Brazilian black-eyed peas and rice, better known as baião, is a soulful one-pot dish where creamy beans and tender rice cook together into something rich, savory, and deeply comforting. This version leans into smoky aromatics, layered spices, and slow-building flavor, creating a texture that lands somewhere between fluffy rice and stewed beans with every bite …
Side Dishes
Christmas always brings in new toys, and I'm happy to have this Instapot to break in and make you the beneficiary. So let's just say this will be the gift that keeps on giving. Seeing I'm late to the Instapot craze, I'm in catch-up mode and hope to be as prolific as Quincy Jones once I get the hang of it. For my first foray into things, I decided to convert an older traditional stove-top recipe for white bean stew. Plus, I had leftover ham hocks I was trying to get rid of from the pork nachos recipe for tonight's bowl games. Feel free to use this recipe to make black-eyed peas for New Year's as the peas are easily substitutable for white beans in this recipe.
Welcome to my kitchen, where soul food recipes collide with fresh veggies from the garden! This week I'm focusing on one of my favorite vegetables-- okra. It's a Southern soul food staple. Consuming okra in big amounts is a must!!! From adding texture and flavor to dishes like gumbo or steaming them alongside a juicy …
Creamy, fragrant, and slow-sway seasoned—this is Jamaican rice and peas doing a full lovers-rock two-step in your kitchen. Caribbean style oxtail with rice and peas is my jam! This classic Jamaican rice and peas is built on coconut milk richness, fresh thyme scented depth, and island technique that turns pantry staples into pure comfort. It’s …
There are few things that are as comforting as a big bowl of homemade creamed corn. This soul food classic is the perfect combination of sweet and savory, and it's always a hit at potlucks and family gatherings. This cream corn recipe is soul food at its best. The sweet corn is cooked in a …
There's nothing quite like a crisp and refreshing blue cheese wedge salad on a hot summer day. A wedge salad is a simple yet elegant dish that can be easily dressed up or down. The key to a good wedge salad is a crisp, fresh iceberg lettuce. For this wedge salad recipe, I like to …
Making a fennel and apple salad is the perfect way to enjoy the Taste of Fall. Fennel and apples are in season, so they're at their peak flavor. This salad is light, crunchy, and refreshing. It's a great way to enjoy the taste of Fall, plus, it's super easy to make. So if you're looking …
As the weather starts to warm up, I find myself craving lighter, fresher dishes. This cherry tomato salad is the perfect solution for your next summer bbq! It's easy to make and packed with flavor. The sweetness of the peaches pairs perfectly with the tangy feta and creamy avocado, and the Shishito peppers add a …
Cabbage is a leafy green vegetable that is often used in Southern and soul food cooking. It has a slightly bitter taste, so is often cooked with bacon or ham to balance out the flavor. Cabbage is also used in slaws and salads, and can be pickled for a tangy treat. So whether you're looking …
Velvet beans. Slow smoke. Sunday-dinner energy in a pot. These beans require few ingredients but have amazing flavor and have become one of my favorite bean recipes. Time is the critical technique for getting that deep, rich flavor so go for longer cook time. These soul food butter beans are everything you want from a …
Crispy roasted okra is one of my new favorite veggies. Its a no-fuss, delicious side that is ready in less than 30 minutes. Down here in Texas we're lucky to still be able to get fresh okra locally. If you're fortunate enough as well this is a great side you can add that will free you up to focus on other dishes. Many people fear okra because of the slime. Don't fear the slime, as a matter of fact, follow the great Nelson Mandela's words and don't fear anything - "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." I recently discovered the musician Mimi. She is an incredibly inspiring and brave artist. Check out her song "Afraid" as an example of her talent and testimony.
