27 Best Kwanzaa Recipes - What To Cook For Karamu This Kwanzaa

1Fried Catfish catfish battered and fried served with lemon wedges PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Our top secret for the most flavorful catfish fillets? Buttermilk and hot sauce. We know, it may sound odd, but the result is an extra-flavorful catfish that, once coated and fried, is a crispy, satisfying dinner that’ll rival even your favorite seafood restaurants.

Get the Fried Catfish recipe.

2Jollof RicePHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Jollof rice is a traditional African rice dish featuring a tomato-based stew. It’s a true standout Kwanzaa dish, thanks to its perfect balance of heat, sweet (from the tomatoes and peppers), and spice.

Get the Jollof Rice recipe.

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3Shrimp & Sausage Gumbo shrimp and sausage gumbo with green onions PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

Gumbo is a true melting pot dish. Originating in Louisiana, it combines the cuisines and ingredients of several cultures including West African, French, German, and Choctaw. It’s a perfect addition to a Kwanzaa feast that celebrates diversity and growth.

Get the Shrimp & Sausage Gumbo recipe.

4Kwanzaa Crinkle Cookies dark, red, and green crinkle cookies PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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5Southern Baked Mac & Cheese baked mac and cheese in a casserole dish PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON6Skillet Cornbread skillet cornbread with honey butter PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Not only does this cornbread involve less cleanup, but it promotes the ideal texture of crackly crust around moist, decadent corn cake. Pouring the batter into a preheated cast-iron creates a sear to the batter and speeds up the bake time. Wins ALL around.

Get the Skillet Cornbread recipe.

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7Jerk Chicken jamaican jerk chicken PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Jamaica’s most famous dish has to be jerk chicken, making it perfect for your Kwanzaa feast. Don’t eat chicken? The subtly sweet and spicy jerk marinade goes well with everything from tofu to seafood too.

Get the Jerk Chicken recipe.

8Southern Collard Greens collard greens with smoked turkey PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Southern cooking can sometimes appear intimidating or too involved, but this recipe is anything but. All you need are a couple of hours, a handful of staple ingredients, smoked turkey, and your collard greens (the star of the show) for an easy side (or meal on its own!).

Get the Southern Collard Greens recipe.

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9West African-Inspired Chicken & Peanut Stew west african chicken peanut stew PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE10Hummingbird Cake layered cake with frosting topped with pecans PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Fun fact: Hummingbird cake is actually from Jamaica! It was originally called “Doctor Bird Cake,” which is a nickname for a type of Jamaican hummingbird. People say the cake earned its name because it was sweet enough to attract hummingbirds. It tastes like a mix between carrot cake and banana bread, and you’re gonna be obsessed.

Get the Hummingbird Cake recipe.

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11Shrimp Creole shrimp in a tomato based stew topped with chives and served with rice PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Similar to shrimp étouffée, but with a tomato-based sauce, this recipe will transport you to the balcony-lined streets of New Orleans. Aromatic onion, green bell pepper, and celery form the holy trinity of flavor on top of which you’ll build this saucy little number.

Get the Shrimp Creole recipe.

12Black-Eyed Peas new year's style black eyed peas with pork neck bones and collard greens served with corn bread PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Similar to the soul food classic Hoppin’ John but without the rice component, these black-eyed peas are cooked with a little bit of onion, garlic, spices, and a hunk of fatty salted pork for depth of flavor and a hint of smokiness.

Get the Holiday Black-Eyed Peas recipe.

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13Brown Stew ChickenPHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Brown stew chicken might seem like a snooze of a name for a recipe, but don’t be fooled—Jamaica’s signature marvel of a dish offers a galaxy of flavors that explains its massive fan base on the island and among the country’s expats.

Get the Brown Stew Chicken recipe.

14Sweet Potato Pie sweet potato pie with a piece coming out of it

Sweet potato pie might get sidelined to other holiday pies, but with this forever favorite recipe, we’re bringing her into the spotlight and making her shine. Mounds of roasted sweet potato combine with dark brown sugar, vanilla, and spices inside a golden flaky crust for a pie that rivals all other contenders.

Get the Sweet Potato Pie recipe.

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15Jamaican Oxtail Stew oxtail stew delishcom Parker Feierbach

If you’ve never had Jamaican oxtail stew, you’re in for a major treat. It’s rich, SUPER-flavorful, with fall-off-the-bone-tender meat and creamy butter beans. It’s a true special occasion dish and takes some finesse, so check out our top tips before you jump in.

Get the Jamaican Oxtail Stew recipe.

16Shrimp & Grits shrimp and grits in a bowl with greens onion PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

There’s a lot of richness going on here. Bacon! Butter! Cheese! To cut all the fat, you need some acid. Enter: freshly squeezed lemon juice. It brightens this shrimp dish up BIG TIME—so don’t skip it.

Get the Shrimp & Grits recipe.

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17Sweet Potato Gratin tri color sweet potato gratin with gruyere and thyme PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Your sweet potatoes are tired of being baked. Give them the chance to become something much more exciting and turn them into sweet potato gratin. Just like the OG potatoes au gratin, these sweet potatoes are layered with plenty of cheese and herby cream sauce and baked until golden brown and bubbly. 😍

Get the Sweet Potato Gratin recipe.

18Rice & Peas jamaican rice and peas PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Fluffy and moist, this rice and bean (not actual peas!) dish has a savory creaminess that comes from the use of aromatics like garlic and onion, in addition to coconut milk. It’s a perfect match for the classic dishes like curry chicken or oxtail stew you might find on a Jamaican Kwanzaa table.

Get the Rice & Peas recipe.

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19Jerk Tofu Grain Bowls vegan jerk tofu grain bowl ERIK BERNSTEIN20Corn FrittersPHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Move over, hush puppies! Corn fritters are our new favorite Southern-fried side. Fluffy and crispy with sweet fresh corn, these make the perfect partner for everything you and your family could possibly dream up for your Kwanzaa feast.

Get the Corn Fritters recipe.

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