27 Southern Side Dish Recipes You Need To Try At Least Once - Tasting Table

"Southern cuisine is something that many Americans recognize but might struggle to define. You could rattle off some of the classics - biscuits, fried chicken, grits, fried green tomatoes, and beyond - but you might not be able to hit on a precise definition of the category as a whole. One of the reasons it is so difficult to pin down is that Southern cuisine is vast, encompassing everything from Creole and Cajun cooking in Louisiana to apple stack cake and dumplings from Appalachia."

"Fluffy biscuits and creamy gravy, fried fish and chicken, and sugary sweet pecan pie are just the tip of the iceberg. But Southern cuisine can be healthy, too, especially when it comes to vegetable-based recipes like collard greens and succotash. We've opted for a mixture here to celebrate the range of options, so the next time you find yourself needing inspiration for a delicious side dish, let this be your excuse (if you needed one) to make it a Southern side."

Southern cuisine spans a wide range of regional styles, from Creole and Cajun cooking in Louisiana to apple stack cake and dumplings from Appalachia. The cuisine draws heavily on the culinary traditions of enslaved African-Americans and centers on locally available ingredients. Iconic items include biscuits, fried chicken, grits, and fried green tomatoes, often classified as comfort food because of their rich, indulgent nature. Many dishes are high in fat or sugar, such as biscuits with gravy and pecan pie. Vegetable-based preparations like collard greens and succotash offer healthier options within the tradition. Family recipes and intergenerational transfer maintain the cuisine's diversity.

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