Why Do Black People Eat Sweet Potato Pie Instead Of Pumpkin?
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What is the favorite pie of Black people?
Hands down, it’s sweet potato pie. The Southern dessert that Adrian Miller dedicated an article to telling the story about how sweet potato pie became African Americans’ Thanksgiving dessert.
“For millions of African Americans like me, Thanksgiving Day means sweet potatoes, not pumpkins.” – Adrian Miller for The Washington Post
From motherland West African yams to the American South, African Americans today have continued the tradition of sweet potato pie with holiday dinners.
Is sweet potato pie a Black thing?
Soul food recipes traditionally combine African American foods derived from Black enslaved people’s take on American and British cuisine.
Combined with the essence of West African color, warmth, flavors, and traditions. Sweet potato pie is one of these classic soul food recipes – causing many people to ask, “Is sweet potato pie a Black thing?”
So yes, sweet potato pie is a Black thing – yet easy enough for anyone to make and everyone to love!
Why do Black people eat sweet potato pie instead of pumpkin pie?
Regarding fundamental resources, sweet potatoes are more accessible year-round in the South and more manageable to cook than pumpkins. Sweet potatoes also have some similarity to the African native yam.
What is Black folks’ sweet potato pie?
A Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe is a delightful evergreen dessert in the Black community. I’s especially popular during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. A Southern dessert packed with flavorful seasonings and spices in the tradition of authentic Black folks’ soul food cooking.
How do you make a Black folks’ Southern sweet potato pie?
This pie is traditionally made with softened or mashed sweet potatoes, eggs, sugar, butter, and the best blend of vanilla, cinnamon, and other sweet spices.
Below are simple instructions for making an easy sweet potato pie recipe:
- Grease the pie pan.
- Pressure cook or boil the sweet potatoes.
- Drain the cooked sweet potatoes.
- Peel the sweet potatoes.
- Gather the potato flesh.
- Mix the potato flesh, spices, and ingredients.
- Pour the filling into the pie crust.
- Bake the pie.
- Let the pie cool.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
*Check out the recipe below for a complete list of ingredients and instructions with step-by-step guided pictures.
🎙 Listen to the recipe: Black Folks Sweet Potato Pie
Ingredients for sweet potato pie
Sweet potatoes – A naturally sweet pie filling with a smooth, creamy texture.
Evaporated milk – Adds a velvety smoothness to the pie.
Light brown sugar – Adds a touch of sweetness with caramel-like flavor.
Eggs – The binding agent that ensures the pie filling holds its shape.
Butter – Adds a rich flavor that complements the natural sweet potatoes.
Vanilla extract – For a warm and comforting balance in the flavor profile.
Ginger – Adds a hint of spiciness and a subtle warm kick.
Nutmeg – Adds a warm, nutty, and earthly balance to the sweetness.
Cinnamon – Adds a comforting warmth and heat with earthy flavor.
Clove – Contributes to the pie’s overall soulful spiciness.
Salt – A necessary contrast to balance the sweet spice profiles.
Pie crust – Elevates this dish from a sweet potato soufflé to a sweet potato pie with a simple, delicious, flaky encasing.
What makes it a Black folks’ sweet potato pie?
Every Southern sweet potato pie is not a Black folks’ sweet potato pie. Unless it’s made with a flawless blend of soul food sweet and savory spices!
Black folks are known for their unique sweet potato pie recipe. Creamy and decadent comfort food at its finest!
Sweet potato pie is the only thing better than pumpkin pie after Thanksgiving dinner. (Read on for more about sweet potato pie vs. pumpkin pie later in this post!)
With traditional brown sugar and butter flavors complemented by hints of vanilla extract to create the perfect balance of sweetness and rich, warm spice, it’s hard to enjoy only one little piece of Black folks’ sweet potato pie!’
What is the African American history of sweet potato pie?
Asked another way, “Is sweet potato pie Black culture?”
Sweet potato pie was made by Black folks back in Africa when they used the native-grown vegetable, yams. It’s a legacy of the best holiday traditions handed down from generation to generation as part of sweet potato pie Black history.
Today, African Americans have continued the tradition of sweet potato pie with celebratory gatherings and holiday dinners.
So yes, sweet potato pie is a Black people recipe – easy enough for anyone to make and everyone to love!
What’s the difference between sweet potato pie and pumpkin pie?
So why is sweet potato pie better than pumpkin pie?
It may seem like sweet potato pie is just a fancier, more flavorful version of pumpkin pie (and it is). Still, there are some significant differences between the two.
Pumpkin pies are traditionally made with sugar, spices, and eggs. In comparison, sweet potato pies are an elevated dessert with soulful flavor combinations like cinnamon sugar and sweet vanilla, cloves, and nutmeg. They mix beautifully with softened sweet potatoes.
Most pumpkin pies tend to be bland, dense, and creamier. Even with the addition of pumpkin pie spice, pumpkin pie is no comparison.
In contrast, sweet potato pie has more texture and an airier and fluffier filling.
Which is better, pumpkin or sweet potato pie?
If you ask Black folks, there is no debate about which is better. The answer is always sweet potato.
What’s the question?
Did you enjoy this article about sweet potato pie Black history, and why don’t Black people eat pumpkin pie?
Sweet potato holds a special place in African American culture. So much that it’d be almost blasphemy to replace our beloved Black folks’ sweet potato pie with a pumpkin pie as part of the Thanksgiving table spread.
“Black folks don’t like pumpkin pie. Side-by-side, a pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie can look very similar. By and large, these two favorites of the Fall appeal to two different cultures.” – Stefan Roots for Chester Matters
Have you had it?
Would you make it?
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