Cooking Tips From The South

Cooking Mississippi Style

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Southern cuisine?   A few words come to mind such as fried, spicy, diverse, unique, and the comfort food of all comfort foods.  The state of Mississippi is the summation of all of these.   Locals from Mississippi embrace their love of food and showcase it through a unique down-home flair in each culinary masterpiece.   Let's take a look at how you can embrace this culinary style.

Find Your Flair

If you’ve never been to Mississippi before it’s important to point out that they think of food as an event rather than just a meal.  They show off their style by hosting festivals and fairs all over the state which keep visitors coming back for more.  Visitors tend to like eating their way across the state on some of the culinary trails, and hitting the festivals along the way.  These events offer a way for locals and tourists alike to immerse themselves in the deep Southern culture and experience the variety of food available.  Finding your favorites as you travel through these events is a great way to discover your favorite Mississippi foods.

Fried is a Way of Life

Would a Southern meal really be complete if something wasn’t fried?   Think of Southern fried chicken and you will imagine one of the best mouth-watering meals you can get.  Of course, you'll discover quickly that frying doesn't stop with chicken.  Look for everything from fried okra to fried green tomatoes to fried squash flowers and more.  The use of a homemade batter, or bread crumbs, flour or cornmeal is used by the most talented Southern cooks.  There are hundreds of variations to these fried recipes but everyone has the idea that their way is the best.   Any way you choose to make it or eat it will surely leave your taste buds longing for more.

Seafood is Royalty

Due to their closeness to the Gulf of Mexico, seafood plays a big role in Mississippi cuisine.  The availability of shrimp, fish, and other seafood makes it easy to see why so many Southern dishes include some, if not all, of these.  Not only will you find shrimp, crab, and fish from the Gulf, but with all the waterways and the bayous in the state, you'll find lots and lots of crawfish, oysters, mullet, and other shallow water goodies. If you have a boat, a net, a pole, or know someone who does, you can eat like royalty.

Do the Delta

When traveling around Mississippi, you must take time to enjoy the intriguing history and culture of  the Mississippi Delta.  The Delta is well known for catfish and blues music, but you will also be able to  find a wide variety of influences in this region of the deep south.  Corn husk wrapped hot tamales are  standard fare around the Delta region.  This is a fertile valley full of wild game along with the aquatic resources.  Because of the diversity, you can easily find local cooks who specialize in everything from grilled oysters to pig roasts.

There is not one typical style of cooking in the South, making the exploration even more fun.    Mississippi locals are known for their passion for food, making this state one of the best places in the world to immerse yourself in the heritage just by eating a meal.