Dairy-Infused Kwanzaa Recipes
Kwanzaa is an annual, week-long celebration of African American culture, celebrated from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast, usually on the sixth day. Kwanzaa is a time of learning, family and celebration.
During the week of Kwanzaa, families and communities come together to share a feast, to honor the ancestors, affirm the bonds between them, and to celebrate African and African American culture. Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa represents seven principles that are celebrated.
The feast that takes place on the sixth day of Kwanzaa is called Karamu. This meal consists of lots of hearty, delicious dishes that everyone enjoys. We have compiled a list of several Kwanzaa recipes that are not only tasty, but also contains delicious dairy products!
Southern Style Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Three kinds of cheese — extra-sharp cheddar, Colby-Jack, and cream cheese — go into this creamy, savory macaroni and cheese recipe, which also gets layers of flavor from fresh bay leaves and dry mustard. Southern-style mac ‘n’ cheese is typically made with a milk-and-egg base rather than a roux. Here, that milk component is an infused milk-and-cream mixture reserved from cooking the noodles (which adds even more richness to the dish).
Buttery Cornbread
This comforting bread is mixed with cornmeal, butter, milk, eggs, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Once baked, the result is a fluffy and delicious cornbread. Definitely a must-have at the table.
Sweet Potato Casserole
This delicious Kwanzaa side dish consists of roasted sweet potatoes mixed with milk, butter, eggs and warm spices. The filling goes into a casserole dish and is topped with marshmallows and pecans.
Fried Okra
A staple in Southern kitchens, fried okra is the perfect appetizer for a Kwanzaa feast. Fried okra is a staple in Southern kitchens. The chopped okra gets dredged in a buttermilk, cornmeal and flour mixture and then deep-fried until golden. It’s crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. Fried okra is the perfect appetizer for your Kwanzaa feast—or any day of the week.
Sweet Potato Pie
Sweet potato pie should be center stage at any Kwanzaa dinner table. A sweet potato custard filling gets baked on top of the pie crust. Then cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, vanilla, milk and eggs deepen the sweet, caramel notes of the sweet potatoes. The rich texture of the filling is velvety smooth.