Most creamed spinach recipes are pretty basic and uninspiring. This is soul food and this version changes things! Indulge in the velvety richness of Creamed Spinach, elevated with the luscious texture of Mexican crema and a hint of fenugreek spice. A harmonious blend that transforms a classic side into a flavorful culinary delight. Related Green …
Related Posts Ham hocks are a staple in soul food cooking, adding rich and smoky flavors to a variety of recipes especially stewed dishes. These flavorful cuts of meat come from the pork leg, and are a versatile ingredient that can be used in soups, stews, greens, and more. What Is A Ham Hock Ham …
Sweet potatoes are a type of root vegetable that is native to South America. They were first cultivated by the Incas, and later spread to the Caribbean and Africa via the Transatlantic slave trade. Yams, which most people mistake for the more common sweet potatoes, were essential part of African culture and diet. During colonization …
A serious island groove - a quick fried sweet plantains recipe with guava glaze a sweet Caribbean side dish you’ll never forget. This plantain recipe takes plátanos maduros fritos to the next level—pan-fried ripe plantains in rich coconut oil, finished with a sticky-sweet guava glaze. A plate of golden brown, caramelized plantains seasoned with dry …
Have you ever made delicious jerk chicken? It's so good! And it's really easy to make. But what do you serve with it? I've got some ideas for you. Check out my blog post for some banging delicious ideas. Trust me, you won't be disappointed! Jerk Chicken along with brown stew chicken is like Jamaican …
This chickpea salad recipe is flavorful, plus quick and easy to make – perfect for a busy weeknight dinner! The leftovers taste just as good the next day, making it perfect for meal prep. Whether you're looking for a delicious and nutritious salad to bring to a potluck or cookout, or simply want a flavorful …
Looking for a delicious salad to add to your meal plan? Look no further than this black eyed pea salad with corn! Cool, crunchy, citrus-slicked soul with a slow-jam swagger. This blackeyed pea salad, known across backyards and potlucks as Texas caviar, is bright, briny, and built for hot days when the stove stays off …
As I continue to make dishes rooted in South American cuisine, this Brazilian Collard Greens dish is one of my favorite. It's simple, quick, but has crazy amounts of flavor. Brazilians cut their greens into thin strips kinda like shredded paper. This allows for a very quick cook, ??? (15 minutes) sauted in an oil infused by smoked ham hocks, lots of garlic, and onions.
When I cook greens I don't even think about adding the greens to the pot until my stock has simmered all day and then sat another day in the fridge. Killer stock makes for extra nice potlikker and will take your collards from ashy to classy. Enjoy the greens, but don't forget to save the potlikker and use for just about everything. I drink a shot first for quality control.
Fluffy Nigerian Jollof Rice with Smoky Depth, Fiery Heat, and Rich Tomato Flavor
Easy breezy Israeli-style couscous aka pasta pearls make for a quick great base for any dinner salad including this Israeli couscous recipe for citrus salad. This is a great way to get a simple yet delicious dish on the table for dinner tonight. Couscous whether pearl or grainy is simple and easy to make. But as …
This air fryer asparagus recipe provides a lot of bang with very little effort. Beyond the sheer convenience, it’s big on taste and achieves great texture. Asparagus is great anytime, but it’s a perfect side dish for a weeknight dinner. It also has enough celebrity status to enjoy on special occasions. The beauty of asparagus …
There ain't nothing more comforting than a big pot of creamy navy beans and ham! These are slowly simmered into a rich, deeply flavored bowl of Southern comfort. This is a very simple soul food recipe. It comes down to two ingredients plus a few add ons playing a supporting role. It's proof that humble …
A smashed cucumber salad makes your regular cucumber salad seem boring and basic as hell. There is room to level up pretty much anything. Cucumber salad is no exception. Cool crunch, bright bite, dressed with intention and perfect as a bbq side dish. This smashed cucumber salad—sometimes called a crushed cucumber salad—is what happens when …
Southern vegan collard greens prove you don’t need smoked meat to build deep soul food flavor. Slow-simmered greens soak up layers of smoky richness from ingredients like liquid smoke, smoked paprika, and smoked sea salt, creating tender greens with silky potlikker and just enough bite to keep things interesting. It’s a plant-based take rooted in …
