soul food

[sohl food]

noun

1. traditional African American cooking, originally developed by enslaved Black people in the rural South and including such foods as chitterlings, pig’s feet, collard greens, and cornbread.

   The cuisine of New Orleans is heavily influenced by Creole and Cajun cooking as well as soul food.

   Soul food is grounded in the ways African Americans have always fashioned a way out of no way, taking scraps and creating a food tradition that has stood the test of time.

2. the traditional cooking of a specified culture.

   Kimchi, the magical soul food of Korea, is popular worldwide.

   We talked with the restaurant’s founders about Ashkenazi soul food and the misunderstood gefilte fish.

soul food

noun

1. informal,  food, such as chitterlings or yams, traditionally eaten by Black people in the southern US

Other Word Forms

• soul-food adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of soul food¹

An Americanism dating back to 1960–65

Example Sentences

The culturally rich Black-majority city is also home to plenty of Black-owned restaurants, serving up everything from soul food, Burundian and Nigerian cuisines to sandwiches and steaks.

From Salon

It involves going to a soul food brunch spot after church with his family, practicing his swing at a driving range and hosting a game night.

From Los Angeles Times

Shy as a child, he had grown up to be outgoing and witty, a person who loved to cook soul food and make dance videos with his sister and post them on Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times

Outside of work, he spends his time looking for good books, honing his craft, and searching for L.A.’s best soul food spot.

From Los Angeles Times

Green and gold balloons, Oakland’s official colors, decorated the room, while dozens of people formed a long line to get a plate of soul food.

From Los Angeles Times