The Soul Food Pod Episode 7: Black Cookout Food
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“If Black folks’ Southern fried chicken is Michael Jackson, Black folks’ Southern potato salad is Prince.” – Shaunda Necole
What is Black cookout food?
On The Soul Food Pod episode 7, host Shaunda Necole, and her mom, Mama Mary (Ma-Ma), explore why Black cookouts are a beloved tradition in the African American community, the cultural significance and love for Black folks’ potato salad at African American gatherings and cookouts, alongside other soul food dishes such as BBQ meats, collard greens, coleslaw, baked beans, and pig pickin cake.
What you’ll learn in this episode?
- The history of Black cookout food
- Why Black cookouts are a celebration of soul food
- Why a Black cookout menu matters
- The history of Southern pig pickin cake and it’s deliciousness
- Common Black cookout foods
- The phenomenon of Black folks’ potato salad
- “Would You Rather” game with Black cookout food
- Cracking the code of Black cookout potato salad
- Why do Black people care so much about Southern potato salad?
Apple Podcasts: Black Cookout Food
Black family cookout
What does cookout mean in the Black community?
Black BBQ menu
What’s on the Black cookout food menu?
What items are at a Black BBQ?
These are the most common foods you’ll find on a Black BBQ menu:
- BBQ meats: chicken, ribs, brisket, pulled pork
- Soul food BBQ chicken
- Southern pulled BBQ chicken or pulled pork
- Soul food homemade burgers
- Black folks Southern coleslaw
- Black folks Southern potato salad
- Soul food macaroni salad
- Grilled corn on the cob
- Soul food homemade cornbread
- Black folks banana pudding
- Southern soul food pig pickin cake
What sides for the Black BBQ?
What are good sides to bring to a cookout? Start with these most common Black soul food cookout sides:
- Black cookout potato salad
- Soul food baked beans
- Black folks coleslaw
- Soul food macaroni salad
- Tomato watermelon salad
- Southern corn salad
- Southern pasta salad with Italian dressing
- Soul food deviled eggs
- Soul food collard greens
- Black folks baked macaroni and cheese
- Grilled corn on the cob
- Soul food homemade cornbread
- Southern fried cabbage
Black cookout activities
Inspired by the Steve Harvey Morning Show, Shaunda and her mom play a hilarious game of “Would You Rather?” (cookout version!) and encourage listeners to try Black folks’ Southern potato salad and other delicious recipes on the official Black folks’ cookout menu!
“Would you rather have baked beans or coleslaw?”
What not to do at a Black cookout?
So what are the rules of Black family barbecues?
Starting here with this very important one: A mandatory main dish that must show up at every African American cookout, potluck, party, and every Black BBQ menu is a Black folks’ Southern potato salad recipe!
Then follow these Black cookout etiquette rules from Afro.com’s piece on What you not fid’na do at a Black family cookout:
- Don’t disrespect Big Mama.
- Don’t pack take-home dishes before everyone eats.
- Don’t put raisins in anything that’s not dessert. Seriously. Even if you are newly Black.
- Don’t ask who made the potato salad… (not out loud, anyway.)
- Don’t touch the food without washing your hands.
- Don’t call it a picnic.
- Don’t show up and not eat.
- Don’t act like you’re too good to do the Electric Slide.
- Don’t put anything “bought” on the table.
- Don’t have everyone asking why the macaroni tastes funny when you know it’s vegan.
- Don’t come with only off-brand sodas, and try to leave with five “to-go” plates.
Black cookout food FAQs
What do you do at a Black cookout?
Eat, drink, and be merry outside because Black cookouts are a tradition in which African Americans celebrate by gathering for a meal and spending time with family and friends outside featuring a menu of soul food favorite dishes.
What are the best Black cookout songs?
Black family cookouts are also home to Black cookout songs. An African American cookout or Black family reunion playlist will likely include these iconic songs:
- Before I Let Go by Franky Beverly And Maze (The official Black cookout song anthem)
- Family Reunion by The O’Jays
- Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now by McFadden & Whitehead
- That’s the Way of the World by Earth, Wind & Fire
- Celebration by Kool & The Gang
- Love and Happiness by Al Green
- Flash Light by Parliament
- Candy by Cameo
- Da’ Butt by E.U.
- Never Too Much by Luther Vandross
- Got To Give It Up by Marvin Gaye
- Outstanding by The Gap Band
- Remember The Time by Michael Jackson
- Kiss by Prince
- Return Of The Mack by Mark Morrison
- Poison by BBD
- This Is How We Do It by Montell Jordan
- It Takes Two by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock
- Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
- Real Love by Mary J Blige
- Finesse by Bruno Mars
- Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide) by Marcia Griffiths
- Cupid Shuffle by Cupid
- Cha Cha Slide by DJ Casper
- Wobble by V.I.C.
