16 Must-Try Southern Foods for a True Taste of the South

If you haven’t taken a dive into Southern cuisine, you’re seriously missing out. Southern food is all about flavors that are as rich and diverse as the region itself, bringing comfort and delight that will make your taste buds do a happy dance. Check out these Southern foods that you need to try.

Biscuits and Gravy

Soft, flaky biscuits smothered in creamy sausage gravy are a breakfast favorite in the South. Start by baking a batch of your favorite store-bought or homemade biscuits. While the biscuits bake, cook some breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Sprinkle in flour and cook for a minute before gradually adding milk, stirring constantly until thickened. Season with salt and pepper, then serve the gravy over the warm biscuits.

Shrimp and Grits

This dish combines succulent shrimp with creamy, buttery grits, showcasing the best of Southern seafood and comfort food. Cook quick-cooking grits according to package instructions, stirring in butter, salt, and pepper to taste. Sauté peeled shrimp in a skillet with butter and garlic until pink and cooked through. Serve the shrimp over the creamy grits, garnished with chopped parsley.

Gumbo

Gumbo is a flavorful stew originating from Louisiana, known for its rich, dark roux base. Make a roux with equal parts flour and oil, cooking until deep brown. Add diced onions, bell peppers, and celery; sauté until tender. Stir in chicken broth, sliced sausage, and cooked shredded chicken. Season with Cajun spices, simmer, and add cooked rice before serving.

Jambalaya

Another Louisiana favorite, jambalaya is a one-pot dish filled with rice, meat, seafood, and vegetables. Sauté chopped onions, bell peppers, and celery until soft. Add diced chicken and sliced sausage, cooking until browned. Stir in canned tomatoes, chicken broth, and rice. Season with Cajun seasoning, simmer until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.

Collard Greens

Collard greens is a dish that has roots in African-American cuisine and has been a staple in Southern kitchens for generations. Cook chopped bacon until crisp, remove, then sauté chopped onions in the drippings. Add chopped collard greens and chicken broth, simmer until tender. Season with salt, pepper, and a splash of vinegar. Top with crumbled bacon.

Hush Puppies

These deep-fried cornmeal balls are a popular side dish in the South, often served with seafood dishes like fried catfish. To make it, mix cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and chopped onions. Stir in milk and an egg until smooth. Drop spoonfuls of batter into hot oil, and fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towels, and serve warm.

Pimento Cheese

Known as the “caviar of the South,” it’s typically served on crackers, as a sandwich filling, or as a dip for vegetables. This creamy, tangy spread is a beloved Southern snack and a staple at gatherings and picnics. To make this, mix shredded cheddar cheese, jarred pimentos, mayonnaise, and hot sauce. Blend until smooth, refrigerate before serving as a dip or sandwich spread.

Cornbread

Cornbread is a classic Southern bread that is a perfect accompaniment to soups, stews, and barbecues, providing a hearty and satisfying side dish. This is easy to make, just mix cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in milk, an egg, and melted butter. Pour batter into a greased baking dish, and bake until golden brown.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Sliced green tomatoes are breaded and fried to create this crunchy, tangy dish. The tomatoes are coated in a mixture of cornmeal and flour, then fried until golden and crispy. Often served with a side of remoulade sauce for dipping, fried green tomatoes are a great appetizer or side dish that highlights the flavors of the South.

Boiled Peanuts

Boiled peanuts are a popular snack in the South, especially in Georgia and Alabama. Raw peanuts are boiled in salty water until they become soft and flavorful. This unique and addictive treat is often enjoyed as a roadside snack, offering a taste of Southern tradition.

Brunswick Stew

Originating in Virginia and Georgia, Brunswick stew is a comfort food that’s as diverse as the South itself. This is really easy to make, just combine cooked shredded chicken or pork, canned tomatoes, corn, lima beans, and barbecue sauce in a pot. Simmer until flavors meld, season with salt and pepper.

Chicken and Dumplings

This comforting dish is a classic Southern comfort food that’s perfect for chilly days and family dinners. It’s done by simmering bone-in chicken pieces in chicken broth with chopped onions, celery, and carrots until the chicken is cooked. Remove chicken, shred meat, and return to pot. Drop spoonfuls of biscuit dough into simmering broth, and cook until dumplings are fluffy.

Pecan Pie

Pecan pie is a beloved Southern that is typically served during the holidays but is delicious any time of year. To make this, whisk together corn syrup, sugar, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir in chopped pecans, and pour into unbaked pie crust. Bake until the filling is set and the crust is golden.

Red Beans and Rice

This Louisiana dish a simple yet flavorful meal that’s often enjoyed on Mondays, traditionally a laundry day in New Orleans. It’s simple to make. Cook chopped onions, bell peppers, and celery until tender. Add canned red beans, sliced andouille sausage, and chicken broth. Season with Cajun spices, simmer until flavors meld. Serve over cooked rice.

Country Ham

Country ham is a salt-cured, aged ham that’s a Southern delicacy. Fry slices of country ham in a skillet until browned. The ham is salty and slightly sweet, with a robust flavor that pairs well with the soft, buttery biscuits and other breakfast favorites like eggs and grits.

Crawfish Boil

A crawfish boil is a messy, flavorful feast that’s quintessentially Southern, bringing friends and family together for a fun and delicious gathering. To make it, boil seasoned water, add small red potatoes and corn on the cob, cooking until tender. Add cleaned crawfish, and cook until bright red. Drain, serve on newspaper.

This article originally appeared on RetailShout.

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