13 Southern Foods That Your Northern Friends Just Won’t Understand
Every different region of the U.S. has foods that are normal for the area, but seem crazy and weird to the rest of the country. Well, the South is no exception.
We rounded up 13 dishes from the South that will make your friends from out of town scratch their heads when they visit.
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Grits
Grits are one of the most versatile southern foods out there because they can basically be eaten for any meal. They’re a staple breakfast side but also make for a delicious base in fancier dishes like shrimp & grits.
Okra
Okra is a super popular vegetable down south and it’s most commonly served fried, but it can also be pickled, roasted, stewed, or put into soups like gumbo.
Chocolate Gravy
Yes, you can have chocolate for breakfast, and we suggest smothering your biscuits in it.
Ambrosia Salad
This is a very controversial dish that’s typically found at potlucks or family parties. Ambrosia salad consists of pineapple, mandarin oranges, grapes, maraschino cherries, marshmallows, and pecans all mixed up in whipped cream and sour cream. It’s a very interesting dish, and people either love it or hate it.
Boiled Peanuts
It’s exactly what it sounds like. Peanuts are left in their shell to slowly boil in seasoned water until they’re tender. If you’re on a road trip down south, you’ll probably drive by a few roadside boiled peanut stands.
Pimento Cheese
Also known as the “caviar of the South,” pimento cheese is a combination of cheddar cheese, pimento peppers, and mayonnaise. It’s often eaten as a spread on crackers or layered onto sandwiches.
Fried Chicken Gizzards
A chicken gizzard is basically the stomach of a chicken, so people often turn their noses up at this dish. In the south, chicken gizzards are most popularly fried but they can also be boiled or grilled.
Frog Legs
Frog legs are most common in Louisiana due to the rich French culture, but they can be found across the south. Many say that frog legs taste like a mixture between catfish and chicken, but you’ll have to try them yourself to find out.
Hush Puppies
Hush puppies are crispy, deep-fried balls of cornmeal that are often served as a side with seafood. The inside tastes similar to a warm and chewy slice of cornbread.
Chicken Fried Steak
Think fried chicken, but make it steak. If you haven’t caught on yet, we really like to fry our food in the South.
Brunswick Stew
This traditional southern dish is a stew of beans, vegetables, and meat. It used to be made with squirrel, rabbit, or even opossum, but nowadays, Brunswick stew is more commonly made with pork, beef, or chicken.
Chicken & Waffles
This one has become more widely popular, but it’s always been a southern staple. There’s nothing like a plate of chicken and waffles covered in hot syrup on a Sunday morning.