Southern Christmas Food Traditions
Southern Christmas Food Traditions
Our favorite family dishes come to mind when we think of the holidays. Across the country, people relive their youth by serving the food they have come to know and love. Nothing says family better than our food traditions.
Southern Christmas food traditions are deeply rooted in history and shaped by our culture. Flavorful ingredients and comfort food as we know it are synonymous with Southern cuisine.
Southern Christmas Food Traditions-The main course
Ham: A classic Southern Christmas dish that is roasted or glazed.
Turkey:Turkey is another popular staple that is usually roasted or smoked. Traditional sides like mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy, and stuffing finish the meal.
Shrimp and Grits: Nothing says "Southern" like shrimp and grits. In the South, this is traditionally served on Christmas Eve, made with Shrimp, grits, onions, celery and butter.
Fried Chicken: Soul food at its best! A true Southern classic that shares a plate with mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans.
Southern Sides
No dish is complete without the beloved side dishes we have all come to know and love. It begins with the starches--creamy mashed potatoes made with butter, milk, cream, salt, and pepper.
Sweet potato casserole is another well-known favorite.
Then comes the stuffing. Southern stuffing is usually made with cornbread. In other parts of the country, stuffing is made with regular bread as the base. Herbs and spices add flavor, and then it is stuffed into a turkey or baked on its own.
Other sides
Green beans are a regular on most holiday tables. Made with bacon, onions, and butter, no meal is complete in the South without green beans.Cranberry sauce is another favorite, jellied or made from scratch as a sauce. Deviled eggs add to the fun, and gravy provides the perfect finish!
Southern Christmas desserts
Nothing says Southern Christmas food traditions like fruitcake--a cake mixture of dried fruits and nuts soaked in alcohol, a true Southern tradition.
Ambrosia is another classic dessert with oranges, pineapple, bananas, and coconut. A creamy fruit salad served alongside pies and other desserts. Speaking of pies, let's not forget pecan pie.
Other Southern desserts like pound cake and coconut cake will grace many Southern tables over the holidays, and to finish the sweet treats, Egg nog.
Southern Christmas food traditions are a rich and flavorful blend of what has been traditionally available in the South. Recipes that are passed down from generation to generation. They reflect the warmth and hospitality the South is known for.
At Reid's, we work hard to keep our Southern traditions alive. We use local vendors and offer an authentic taste of the South. Try one of our Southern gift baskets if you want to share some Southern hospitality.
Reid's is Charlotte's original hometown specialty food store and favorite culinary destination. Reid's specializes in superior meats, wines, regional provisions, locally grown produce, and seasonally fresh meals & gift baskets for our loyal customer base.