What do you bring to a Black cookout?
What is usually at a cookout?
Main dishes for the cookout – HERE
Black family cookout side dishes – HERE
Desserts to bring to a Black cookout – HERE
Black cookout menu appetizers and drinks – HERE
Why is food so important to Black culture?
Soul food has a rich and flavorful history that ties Black culture to its African roots. That history is deeply reflected in Black people’s food.
Soul food history and recipes began because of Black people’s lack of food access.
“Making something from nothing” with the leftover scraps was the food system for enslaved Africans.
Being able to feed someone is a significant and respected part of Black food culture.
Black people gather, connect, and celebrate with soul food. Food is a way to show how much another person is cared for, thus the tradition of African American cookouts and Black cookout food.
What holidays do Black people celebrate with cookout food?
What is a Black folks’ potato salad recipe?
Simply answered – it’s flavorful.
The same way Persian people feel about their beloved fesenjan recipe is also how Black folks cherish soul food potato salad.
If Black folks’ Southern fried chicken is Michael Jackson.
Black folks’ Southern potato salad is Prince.
Its fans are Die. Hard!
People will wait in line for Black folks’ potato salad. And if it were to ever die, people would mourn it for months. (If not years!)
What goes in Black folks’ Southern potato salad?
A classic soul food Southern potato salad dish consists primarily of potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, pickles, celery, and onion with a dressing of mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip), mustard, and various seasonings.
There are many ways to season the dressing, and some recipes include relish, pickles, horseradish, or hot sauce.
Links & resources mentioned in the episode:
- The best Black cookout food and menu ideas
- Best soul food cookout side dishes
- Southern pig pickin cake recipe
- Steve Harvey’s homemade BBQ sauce recipe
- Black folks’ Southern potato salad recipe
- SNL Black Jeopardy with Chadwick Boseman (King T’Challa)
Transcript Ep. 7:
The Soul Food Pod – Episode 7 Transcript
Where to listen to the podcast:
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Equipment
- Instant Pot electric pressure cooker optional
- Instant Pot trivet rack (comes with the Instant Pot) or egg rack
- Potato peeler
Ingredients
- 4 russet potatoes
- 4-6 potatoes small red or purple potatoes (optional)
- 2 cups water divided
- 4 boiled eggs
- 1 boiled egg sliced to garnish (optional)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- ⅓ cup sweet pickles diced (or sweet relish)
- ½ cup celery diced
- 2 tablespoons yellow onion diced
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise *Add another ⅓ cup for creamier potato salad
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika to garnish
Instructions
You can use the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker to easily boil the potatoes and eggs.
- Peel the russet potatoes and leave them whole. (If you’re using the optional small red or purple potatoes, do not peel them.)
- Open the Instant Pot lid and place the Instant Pot trivet rack inside the stainless-steel inner pot. (The trivet rack isn’t required – but it keeps the potatoes above the water in the pot, so they’re steaming instead of boiling on only one side.)
- Add 1 cup of water and then the potatoes on the trivet rack.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 10 minutes.
- When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 10 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Use an oven mitt to remove the trivet rack with the potatoes.
- Allow the cooked potatoes to cool enough so they’re still warm to the touch (but not hot).
- Then coarsely chop the potatoes into medium-sized chunks and add them to a large mixing bowl.
- Pour the vinegar over the chopped potatoes while they’re still warm, and set the bowl aside.
- Add the trivet rack or egg rack inside the Instant Pot stainless steel inner pot.
- Add the eggs to the racks and then pour 1 cup of water over the eggs.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 5 minutes.
- While the eggs are boiling, dice the pickles, celery, and onion and add the diced vegetables to the bowl of chopped potatoes.
- Add the mustard, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, and pepper to the bowl and set the bowl aside.
- When the cooking time for the eggs is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 5 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Open the cover immediately after the pressure release. Using tongs (because the eggs will be hot!), place the boiled eggs into an ice bath to cool off.
- Once the eggs are cool to the touch, coarsely chop four eggs and add them to the large bowl of potatoes and seasonings.
- Gently fold the ingredients into the potatoes so that the vegetables, seasonings, mayonnaise, and mustard are evenly mixed to coat the potatoes.
- Garnish this Black folk’s potato salad recipe by sprinkling paprika and then slicing the remaining boiled egg to garnish on top. Serve right away and enjoy!
Video
Notes
I really enjoyed listening and reading this podcast! However, it’s not the real deal cookout if you don’t have my potato salad w/egg and sweet pickles, angel eggs,( I don’t want to eat anything deviled)😂baked beans, barbecue chicken grilled crispy, but not burnt, hot dogs and hamburgers, ribs, and last but not least WATERMELON! 🍉 Yes!Yes! Yes! #soulfoodcookoutforme
I couldn’t agree more about the BBQ chicken grilled crispy!