I am the kind of one who plans all my journeys round meals experiences, so visiting “landmarks” often revolves round iconic eateries, meals halls, markets…you get the image. The one place I’ve ever been to within the South is New Orleans, and whereas I am a bit fuzzy on the small print of the assorted journeys themselves—means too many Hurricane slushies and bourbon cocktails—my sense reminiscence of the meals stays crystal clear: creamy grits, smoky collard greens, wealthy gravies, and a plethora of candy, candy desserts.

Placing collectively this assortment of 20 iconic Southern recipes made me really feel like I used to be embarking on a street journey by way of the American South, tucking into an enormous plate of nation ham and sopping up the red-eye gravy with as many fluffy cathead biscuits as I may get my palms on. Though I am admittedly a wimp in terms of spicy meals, I would fortunately courageous a Nashville sizzling hen sandwich, so long as I can quell the warmth by digging right into a bowl of cool banana pudding afterward. Even if you cannot journey by way of the South, cooking these recipes will simply take you on a scrumptious sensory journey.