What Americans Eat
Americans eat more than hamburgers and hot dogs. Yes, really. Surprise surprise. Every region has its own specialties. Here are the tastiest dishes from the Southern USA.
When looking for typical local dishes from the southern United States, you immediately encounter another stereotype: deep-frying. Deep-frying has traditionally been a widely used cooking technique here. Everything goes into the fat. Well, almost everything.
Shrimps & grits
In the South, several dishes are served with the cornmeal porridge called ‘grits’. If you forget the salt and pepper, it actually tastes a bit like nothing. But those shrimp make everything better. There are thousands of variations, but garlic and butter are indispensable. Once a celebrated breakfast dish, you can now also order it for lunch or dinner. Especially popular along the coast
Buttermilk fried chicken
A delicious piece of tender chicken with a crispy crust. The buttermilk marinade makes the chicken wonderfully juicy. That is, if you have the patience to let it marinate for a while—at least an hour. Mix the buttermilk with paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper and a pinch of salt. Before frying, dip it once in the flour and then once again in the marinade, and you’ll have a delicious crust.
Biscuits & gravy
No breakfast like biscuits & gravy. Don’t think of dry biscuits in watery milk. No, these are a kind of savory scones in a thick sauce made with milk, butter, flour and finely chopped sausage. The breakfast originated during the lean years after the War of Independence. Biscuits & gravy were cheap and provided plenty of energy. People in the US are still proud of them; that’s why they celebrate National Biscuits & Gravy Week during the second week of September.
Collard greens
A taste of real Southern living is what you get with this collard greens recipe. Collard greens are a leafy cabbage that is said to be the healthiest vegetable on earth. A nice way to compensate for all that deep-fried food.
Cornbread
Corn is popular in the southern United States in any case. So is cornbread. Soft and moist bread, usually served with other dishes. The major difference between cornbread from the North and that from the Southern states is that the Southern version tastes savory rather than sweet. This is thanks to the secret ingredient: bacon fat.
Chicken & dumplings
Thinking back to childhood, many residents of Alabama, Louisiana or South Carolina start salivating at the thought of chicken and dumplings. This family meal is easy peasy to make. And if you also feel like having some veggies, simply add extra carrot or celery.
