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Simple Charleston-Area Recipes

February 23, 2016 by

 

Lowcountry cuisine is one of the many things that make Charleston, South Carolina, one of the most wonderful places to live (and visit).

If you’re new to cooking Lowcountry food (or to cooking in general) and have wanted to try it out, you’re in luck! The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction has compiled a list of easy and authentic Low Country recipes that cooks of any skill level will be comfortable taking on.

Enjoy!

Shrimp and Grits

Shrimp and Grits is a Lowcountry staple that is much easier than you might think to pull off. This recipe calls for some simple ingredients that you can easily find at the grocery store, and takes just 30 minutes of prep time. Simply cook your grits, fry your bacon and sausage, then cook the vegetables and shrimp together. Serve on a bed of cheesy grits, and enjoy.

Red Rice

Red Rice is another delicious Lowcountry dish that requires very little culinary expertise to make, and all of the ingredients are probably already in your pantry. To make Red Rice, boil 2 cups of long grain white rice until tender, then cook your bacon in a skillet until browned. Cook your onion and tomatoes in the bacon drippings, and mix in the rice. That’s it!

Seafood Muddle

The Seafood Muddle is a hearty seafood stew that calls for clams, fish, shrimp, and mussels cooked together with potatoes and other vegetables in a fish stock broth. This is a must-try for seafood lovers! The recipe should only take 15 minutes to prep, but you’ll want to make sure that your shellfish are properly scrubbed, shelled, and de-veined ahead of time.

Frogmore Stew

Frogmore Stew is a traditional Lowcountry seafood boil that is perfect for serving at large gatherings. The amount of ingredients can easily be adjusted for more or fewer servings. So get some of your favorite people together, and get your largest pot ready. To make Frogmore Stew, boil 5 quarts of water with some Old Bay seasoning, and add potatoes, sausage, corn, and shrimp. Simply boil everything together, and drain before serving. Add more seasoning and cocktail sauce to taste.

African Peanut Soup

This recipe combines some very unlikely ingredients, including peanut butter, rice, and chili powder, into an irresistible dish that will have you coming back for seconds. It requires little prep time, and surprisingly little effort—if you can chop vegetables, you can make this recipe!

We hope you have fun in the kitchen cooking up one of these delicious Lowcountry recipes. Do you have a classic Charleston area staple that we missed? Share it with us in the comments!

Filed Under: All Things Charleston, Health and Wellness Tagged With: , , ,

Easy Recipes for Classic Charleston Dishes

January 5, 2016 by

she-crab soup

We are so blessed to live an area rich with history and beautiful surroundings, but it wouldn’t be the same without the delicious, classic Charleston dishes our area is famous for.

If you’re new to the area or would like to find out how to make these scrumptious recipes at home, we want to share our 4 absolute favorites.

However, some of these Charleston dishes can be a little complicated, so we went on a mission to find some simpler recipes for these classics.

Bon appétit! 

Lowcountry Boil

With “Lowcountry” in the title, you know this is a uniquely Charleston meal. A delicious mixture of corn, potatoes, sausage, and shrimp thrown into a big pot of boiling water, this meal is quick to make and yields large portions.

Check out the recipe here.

Shrimp and Grits

You haven’t lived if you haven’t eaten your share of Charleston shrimp and grits! If you’re looking to make this classic recipe at home, it can seem a little daunting with all of the recipes available.

However, if you’re looking for a quintessential Lowcountry shrimp and grits, you absolutely can’t forget the bacon! We found an easy recipe that doesn’t lose the delicious Charleston taste.

Check out the recipe here.

She-Crab Soup

Often called Charleston’s signature dish, She Crab soup is an evolution of Scottish seafood bisque—a rich recipe that combines blue crab meat with a hearty cream soup that is finished with a dash of dry sherry.

Fun fact: the dish was served to President Taft in 1909 during his visit to Charleston to give him a taste of the local fare.

Locals enjoy the recipe year-round, but the soup is uniquely a holiday specialty in the Lowcountry.

Check out the recipe here.

Benne Wafers

Benne Wafers are a delicious example of the plantation era ingenuity—a recipe that only consists of a few primary ingredients: butter, brown sugar, flour, and toasted sesame seeds. They’re sweet, crunchy, and irresistible!

Tradition even says they invoke good luck!

Check out the recipe here.

Did we forget one of your favorite classic Charleston dishes?

Please share below!

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Charleston Holiday Heirloom Recipes

December 16, 2014 by

This month we’ve been highlighting everything we love about our beloved Charleston. We would be remiss not to include the manybenne wafers heirloom holiday recipes we hold dear this time of year.

You won’t find a cranberry sauce recipe or an average sugar cookie on this list. We are covering our favorite holiday recipes-Charleston style.

1. She Crab Soup– Often called Charleston’s signature dish, She Crab soup is an evolution of Scottish seafood bisque. A rich-in-flavor recipe that melds succulent blue crab meat with a hearty cream soup that is finished with a dash of dry sherry, the dish dates to the early 1700s and was famously served to President Taft (1909 – 13) during his visit to Charleston. Synonymous with special occasions, She Crab soup often appears on local’s Christmas Day dinner menus.

2. The Benne Wafer– In our last blog, we mentioned how these yummy treats make the perfect unique gift. They are a delicious example of plantation era ingenuity, a recipe born of a few basic ingredients-butter, brown sugar, flour, and toasted sesame seeds. Said to invoke good luck, Benne wafers pack a crunch and make a popular holiday party host gift!

3. Historic St. Cecilia Punch-Formal balls, a revered social ritual in the Lowcountry, traditionally take place at Christmastime, when the plantation aristocracy historically arrived in town for debutante season. The custom of presenting a signature punch dates back to the 1700s. Vintage cocktails are in vogue, so why not offer a centuries-old libation to your guests this holiday season?

4. Eggnog, Peppermint Bars, Santa Mice Cookies–The Bakehouseonly uses wholesome ingredients to create delectable preservative-free treats. Peppermint takes center stage during the holidays when the bakery pulls out its favorite Christmastime recipes to produce seasonal sweets. The Santa Mice cookies are always a hit!

5. Shrimp and Grits– You didn’t think we’d forget this did you?! Shrimp and Grits is a quintessential Lowcountry recipe. Originally served as a hardy breakfast during the plantation era, contemporary interpretations of the dish are popular for both brunch and supper—and especially during festive holiday gatherings.

Do you have a favorite Charleston Heirloom Holiday Recipe? Please share it on our Facebook page!

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