The Soul Food Pod Episode 12: Soul Food Holiday Recipes
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On this episode of The Soul Food Pod, host Shaunda Necole is joined by special guest Teresa, her friend who is an Xtreme Hip-Hop instructor.
Teresa shares healthy tips for eating in moderation during the holiday season.
Together, Shaunda and Teresa discuss the significance of soul food in African American culture and highlight delicious Southern dishes that make up classic soul food holiday recipes like honey-baked ham, collard greens, candied yams, sweet potato casserole, and sweet potato pie.
Teresa shares tips on staying hydrated, exercising, and getting in your steps after meals. The episode also covers using the Instant Pot to make effortless yet delicious soul food holiday recipes.
Apple Podcasts: Soul Food Holiday Recipes
Spotify: Soul Food Holiday Recipes
What you’ll learn in this episode?
- How soul food holiday recipes are synonymous with African American culture
- List of popular Southern holiday foods
- Easy soul food holiday dinner recipes with Instant Pot
- Healthy tips for eating during the holidays
- What are soul food holidays recipes?
What are soul food holiday recipes?
Asked another way, “What is a soul food Thanksgiving menu?”
Today, soul food holidays are an opportunity to honor this rich culinary legacy and celebrate the flavors that have become essential to African American and American cuisine.
From traditional soul food classics like crispy fried chicken to savory collard greens, every soul food dish has a story and a connection to the people and the culture that created it.
Whether enjoying a slice of sweet potato pie or savoring a bowl of gumbo, soul food holidays are the perfect time to come together, share a meal, and celebrate the flavors that have captured our hearts and taste buds.
Even vegan soul food recipes.
What are your favorite holiday foods?
Soul food holiday recipes FAQs
What do you eat during Black History Month?
During Black History Month, you can enjoy notable recipes like collard greens, cornbread, baked macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, sweet potato pie, and banana pudding – just to name a few soul foods menu favorites.
These recipes are part of the authentic soul food family. Southern food recipes passed along through generations and a legacy of African American cooking. Black folks’ food!
Is Juneteenth an African holiday?
Juneteenth is a significant holiday that honors the end of slavery in the United States. It has become an essential part of African American culture and heritage.
On June 17, 2021, it was officially recognized as a federal holiday in the United States, underscoring its significance in American history and culture.
What is National Soul Food Month?
What National Days are coming up?
Soul food recipes like Southern peach cobbler, banana pudding, and fried chicken all have a national celebration day.
National Soul Food Month is an annual celebration in June in the United States. The same month as Black Music Month in June.
National Soul Food Month is a time to honor the rich culinary heritage of Black American cuisine and the many contributions that African American chefs and home cooks have made to the country’s food culture.
How do African Americans celebrate Thanksgiving?
Food is vital in Black culture because it brings people around the table and puts a pause on fast-paced living and the constant oppression of our people. Replacing it with good times, comfort food, happiness, and laughs, especially during the holidays.
From soul food favorites like Southern fried catfish, chicken with thick mushroom gravy, honey baked ham, to sweet potato casserole. All this food at once we call a soul food holiday meal, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s.
Links & resources mentioned in the episode:
Discover more soul food holiday recipes!
Transcript Ep. 12:
The Soul Food Pod – Episode 12 Transcript
Equipment
- Instant Pot electric pressure cooker (optional)
- Instant Pot Omni Plus oven (optional)
- Stand or hand electric mixer
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Southern sweet potato pie filling
- 1 ½ pound sweet potatoes washed and scrubbed (equals about 3 cups when softened and peeled)
- 12 oz evaporated milk
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter melted (or vegan butter)
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ginger minced
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Ingredients for the Southern sweet potato pie frosting (homemade cream cheese topping)
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Grease a 9-inch pie pan and set it aside.
- See my recipe HERE for almond flour homemade pie crust, or you can use a store-bought pie crust, dough, or pie shell that may or may not come with its own pie pan.
- Pro tip: Use an Instant Pot pressure cooker to soften and peel the sweet potatoes quickly and almost effortlessly!
- Open the Instant Pot lid and fill the stainless-steel inner pot with water to the ½ mark.
- Add the scrubbed sweet potatoes to the pot of water.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 12 minutes to loosen the potato skin.
- When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 12 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Pour the water and sweet potatoes into a colander in the sink to drain the hot water from the potatoes.
- Once the sweet potatoes are cool to the touch, peel and discard the skin.
- Gather 3 cups of sweet potato flesh.
- Add the sweet potato flesh, evaporated milk, brown sugar, egg, melted butter, vanilla extract, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt to a large bowl.
- Pulse or mix with a hand or stand electric mixer until the ingredients are combined and smooth.
- Pour the sweet potato mixture into the pie crust.
- Bake the sweet potato pie at 350 degrees F: in a conventional oven for 28-30 minutes, in the Instant Pot Omni Plus oven for 24-26 minutes, or until the pie is puffed and firm in the center. (Remember that cooking appliance times and oven temperatures will vary.)
- Allow the sweet potato pie to cool for at least 2-4 hours before garnishing or slicing.
For the soul food sweet potato pie cream cheese topping:
- Mix the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract by hand or with an electric mixer on low until combined.
- Spread an even layer of the cream cheese frosting on the cooled pie, or slice and top each piece of pie with a dollop of cream cheese topping.
- Serve this soul food sweet potato pie with cream cheese and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- You’ll probably have leftover sweet potato mix, depending on how deep-dish your pie pan is. You can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Or you can pour it into a Ziplock bag and freeze it for up to 3 months.
- You could also make mini sweet potato pies with any leftover pie filling.
- And don’t forget to use any leftover pie dough for the easiest Southern dessert ever – pie crust cookies!
Nutrition
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