Free Soul Food Recipes: Healthier Soul Food Holidays Expected

Free soul food recipe sites are gearing up for a healthier holiday compared to previous holidays when it comes to southern cooking. Because of the growing number o f health conscious eaters, the industry as a whole continues to make adjustments to their menus, ingredients and even cooking techniques health friendly.

For example, menu items continue to get lighter and leaner.  You'll find more creative ways to cook poultry as opposed to pork dishes. Pork has long been attributed to health ailments such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.  Now you’ll find many websites cutting back or eliminating them altogether.

Another change taking place is in the cooking techniques used in healthy soul food recipes. Now you’ll find less frying, especially deep fat frying, and more quick cooking methods. For example, stir frying, sautéing and pan frying.   The way vegetables are cooked is also going through changes this holiday for many food lovers. Collard greens is cooked in less water as in steaming, or even stir frying. Stir frying is growing popular among health enthusiasts because of the way it preserves vitamins.

Traditionally collard greens was cooked in large amounts of water. This process have been found to dilute much of the vitamins and minerals during the cooking process. Also, many current recipes eliminate pork products in their recipes for seasoning collard greens, black eyed peas and bean dishes.  Normally ham hocks  or fat back is used.   These items have been known to cause high blood pressure and other stress related ailments. Instead smoked turkey is often chosen as the healthier fat-free alternative.

Other healthier seasonings is used to give the robust flavor soul food recipes are known for. Now you'll find less blood pressure rising table salt  and more natural seasonings. For example, herbs such as rosemary, thyme, oregano,  cayenne pepper, basil and others. You'll also find other natural seasonings such as onion, garlic, celery, lemon and lime juice to add flavor and interest to the southern dishes.

The changes have also taken place all the way down to the type of cooking oils used now.   You'll find many of today's soul food recipes containing lighter cooking oils.  Heavier oils, such as lard and other animal fats have all but disappeared from most southern recipes. Now you'll  find lighter oils such as safflower, canola, peanut and olive oil used in many recipes. Yes, many health conscious soul food recipes lovers are using these suggestions to make sure they  not only have a happy holiday season - but a healthier one too.