Pepper pot stew was survival food for the poor and a path to freedom for Black women in early Philadelphia

Dina escaped from slavery and sold pepper pot stew on the streets of Philadelphia, while her enslaver tried to recapture her.

By: Carolyn Zola, California State University, East Bay, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: June 11, 2026

Words: 1,140

Last Updated: 9 hours, 2 minutes ago

Body Text Preview

By Carolyn Zola, California State University, East Bay

Americans typically commemorate the nation’s birthday with hot dogs and hamburgers.

Instead, I think we should mark the 250th anniversary of the United States with a hearty bowl of pepper pot stew.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, pepper pot stew was a popular street food. A dish of Afro-Caribbean origin, it was typically made with tripe and other cheap cuts of meat mixed with vegetables, …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

Email Us