Sunday, November 16, 2008

Secrets of Southern Cooking Revealed

Good food has incredible history. Can you imagine that the soul foods we enjoy at bistros and at home were introduced by families of the ancient Southern slave states? These meals they share every Sunday have now become most American homes specialties. Even the web has been conquered by different Southern cooking recipes. So learning cooking techniques is easy for every homemakers.

Not every recipe that spells Southern cooking is indeed genuine. You must know how to set Southern cooking apart from other cooking techniques. Note that Southerners are fond of frying so Southern foods are mostly deep fried. If you are avoiding too much fat but love eating Southern foods, then you better use vegetable oils like corn and olive oils.

Another incredible thing with Southern cooking is the use of seasonings. The determining factor is the extensive use of salt, onions, and bacon. Remember, Southern cooking doesn’t usually call for spices but for salty tang. Moreover, even boiled greens are commonly seasoned by bacon, onion, and salt.

On the other hand, what sets Southern cooking style apart from other baking techniques is the frequent use of buttermilk. The special taste of buttermilk has that distinctive Southern flavor. Regular milk won’t give the unique taste of cornbread and cookies.

When it comes to cooking ware Southern cooking wouldn’t be Southern cooking at all if not for cast iron. You can afford it since it is only two to three dollars and can be found at flee markets. Cast irons are good for cooking since they can hold heat for a longer time and cook food easily.

Compared with other cooking styles Southern cooking takes more time to cook especially the greens. Vegetables in Southern cooking aren’t stir fried. They are tender and delicious. However, other recipes like fried okra are just slightly cooked, while green beans take about two hours before becoming tender and dimly colored.

Another pointer to consider is the preparation of food before it is considered a product of Southern cooking. Remember that combining foods is the it thing in Southern cooking. When serving food, meat must always be coupled by greens. So if you are planning to have fried chicken and fried chops always bear in mind that you have to add fried bread, green beans, and cornbread to your recipe.

These are the techniques of having Southern cooking right in your kitchen. What makes Southern cooking addicting is the existence of these components. These are grounded on the history of Southern cooking. Missing one point will immediately make your food Southern cooking wannabes.

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