Soul food is the cuisine that was created by Africans to survive enslavement in the New World. They found creative ways to transform ill-fated scraps of meat and leftovers from their owners into a unique, ad hoc cuisine for fuller stomachs and lives. The zodiac wheel itself has many edible animals represented on it: lamb (for Aries the ram), beef (for Taurus the bull), crab (for Cancer) and fish (for Pisces).
The essence, or the soul, of each sign becomes manifest through the creative choices of a people who were given very little. Regardless of your sign, it might be instructive to think about what signs and corresponding foods you resonate with and why. Reading how all twelve signs correspond with different soul food dishes, you will develop a greater appreciation not only for the raw diversity of taste and ingenuity of our nation's African forebears, but for the ancient wisdom of the zodiac as well.
Aries (March 21 to April 19)
Mustard greens, hot sauce on anything, BBQ sauce, lamb chops and anything grilled. Aries brings the heat, and in soul food, heat makes your tongue tingle and your toes curl. Of course, the downside to all of this heat is the high blood pressure, but in moderation the Aries energy in soul food definitely keeps things warm between folks.
Taurus (April 20 to May 20)
Beans, black eyed peas and rice, succotash, mashed potatoes & gravy, and fried steak, of course. Taurus likes it meaty, filling, earthy, hearty and rich. The essence of this sign draws energy from food to keep full and grounded. Although Taurus also likes it sweet -- like sweet potato pie -- they benefit better from food that keeps them strong as a … bull!
Gemini (May 21 to June 20)
Ribs! It doesn't matter if they're baby back, BBQ, baked, beef, pork, short ribs or boneless, as long as they're good. Geminis love keeping it fresh, and the challenge of coming up with new sauces and ways to cook ribs suits them. Cole slaw and most vegetable salads would also come under the watch of Gemini as they love the miscellany of foods.
Cancer (June 21 to July 22)
Crabs, obviously, and most other jewels of the sea, like lobster, shrimp and clams. Cancer is also into broths, soups and gumbos. In fact, any food that retains a good amount of water -- like melon and squash -- comes under the rulership of Cancer. Cancer loves to show how she or he cares through food, so good luck on getting up from the dining table.
Leo (July 23 to Aug. 22)
Nothing wets the mouth like the golden gleam of biscuits, rolls and bread. No soul food meal is complete without some biscuits and if you're feeling regal, as a Leo does, you'll have it with gravy. Leo likes all the trimmings, and you can hardly go wrong with the richness of biscuits with grits, gravy, butter or molasses.
Virgo (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22)
Chitterlings, or chitlins. Virgo rules the intestines, so it's fitting that Virgos would rule over this exquisite, yet foul-smelling, delicacy made from the intestines of a pig. In fact, only Virgos could get into the day-long rigor that it takes to clean the chitlins, cook them and season them to perfection. Some turn their nose up at them, but Virgos testify to the amazing ability to make food from anything.
Soul Food for Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces >>
