Juneteenth 2025: A Culinary Celebration of Freedom

Juneteenth is more than just a holiday—it’s a powerful reminder of resilience, a celebration of freedom, and a call to remember the delayed yet momentous arrival of emancipation in the United States. On June 19, 1865—two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation—Union soldiers finally arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African Americans of their freedom. This day marks the true turning point of liberation for many and is honored across the country as a time to reflect, rejoice, and reunite in community.

Food remains central to Juneteenth gatherings, especially red foods, which hold cultural significance and symbolism. From hibiscus tea to watermelon, red velvet cake and strawberry beverages, these vibrant dishes represent the blood, perseverance and strength of African Americans throughout history. Their presence at the table is not only delicious but deeply meaningful.

This Juneteenth, we invite you to celebrate with recipes, media and books that elevate the voices and culinary traditions of the African Diaspora.

Recipes to Celebrate Juneteenth

Cooking is a powerful way to connect with heritage and honor the past. This Juneteenth, explore recipes that reflect the rich culinary traditions of African American and African diasporic cultures. From flavorful collard greens and okra to savory black-eyed peas, rice dishes, and sweet treats like guava sorbet, each recipe tells a story of resilience, creativity, and joy. Whether you’re cooking for one or gathering with loved ones, these dishes are a delicious way to pay tribute to ancestors and keep cultural traditions alive.

Sides:

• Smokey Greens
• Zesty Brussel Sprouts and Collard Greens Sauté
• Oldways Healthy Hoppin’ John
• Cornmeal-Crusted Okra Bites
• Accara: Black-Eyed Pea Fritters

Desserts:

• Amaranth Banana Walnut Bread
• Easy Peach Crisp
• Passion Fruit and Guava Sorbet

Salads:

• Black-Eyed Pea Salad
• Summer Watermelon Salad
• Hoppin’ John Salad
• Cucumber Salad

Mains:

• Suya-Spiced Salmon
• Grilled Snapper & Mangoes with Lime-Cilantro Vinaigrette
• Sheet Pan Harissa Chicken with Sweet Potatoes & Leeks
• Chicken Yassa
• Jagacida (Cape Verdean Beans & Rice)
• Oldways Okra and Corn
• Dovi Collard Greens (Greens in Peanut Sauce)
• Kenyan Vegetable Mashed Potatoes
• Roasted Pineapple and Sweet Potato

Books We’re Reading This Juneteenth

Explore the richness of African, African American, and diasporic foodways with a mix of these newly released and classic titles:

1. Watermelon and Red Birds by Nicole A. Taylor
2. Sweet Home Café Cookbook by the NMAAHC
3. In Pursuit of Flavor by Edna Lewis
4. Carla Hall’s Soul Food by Carla Hall
5. When Southern Women Cook by America’s Test Kitchen, foreword by Toni Tipton-Martin
6. Chop Chop: Cooking the Food of Nigeria by Ozoz Sokoh
7. Gursha by Beejhy Barhany & Elisa Ung
8. Africana by Lerato Umah-Shaylor
9. The Swahili Kitchen by Esuvat Nyakoe
10. Ghana to the World by Eric Adjepong & Korsha Wilson
11. Vegan Soulicious by Charlise Rookwood
12. Vegan Africa by Marie Kacouchia
13. Black Rican Vegan by Lyana Blount
14. Unbelievably Vegan by Charity Morgan
15. Ageless Vegan by Tracye McQuirter & Mary McQuirter
16. Setting a Place for Us (May 2025)
17. Nourishing Our Roots by Deborah Neal
18. AfriCali by Kiano Moju
19. Complete Nutrition: I Don’t Want Any More Salad by Chimene Castor & Carlton Crockett
20. Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine by Jessica B. Harris

TV Shows to Watch This Month

Celebrate the rich legacy of African American cuisine and culture by tuning into these compelling culinary series. On Hulu, enjoy shows like The Great Soul Food Cook-Off and Searching for Soul Food, which spotlight the resilience and innovation of Black and immigrant communities. Don’t miss Cook’s Country from America’s Test Kitchen, featuring Oldways African Heritage & Health Advisory Board member Toni Tipton-Martin, offering a soulful take on classic dishes. These series provide more than just recipes—they tell the stories of a people whose food is inseparable from history, celebration, and survival.

• High on the Hog
• Dinner Time Live with David Chang
• Chef’s Table: BBQ
• Street Food: USA
• The Final Table
• The Great Soul Food Cook-Off
• Searching for Soul Food
• Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi
• Cook’s Country (featuring Toni Tipton Martin)

Learn More: Take the A Taste of African Heritage E-Course

Explore the African Heritage Diet through our interactive, self-paced cooking course! Learn to make nourishing, culturally rich meals like Jollof Rice, Mafé, and Tangy Collard Greens—alongside nutrition insights and history lessons led by experienced African Heritage and Health Ambassadors.

Use code TAKE5JUNE for $5 off the course this month!
Sign up here

To bring the vibrant culinary history of the African Diaspora to your own community, learn about becoming an instructor of A Taste of African Heritage.

Celebrate & Support

Juneteenth is a time to celebrate—but also to support. Look for local events, marches, and fundraisers, and amplify organizations doing the ongoing work of equity and empowerment for Black communities.

Join us in honoring the freedom, culture, and creativity that define Juneteenth—through food, storytelling and shared joy.

Happy Juneteenth!