Fried chicken. Biscuits and gravy. Barbecued everything. Some foods from the American South have migrated throughout the nation. Even if you want to eat healthy, using deep south seasoning and recipes can bring that famous southern touch to your table.
We all know that deep frying is not considered a healthy way to cook. This is mainly because high heat alters vegetable fats, creating unhealthy 'trans fats' which can contribute to heart disease. In the old days, people used animal fats - pork lard, goose grease, or bear fat (said to make the best doughnuts) - which stood up better to the heat of frying. Today, however, people tend to avoid such saturated fats.
But can fried chicken taste food when it's done in the oven? Well, some say it can. The secret may be to brown the chicken first in butter or a high smoke oil like coconut and finish in the oven. In a case like this, the right seasoning can make the final product taste so good that your family or guests won't miss the extra crispiness that comes with deep frying.
Salt is used widely in southern dishes. In fact, salted fish are often eaten for breakfast. Today too much salt in the diet is known to be unhealthy, and care must be taken to use other, healthier spices to make foods appealing. Sea salt is better than the common, refined kind, but even it should be used sparingly. Other spices used widely in 'soul food' - red and black pepper, onion and garlic, and paprika - cut down the need for salt to make food palatable.
Cayenne pepper, one of the most widely used spices in this kind oi cuisine, is actually vary healthy. In fact, this spice can be purchased in capsules as a dietary supplement. It is said to increase circulation, help other nutrients in the body work better, and promote normal blood clotting. It contains more vitamin C than oranges.
Of course, not all of us like hot dishes, although others rave about Creole gumbos and Cajun dry rubs. Blander specialties of southern cooking include collard greens, done with a streak of fat, streak of lean (salt pork). There are special seasonings to give this same flavor without adding so much fat. Think, too, of the popular white gravy made with sausage and served over biscuits. Its flavor comes from the sausage and as much black pepper as you choose to apply.
Other vegetables were often cooked for a long time. This can seem strange to those who are used to lightly steamed beans and tossed salads. However, these healthy veggies taste great with southern stand-bys like sweet potatoes, Cole slaw, and cucumber pickles. Actually, baked sweet potatoes and low-sodium pickles are considered true health foods.
Coastal regions emphasize seafood, while riverside communities celebrate catfish. Gumbo might be an acquired taste, but shrimp are eaten across the nation. Molasses cookies, corn bread, and pan gravy are other comfort foods that everyone enjoys. Of course, there is also peanut butter. Southern specialties will continue to grace tables across the country.
We all know that deep frying is not considered a healthy way to cook. This is mainly because high heat alters vegetable fats, creating unhealthy 'trans fats' which can contribute to heart disease. In the old days, people used animal fats - pork lard, goose grease, or bear fat (said to make the best doughnuts) - which stood up better to the heat of frying. Today, however, people tend to avoid such saturated fats.
But can fried chicken taste food when it's done in the oven? Well, some say it can. The secret may be to brown the chicken first in butter or a high smoke oil like coconut and finish in the oven. In a case like this, the right seasoning can make the final product taste so good that your family or guests won't miss the extra crispiness that comes with deep frying.
Salt is used widely in southern dishes. In fact, salted fish are often eaten for breakfast. Today too much salt in the diet is known to be unhealthy, and care must be taken to use other, healthier spices to make foods appealing. Sea salt is better than the common, refined kind, but even it should be used sparingly. Other spices used widely in 'soul food' - red and black pepper, onion and garlic, and paprika - cut down the need for salt to make food palatable.
Cayenne pepper, one of the most widely used spices in this kind oi cuisine, is actually vary healthy. In fact, this spice can be purchased in capsules as a dietary supplement. It is said to increase circulation, help other nutrients in the body work better, and promote normal blood clotting. It contains more vitamin C than oranges.
Of course, not all of us like hot dishes, although others rave about Creole gumbos and Cajun dry rubs. Blander specialties of southern cooking include collard greens, done with a streak of fat, streak of lean (salt pork). There are special seasonings to give this same flavor without adding so much fat. Think, too, of the popular white gravy made with sausage and served over biscuits. Its flavor comes from the sausage and as much black pepper as you choose to apply.
Other vegetables were often cooked for a long time. This can seem strange to those who are used to lightly steamed beans and tossed salads. However, these healthy veggies taste great with southern stand-bys like sweet potatoes, Cole slaw, and cucumber pickles. Actually, baked sweet potatoes and low-sodium pickles are considered true health foods.
Coastal regions emphasize seafood, while riverside communities celebrate catfish. Gumbo might be an acquired taste, but shrimp are eaten across the nation. Molasses cookies, corn bread, and pan gravy are other comfort foods that everyone enjoys. Of course, there is also peanut butter. Southern specialties will continue to grace tables across the country.
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