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(opens in a new tab) 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(opens in a new tab) 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(opens in a new tab) 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(opens in a new tab) 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(opens in a new tab) 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!
