As the country prepares to kick off the start of summer 2023, it is first getting ready for the one of the most important celebrations of the season, Juneteenth.
Although Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in 1863, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865 that Africans enslaved in Texas were made aware of this life-changing proclamation and therefore creating the significance of Juneteenth, also called Freedom Day.
Honoring the holiday as well at tradition in Black communities to celebrate with a cookout, food creators from the collaborative Eat the Culture have created a Freedom Day-inspired menu that covers all the bases.
Speaking about the menu direction for this year, board member Marta Rivera Diaz says, “This year, Eat the Culture wanted to return to our culinary roots by highlighting recipes and ingredients that many of us grew up enjoying at family cookouts, reunions, and BBQs. We had a little fun and grouped these jaw-dropping recipes into categories such as Miss Sweet Juneteenth, Bad and Boujee, and Gullah Cuisine in honor of African Americans’ many contributions to American cuisine.”
The Juneteenth Cookout menu includes over 50 recipes that symbolize culture, perseverance, culinary traditions and heritage. When I think of Juneteenth, red foods and drinks stand out for more than one reason. The sacrifice and bloodshed of my ancestor’s and their descendants, even up to present day, reminds me that we have come so far, yet still have a long way to go,” shares Diaz, founder Sense & Edibility.
“Ultimately, Juneteenth makes me think of how this is our home; established by the ancestors, built on the backs of our forefathers, and continuously transforming for our good because of the hard work and dedication of our brothers and sisters.”
So, you’ve got the ideas for an amazing cookout menu, the next big decision is the guest list. If you need an invite to a cookout this year, how do you get on this list? Well, Diaz comically shares, “Brush up on your cookout dances, get lessons on how to play spades and dominoes, and refer to Eat the Culture’s Juneteenth Virtual Potluck for the best potato salad, so you can stand proudly when they ask, “Who made the potato salad?”
Now let’s get ready to eat!
2023 Juneteenth Cookout Menu
Hit Me With Flavor (Sauces)
Step up your barbecue game with my sweet, spicy, tangy hibiscus honey BBQ sauce made with easy everyday ingredients in under an hour! – Jazzmine Woodard, Dash of Jazz
- Eat the Culture’s BHM Virtual Potluck Connects Black Foodies Deeper into the Diaspora
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This Will Hold You Over Until the Food is Ready (Appetizers)
This hummus and vegetable board is packed with a colorful array of fresh vegetables, smoky black-eyed pea hummus, sweet and savory sweet potato hummus, and plain hummus drizzled with a lil’ hot honey—a whole snack that’s ready to impress for your Juneteenth celebration. – Stefani Renée, Savor and Sage
Soul Hummus and Vegetable Board
Addition menu recipes include:
Bacon Jalapeno Deviled Eggs (Jessica, Big Delicious Life)
Deviled Egg Dip (Jazzmine, Dash of Jazz)
Smoked Wings With Big Red Guava Glaze (Marvin, Food Fidelity)
Southern Crab Beignets with Remoulade Dipping Sauce (Dee, Gimme From Scratch)
Deviled Egg Dip (Jazzmine, Dash of Jazz)
Southern Caviar – Black Eyed Pea Salad (Geo, Geo’s Table)
Party Meatballs in Guava Sauce (Marta, Sense & Edibility)
What You Having? (Drinks)
As Juneteenth celebrations become more mainstream, Black culinary creators must share their wealth of knowledge, skill, and talents with the country (and world). The family recipes passed down through generations often grace the Juneteenth cookout tables, and those recipes must be preserved. We are the voices keeping our ancestors’ traditions alive, which is why this collaboration is a vital part of the Black culture. – Marta Rivera Diaz, Sense & Edibility
