Food For The Soul: What Is It And What Are Its Characteristics?
Soul food and soul food refers to a type of cuisine typical American African American culture. It has its origins in slavery. Its base is almost always meat, cornmeal and molasses. Specifically, the meat is usually pork. Molasses is a by-product of sugar cane. What are its characteristics? Read on to find out more!
Food for the soul: origin
The origins are unclear. All that is known is that it was developed by slaves. Most of the ingredients come from what’s left of the whites. This type of gastronomy emerged as a result of the lifestyle of the slaves. Some worked in the fields, and others in the white houses.
Those who had household chores had to adapt their recipes to American ingredients. Those who worked in the fields became accustomed to a more rudimentary lifestyle, such as catching animals at night and cooking cornbread in the pan.
Between 1865 and 1910, the food of the poor whites and blacks was the same. By 1910, emancipated slaves had migrated north. Food for the soul appeared as a label. Although slaves adopt American food, they always use southern food. They remind of origins.
Common ingredients in food for the soul
There is a long list of ingredients that make up the recipes . The base is usually rice, sorghum and okra, typical of Africa. When they arrived in America, their masters used to feed the slaves with anything. Then they ate leftovers from plantations, such as turnips, beets and dandelions.
Slaves also began to consume the remains that were thrown from animals: oxtail, intestines, ears and skin. They added onions, garlic, thyme and bay leaves. They didn’t throw anything. They made croquettes with the leftover fish, they made sauces with old pudding bread and water from boiled vegetables. The use of corn flour and lard in recipes was common.
Food for the soul and health
Most dishes are unhealthy. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says African Americans between the ages of 18 and 49 are more likely to die of heart disease than whites. Black people between the ages of 35 and 54 are 50% more likely to develop high blood pressure. However, this does not mean that these types of menus cannot become healthy. It is about looking for healthier food alternatives for consumers.
More herbal foods
Diets that include green foods are associated with moderate body weight and a lower risk of heart disease. Eat foods such as:
- Kale
- turnips
- Cabbage
- okra
- Carrot
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- lentil
- Beans
- Peanuts
- Yams
- bananas
- Pumpkins
Whole grains
Some soul dishes include flour, such as macaroni and cheese or cornbread. It is recommended to switch to whole grains, as they help to control weight and intestinal health.
Whole grains are: whole wheat, brown rice, oats, sorghum, fonio and barley. To make a healthier dish, you can replace white rice with brown rice. When baking, use whole grain flours.
Vegetables, herbs and spices
High sodium intake is associated with high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease. Food for the soul is often rich in salt, garlic and spices.
Seasoning foods with onions, garlic, herbs and spices reduces the sodium content and improves the flavor. Add fresh herbs at the end of cooking and dried herbs at the beginning.
Cooking methods
Frying, baking, boiling and grilling can generate chemicals such as heterocyclic acrylamide amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These are carcinogens.
It is recommended to remove visible fats and charred parts of food before eating. Saute or steam the vegetables instead of frying them. Marinate the meat with fruits, citrus juices, vinegar, onions, herbs and spices. If you need to fry something, choose an oil such as canola, peanut or avocado.
Roasted chicken
Enjoy this classic recipe for soul-free food without fat and oil. We’ll explain how.
ingredients
- Universal flour
- Pepper
- Salt
- Black pepper
- with bone
- Butter
Instructions
- To start, preheat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius. Use a bowl and combine the flour, paprika, salt and pepper.
- Put the chicken pieces in the flour mixture and cover them completely. Put a quarter cup of butter in a baking dish and put it in the hot oven.
- When it is melted, put the chicken and cook for 30 minutes. Rotate every 15 minutes to cook the meat on both sides.
As you can see, there are healthy ways to enjoy soul food. It’s all about knowing how to choose the ingredients, change the recipe a little and use healthier ingredients.
