Southern cooking has aspects from many ethnic cultures. Many people think that early southern cooking was simple and plainly flavored but this is not the case. In fact, about a hundred years after this country was colonized a kind of renaissance of cooking happened in the South. Introduction of various ethnic peoples into the developing culture brought with them their styles of cooking and combined produced some of the most amazingly flavorful foods of the time period.
Southerners are fond of their condiments for food. They love sauces, dips, dressings, spices, herbs, most anything they can add to a dish to give it a little extra flavor. Condiments are part of what gives southern cooking its particular taste. With that in mind here are the ten most used condiments in the Southern United States of America:
Number one on the list of the ten most used condiments in the Southern United States of America would probably be salt. Southerners use more salt than anyone I know. Frankly they use to much salt. I have seen people in local fast food burger joints dump the salt on their French fries after the fries had been salted twice already. Once at the factory and once in the holding tray at the restaurant. Then they will dip these salt fries in ketchup which is rather salty in and of itself and shove this tomato, potato, salt mixture in their mouths like there was no tomorrow. And if they keep eating that stuff there may not be. At least for them anyway.
Number two on the list of the ten most used condiments in the Southern United States of America would be black pepper. The black pepper we use in the South tends to be finely ground and has a very mild flavor. Personally I like freshly ground coarse pepper on my foods for the flavor and taste and mild heat it imparts to the meal at hand.
Number three on the list of the ten most used condiments in the Southern United States of America would have to be ketchup. A tangy sauce made from tomatoes and spices is used on hamburgers, hotdogs and meatloaf. Ketchup is probably the most used condiment in the whole country.
Number four on the list of the ten most used condiments in the Southern United States of America would be mayonnaise. Ask any country boy what he thinks about a tomato and mayo sandwich on the whitest bread he can buy and he will tell you its ‘ dam good I reckon. ‘
Number five on the list of the ten most used condiments in the Southern United States of America would have to be mustard. Southerners love mustard, all kinds of mustard. From deli to yellow to stone ground mustard is used in many southern creations.
Number six on the list of the ten most used condiments in the Southern United States of America would have to be pickles. Southerners use pickles in many recipes and even eat them plain by themselves. No pickles are not just for pregnant women here in the South. You will find their husbands eating them too.
Number seven on the list of the ten most used condiments in the Southern United States of America would have to be chili. Most people don’t think of chili as a condiment but here in the south we put chili on a lot of stuff. Rare is it will you find a home cooked hamburger without some coleslaw and chili bulging from the edges of the bun. Add some mayo and mustard to that and you have a meal any honest southern boy will love. You want peace and quiet at your dinner table, feed your men this and all you will hear are grunts and exclamations of pleasure from them for at least 30 minutes.
Number eight on the list of the ten most used condiments in the Southern United States of America would have to be hot sauce. There as many different types of hot sauce as there are people dashing or pouring it on their food. Hot sauce combines two of the things southerners love, hot spiciness and saltiness. Used on greens and many others foods its a staple in any southern kitchen.
Number nine on the list of the ten most used condiments in the Southern United States of America would have to be chow-chow. Chow-chow is basically picked cabbage with a few spices and a little sugar added in. There are many variations of this basic recipe but in the end its all the same to a southerner. Chow-chow goes well on beans, burgers, hotdogs, greens, and many other food stuffs. Try it if you have never done so and you may find your next favorite condiment. Don’t forget to thank the South for this wonderful addition to food culture.
Number ten on the list of the ten most used condiments in the Southern United States of America would have to be vinegar. Southerners love vinegar on greens and seafood and slaw. A regional favorite is apple cider vinegar. Pickled eggs, wieners, and hogs feet are legendary in the south. An acquired taste for some and a standard for others these foods can be found in mom and pop stores all over the south.
I hope you finish this article with a good sense of humor and feeling that you learned a little about the southerner and his favorite pastime, eating.