Crispy skin, bright citrus, and black-pepper swagger These lemon pepper chicken thighs hit that sweet spot where weeknight speed meets front-row flavor - crispy, juicy, and loud in all the right ways. Using deboned skin-on chicken thighs in the air fryer means maximum crackle in about 25 minutes, solving the “I want fried-chicken energy without …
Creamy Southern potato salad is a cookout and Sunday dinner staple made with tender potatoes folded into a rich, tangy dressing layered with mustard, mayo, eggs, and just the right crunch from fresh vegetables. The key is balancing texture - soft but not mushy potatoes coated in a silky dressing that gets even better after …
Bright, tender, and full of island soul—this Jamaican steamed cabbage is comfort food with a spicy kick and pure reggae rhythm. Flavor lovers, let me tell ya—I love Jamaican steamed cabbage, and when that cabbage hits the pan with carrots, bell peppers, and a whisper of thyme, you know you’re groovin’ in the right kitchen. …
Savor the zesty flavors of Cuban style black beans infused with aromatic sofrito and orange zest cooked in your instant pot to save time. A delightful blend of savory and citrusy notes! Indulge in the rich and vibrant flavors of Cuban cuisine with this banging recipe for black beans made with sofrito and brightened with …
These southern green beans with salt pork and smoked bacon are slow-simmered low and steady, soaking up smoky, savory flavor from seasoned broth until every bite is infused end-to-end. The beans are stewed slowly building flavor in layers and finished with a touch of acid for balance. The result is perfectly tender beans with a …
This fried brown rice might be as good as it gets. It’s quick and makes great use of flavorful soul food ingredients like black-eyed peas and collard greens for a great side or main dish recipe option. Though the greens and peas are uncommon ingredients for fried rice, they work, and work well. I often …
Vegan Cranberry Beans Slow-Simmered to Creamy, Herb-Laced Perfection Now listen here, my flavor-seekin' brothers and sisters - this cranberry beans recipe ain’t just simmerin’, it’s struttin’ like Showbiz and AG on a “Next Level” loop, smooth and steady with soul-soaked bass. Cranberry beans simmer down into something downright luxurious - creamy centers wrapped in a …
Soulful Southern Purple Hull Peas with Deep Country Flavor Alright now my fellow flavor peeps, this right here is soul food slow jammin’ with every spoonful—we talkin’ tender purple hull peas and okra, simmered low and slow like David Ruffin croonin’ “Common Man” on a Sunday afternoon. Recipe and Video included. These Southern purple hull …
Slow-simmered greens with bassline depth, back-porch soul, and a little island swagger These braised mustard greens cook low and patient, soaking up smoked turkey, sweet onions, and a whisper of jerk heat until bitter turns buttery and bold turns balanced. Rooted in Southern collard greens tradition but remixed with rhythm, this mustard greens recipe solves …
Stewed okra is an amazing concept in my opinion. It's proof that you only need a few ingredients to make a delicious dish. I've lost count, but this is another recipe installment for Food Fidelity's celebration of a non-existant Okra Month. You're likely to have all the ingredients you need on hand should you decide to make it.
These instant pot baked beans with bacon deliver everything you love about classic barbecue baked beans in a fraction of the time. Creamy beans are pressure cooked with bacon until tender, then simmered with smoky meat, sweet molasses, tangy barbecue sauce, and savory aromatics for a rich, thick, and deeply flavorful side dish that tastes …
This braised cabbage is probably the best cabbage you'll probably eat. The hyperbole is legit. The cabbage is braised to delicious tenderness and flavored primarily with the fat cap from leftover smoked brisket. This is SOUL FOOD! The braised cabbage is absolutely wonderful and the brisket fat will make you want to forget about your …
You’ll want to make this microwave corn on the cob a key member of your weeknight side dish rotation. It’s quick, no fuss, and damn delicious. Juicy kernels stay intact and literally burst with flavor with each bite which is enhanced by the melted jerk compound butter. The compound butter you’ll have to make at …
Slow-simmered, smoky, and deeply comforting—this is soul food that rides easy and eats heavy. These southern style pinto beans are the kind of comfort food that shows up humble and leaves unforgettable. Built on patient simmering, smoky ham hocks, and a bold hit of Haitian epis for Caribbean vibes, this pot of soul food pinto …