Pairing your soul food meal with the perfect wine will enhance the dish, giving the meal the recognition it deserves to be appreciated to the fullest.

 

The roots of soul food run through Africa and the Americas, including the Caribbean, with occasional nods to other cultures.

 

Wine pairings are a great way to not only accentuate the flavors in this cuisine, but they can also invite you to enjoy the foods you grew up on in new ways. After all, soul food can be a journey.

 

Here are 10 popular soul food dishes with wine pairing recommendations.

 

Shrimp and Grits

 

This dish hails from the American South but is loved across the country. It typically features scallions, bacon and stone-ground, cheesy grits.

 

Pairing it with a bright, substantial wine like a Spanish Cava or Sauvignon Blanc from the U.S. would be best since both wines have the texture to cut through the cheesy, buttery grits, yet stand up to the richness of the shrimp.

 

Crawfish Étouffeé

 

Étouffée comes from the French word for “smother.” It is basically a seafood stew made with a thick roux instead of broth. Soul food to me means a celebration of heritage and a taste of home.

 

Pairing a crawfish étouffée witha South African Pinotage that has smoky, leathery, and earthy notes are the perfect complement to the herbs and spices fundamental to the dish.

 

Smothered Pork Chops

 

Smothered pork chops are typically pan-fried then coated in a mushroom or onion gravy and can be paired with something sparkly.

 

Jollof Rice

 

Jollof is typically tomato-based, with onions and spices.

 

This West African dish that is finding a home in the African diaspora in America is wonderful with Cru Beaujolais to complement the dish’s tomato and curry flavors. If you’d prefer a white wine, you have options.

 

Jollof rice often leans on the spicy side, and it would pair well with a Pinot Grigio to tone down the heat some.

 

 

Fried Fish (Whiting or Catfish)

 

A white wine is recommended for frying fish, since it’s typically eaten with a good hot sauce. Try a Pinot Grigio or German Riesling that fills the nooks of fried cornbread coating. The fish needs a low-alcohol wine to clean up the heat and add nuance.

 

Macaroni and Cheese

 

Baked macaroni and cheese is another soul food dish that you must be called to make. If that person isn’t you, then bring along a good wine to accompany it. A fruity or minerally wine is recommended to go with the dish.

 

Pairing mac and cheese with a Malbec, Merlot, Beaujolais or a young Gaglioppo provides enough dryness to cut through the cheese and tingle the tongue, but it’s still fruity enough to keep things light and fun.

 

Holiday Ham

 

Holiday ham’s typically include warm spices like cinnamon and clove as well as a sweet glaze, which is why a little bubbly is in order. A sparkling rosé would be a lovely pair with this dish.

 

Fried Chicken and Collard Greens

 

While fried chicken batters vary, the greens should have ham hocks. Regardless of how yours are prepared, this classic dish is paired well with Merlot, Pinot Noir or Magliocco. It’s about balance. Greens can be very bitter, and a wine like Pinot Noir can bring back some sweetness.

 

Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens

 

Many people save this dish to ring in the new year, and, if that’s the case, a wine pairing will come inhandy. Prosecco, Rioja Joven or Albariño are recommended as these wines will pair with the salty, smoky, rich, earthy flavors of this dish.

 

Dessert

 

 

Whether you’re finishing your meal with a slice of pound cake or yellow cake with chocolate icing, wine pairings for desserts can be tricky. It’s best to go with what you love. Red wines with chocolate cake pair well, such as a nice Cabernet Sauvignon or red wine blend.