Southerners love food, and most have been raised not to waste it. Here are a few dishes that prove the Southern palate is hearty and varied. You may find some new favorites here; a few will make you scratch your head. Many of these recipes originated from enslaved cooks in the South.
Pear Salad

Canned pears topped with mayonnaise, grated cheese, and usually a maraschino cherry are a tried-and-true Southern favorite.
Get the recipe: Pear Salad
Boiled Peanuts
People outside the South will claim boiled peanuts are slimy and gross. Nothing could be further from the truth. They’re tender, salty, and delicious.
Grits
Southerners love grits in all incarnations: Baked Cheese Grits Casserole, Shrimp and Grits, or just a bowl of grits with butter for breakfast. Uh, no sugar, please.
Get the recipe: Baked Cheese Grits Casserole
Pickled Pigs Feet
When it was time for butchering the hogs, no part of that animal was wasted. Many people eat pig’s feet today, usually pickled or boiled.
Sweet Tea
Just like all soft drinks are cokes, all tea is sweet. Unless it’s not, in which case it’s not Southern anyway.
Get the recipe: Sweet Tea
Chitlins (Chitterlings)
Pig intestines are cleaned and cooked in various ways. The strong flavor and the texture can be off-putting for some.
Fried Green Tomatoes
Unripe green tomatoes coated in cornmeal and fried. The tartness and unusual texture can be unexpected but is delicious.
Get the recipe: Fried Green Tomatoes
Okra
Okra may be fried, boiled, or roasted, and it’s definitely a Southern favorite.
Get the recipe: Skillet Fried Okra
Pimento Cheese
It may be trendy and found on almost every restaurant menu, but Pimento Cheese was once a Southern cook’s way of stretching a dollar to make sandwiches without meat.
Get the recipe: Pimento Cheese
Cheese Straws
There is nothing like homemade cheese straws. Crispy and light, they’re a delicate concoction of butter, cheese, and flour.
Get the recipe: Cheese Straws
Hummingbird Cake
This is a delicious spice cake filled with bananas, pineapple, and pecans and topped with a sweet cream cheese frosting.
Chicken and Dumplings
Another recipe that originated from the need to save money and work with what you have: Boiled chicken with simple dumplings made from flour, shortening or butter, and water.
Get the recipes: Southern Chicken and Dumplings
Best Desserts
If you’re having a big family gathering, good desserts are a must!
Get the recipes: Desserts for Days