Addition menu recipes include:
Strawberry Basil Sparkler (Zainab, A Classic Twist)
Margarita Infused Watermelon (Jazzmine, Dash of Jazz)
Hibiscus Spritzer (Takera, Flights and Food)
Watermelon Coconut Jamaican Rum Punch (Kerri-Ann, Kerri-Ann’s Kravings)
Juneteenth Red Sherbet Punch (Meiko, Meiko and the Dish)
Watermelon Basil Gin Cocktail (Artney, Pretty Brown Eats)
Strawberry Lemonade Vodka (Heather, My Sweet Precision)
Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea (Ashley, Pink Owl Kitchen)
Watermelon Cherry Frosé (Carita, Seasoned to Taste)
Non-Alcoholic Tropical Pineapple Drink (Jen, Sims Kitchen)
Strawberry Margarita (Jen, Sims Kitchen)
Zobo – Sorrel (Kate, We Eat at Last)
Who Made the Potato Salad? (Sides)
This classic southern potato salad recipe produces a creamy, smooth, crunchy, and well-seasoned potato salad in my family for centuries. Serve it during the cookout, tailgating, family events, or any time you want some good potato salad. – Kenneth Temple
Addition menu recipes include:
Smoked Macaroni and Cheese (Brittany, Mise En Place)
Watermelon Salad with Cilantro Honey Lime Dressing (Aline, Brazilian Kitchen Abroad)
Old Fashioned Candied Sweet Potatoes (Britney, Britney Breaks Bread)
Rainbow Fruit Salad + Agave-Lime Syrup (Shani, Coined Cuisine)
White Beans with Tomato Chow Chow (Robin, Collards Are the Old Kale)
Southern Baked Beans (Ashley, Pink Owl Kitchen)
Cherry Tabouleh (Stefani, Savor and Sage)
Spicy Sausage and Baked Bean Casserole (Carita, Seasoned to Taste)
Strawberry Mango Romaine Salad w/ Raspberry Vinaigrette (Candice, That Green Lyfe)
Kachumbari (Kate, We Eat At Last)
Go Grab Your Plates (Main dishes)
Ready to wow your friends and family with an incredible grilled dish? Try out our Grilled Spatchcock Chicken Recipe! In under an hour, you can have a whole chicken cooked to perfection on the grill. Start by marinating the chicken in a delightful sweet citrus-herb blend, then watch as it grills to juicy perfection. Top it off with a generous coating of homemade barbecue sauce for an explosion of flavors. Get ready to savor tender, mouthwatering chicken that will be the star of your next barbecue or picnic! – Capri X, Good Food Baddie
Grilled BBQ Spatchcock Chicken
Addition menu recipes include:
Mango Scotch Bonnet Wings (Tisha, Dish It With Tish)
Smoked “Chicago Style” Rib Tips (Marvin, Food Fidelity)
Jerk Pork Skewers (Geo, Geo’s Table)
Cajun Seafood Boil (Dee, Gimme From Scratch)
Blood Orange Beetroot Walnut Feta Salad & Orange Vinaigrette (Dee, Gimme From Scratch)
Mango Habanero Wings (Capri, Good Food Baddie)
Old Fashion Salmon Patties with Homemade Tartar Sauce (Kenneth Temple)
Hot Honey Wings (Kenneth Temple)
Cajun Chicken Wing & Turkey Neck Boil – Seafoodless (Meiko, Meiko and the Dish)
BBQ Beef Plate Ribs (Meiko, Meiko and the Dish)
Chesapeake Bay Crab Feast (Eden, Sweet Tea + Thyme)
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Make Sure You Save Some Room (Desserts)
This rich and moist strawberry pound cake is a berrylicious dessert that is perfect for your Juneteenth celebration. This cake has lots of fruity flavor and is easy to make with seven simple ingredients! – Heather, My Sweet Precision
Strawberry Oreo Crunch Pound Cake
Addition menu recipes include:
Red Velvet Bread Pudding – Show above (Monique, Peaches 2 Peaches)
Red Velvet Cupcakes (Shani, Begin with Butter)
Classic Red Velvet Cake (Britney, Britney Breaks Bread)
Peach Cobbler Pound Cake (Chenée, Chenée Today)
Homemade Peaches & Cream Popsicles (Shani, Coined Cuisine)
Strawberry Cookies (Nicole, Heal Me Delicious)
Sweet Potato Cheesecake with Butter Pecan Sauce (Kenneth Temple)
Banana Pudding Pound Cake (Bianca, Lenox Bakery)
Raspberry Chocolate Crumble Bars (Heather, My Sweet Precision)
Coconut Rum Cupcakes (Jen, Sim’s Kitchen)
Kashata (Kate, We Eat At Last)
