of the United States, soul food is an American cuisine traditionally prepared and eaten by African Americans. Soul food originated with the foods that enslaved Africans in the Americas grew in their gardens along with the discarded foods given to enslaved people by their owners during the Antebellum period.

Through both necessity and creativity, enslaved peoples were able to transform these discarded foods into what some foodies today view as gourmet delicacies. As the United States during the 20th and 21st centuries has become a destination for many African and Caribbean immigrants, soul food today includes several traditional dishes from the global African diaspora.

CLICK on our SOUTHERN SOUL GARDEN link and begin or expand your Soul Food Garden this year.