Here’s a full classic soul food dinner plate recipe with everything made from scratch. I’ve broken it down by component for clarity:
1. Fried Chicken
Ingredients:
- 4 bone-in chicken thighs (or your choice)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Oil for frying (vegetable or peanut oil)
Instructions:
- Marinate chicken in buttermilk for at least 1 hour (overnight is best).
- Mix flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish.
- Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
- Dredge chicken in flour mixture, shake off excess.
- Fry chicken 12–15 minutes per side, until golden and internal temp is 165°F (74°C).
- Drain on paper towels.
2. Collard Greens
Ingredients:
- 1 lb collard greens, washed and chopped
- 2 slices smoked bacon or ½ cup diced ham
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- Salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste
Instructions:
- In a large pot, cook bacon until crispy, remove and set aside.
- Sauté onion and garlic in bacon fat until soft.
- Add greens and stir until wilted.
- Pour in chicken broth, cover, and simmer 45 minutes–1 hour.
- Season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
3. Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients:
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Cook pasta according to package, drain.
- In a saucepan, melt butter, whisk in flour for 1–2 min.
- Slowly add milk, whisking until thickened.
- Add cheese, stir until melted.
- Combine with pasta and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20 min if desired.
4. Candied Yams
Ingredients:
- 3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- Optional: marshmallows for topping
Instructions:
- Boil sweet potatoes until tender, drain.
- Melt butter, mix with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Toss sweet potatoes in mixture.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25 minutes.
- Optional: top with marshmallows and broil for 3–5 minutes until golden.
5. Cornbread
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 4 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup melted butter
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Mix dry ingredients.
- Stir in milk, egg, and butter until combined.
- Pour into greased 8-inch pan.
- Bake 20–25 minutes until golden.
Serve each item side by side on a plate for a traditional soul food dinner experience.
If you want, I can also make a simplified version of this plate that takes less than an hour to cook but still tastes amazing. Do you want me to do that?
