Here’s a dream scenario: You spin around blindfolded and place your finger on a map of the U.S. Wherever you land, that’s where you get to eat for a whole week. In my heart of hearts, let’s be honest, I’m hoping to land anywhere in the American South, and not just for their many (many!) BBQ styles alone.
The South has many other culinary offerings that have other regions (apologies to the Midwest’s beautiful casseroles) shaking in their boots. And that’s not to mention my own Southern-but-not-truly-Southern home state of Florida, with its many alligator-based delicacies. Here are just a few of the region’s finest dishes that make the American South one of the most delicious regions in the U.S.
Pineapple Fluff
Simply put, Southerners do very interesting things with fruit, with one being a clear favorite: pineapple fluff. And it really lives up to its name, as this dessert is composed of max capacity ratios of pineapple (canned pineapple, pineapple Jell-O, and pineapple juice) and fluff (Cool Whip, cream cheese, marshmallows, shredded coconut). Could it be the most perfect food imaginable? It really could be, especially when enjoyed in pie form.
Chowchow
One of the highest honors possible? Getting a jar of homemade chowchow from your Southern friend. Truly the gift that keeps on giving, chowchow is a classic South Carolinian pickled relish made of green tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, cabbage, and a whole host of key pickling spices (like mustard seed, celery salt, and turmeric). In short, it’s a salty-sweet-pickled condiment that is a friend to pretty much everything, especially hot dogs.
Sausage Balls
In my family, no holiday gathering is complete without a huge plate of sausage balls. And it’s such a contested dish, there’s even competition on who gets to make it each year. Once you make these easy sausage balls you’ll see why. They come together with a bit of pancake mix, crumbled sage-y sausage, cheddar cheese, and a bit of fresh herbs and are sure to become a non-negotiable for you every year, too.
Boiled Peanuts
Eating a bunch of hot, salty boiled peanuts on the way to the beach or on a road trip through the South is a must. The combination of peanuts in the shell, water, seasoning and time makes this treat a whole lot more than the sum of its parts. Enjoy with a beer and you’ll have the ultimate Southern snack on your hands.
Chitlins
Somehow, many countries have a major tradition surrounding the eating of animal intestines and stomach (see: tripe, saucisson, haggis) and the South is no different with their love of chitlins (a.k.a. chitterlings). A core dish in African American soul food traditions, you might find chitlins (which are cleaned pig intestine) stewed with vinegar or battered and fried.
Fried Bologna Sandwiches
A core food memory of my childhood is my mom making fried bologna sandwiches for any and all occasions. Midnight snack or breakfast? Fried bologna sandwich time. Forgot to go grocery shopping? Fried bologna sandwich time. You can find fried bologna sandwiches all across restaurants (and even baseball stadiums) in the South, and they go very well with a side of chips and a pickle.
Snow Cream
Snow Cream is a true Southern delicacy you need to try before you judge it (especially since snow is so often rare in the region). Beloved by many including Reese Witherspoon, it involves fresh snow (really!), cream, and any of your favorite ice cream toppings. Just place a bowl outside during the next snow fall, allow enough to collect, and then get to mixing. My family likes to stir in Nesquik powder and/or chocolate syrup
Hoecakes
Step aside, pancakes. Hoecakes are coming for your 1st place spot in the fried batter department. George Washington’s favorite breakfast, hoecakes are made of a cornmeal batter that’s then fried in plenty of butter, crisping up around the edges and just begging to be topped with maple syrup.
Crawfish Boils
Any dish served on top of a spread of newspaper is very much how I roll, and that definitely includes a Southern crawfish boil. Loaded with corn, potatoes, sausage, loads of spices, and plenty of crawfish, these boils give regular ol’ lobster boils a run for their money.
Carolina Red Rice
A key lowcountry side dish in South Carolina, red rice is just the thing you want to see at any special family gathering. Likened to Nigerian jollof rice, Carolina red rice is savory, tomato-y, and perhaps most distinctly, involves a lot of bacon.
Hush Puppies
My uncle used to run a seafood restaurant, which means I have opinions on what a good hush puppy should taste like. First off, hush puppies are cornmeal balls (amazing start) that are fried (brilliant) and loaded with onions and herbs (perfection). Hush puppies > cornbread, any day.
Pimento Cheese
Ask any southerner how they make their pimento cheese, and I bet you’ll get a million different answers. Some like theirs a bit sweet (courtesy of Miracle Whip—couldn’t be me) while others go for all cheese, all the time, with cream cheese and cheddar cheese, studded with pimentos. There’s a reason it’s called the "pâté of the South." Eat it with crackers or in a sandwich with your pinkies way up.
Charleston Chewies
There’s another “chewy” bar you should familiarize yourself with: Charleston Chewies. Made with plenty of brown butter and pecans, Chewies are like if blondies had a cousin that was way richer, thanks to all that browned butter.
Brunswick Stew
After you’ve gone around gathering snow for snow cream, you’re going to want another Southern classic to warm you up. Look no further than Brunswick stew, a hearty chicken stew loaded with corn, butter beans, tomatoes, and potatoes that is a perfect wintertime dinner alongside a basket of biscuits.
Collard Greens
Got some leftover smoked turkey or ham hocks? Do not throw them away! It’s got another journey ahead of it: to become some ultra-savory collard greens. Some might say the collards are the best part of any ham dinner, and I absolutely agree.
