Why is Ambrosia A Southern Favorite

At our house, Ambrosia salad is a must. I can recall my mother making up a bowl of it the first year that me and my now husband celebrated Christmas. That first year together at Christmas I was a girl still living at home and had been dating for only a few weeks. Now all these years later, 31 to be exact January 3, Ambrosia is a must to have served on Christmas day.

So what is ambrosia?? I am sure some of you may know. It is normally a large bowl of sweet gooey white mass filled with orange slices, yellow pineapple and bright red maraschino cherries. So what is it exactly a salad or a dessert. In our family we call it a dessert salad and have had many of them through out the year but at Christmas it is always Ambrosia.

If you have ever studies mythology you may know that ambrosia in Greek means food for the gods. For my husband his memories of his single mother working hard at a hotel buffet and bringing home some of the sweet dessert is very welcoming to him. Many Southerners also welcome the sweet taste that has become a southern favorite. How exactly did Ambrosia become a Southern treat??

Early recipes of ambrosia require ingredients of sliced oranges, grated coconut, and sugar layered in bowl. The South had grown oranges and other citrus fruits since colonial days. Orange production increased after the civil war and the railroad helped make delivery possible. Coconut supply also went up as railroads and small ships delivering the coconuts worked together. So now we know how the simple salad grew but how exactly did it become ambrosia??

The simple 3 ingredient dish would be changed as variations occurred. Pineapple and oranges would be added as well as instructions to serve with whipped cream. While some called for sherry or other liquor. An early 1900s cookbook would display the dish as a fruit salad having oranges, bananas, pinapple, strawberries, coconut and orange and lemon juice. Ambrosia salad was very special and there fore saved for special occasions.

Adding marshmallows would come next. Marshmallows came about in the early 19th century. France was the place that confectioners started whipping and sweetening sap of the marsh mallow plant. The substance was used in candies. Later egg whites or gelatin and cornstarch was used as a base. The early 20th century would see the marshmallow growing in popularity in the United States.

• 8 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed 
• 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
• 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1 11-ounce can mandarin oranges, drained
• 1 8-ounce can pineapple tidbits or crushed pineapple, drained
• 1 cup maraschino cherries, drained
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional
• 1 1/2 cups fruit flavored marshmallows
• 
  
• In a large bowl, stir together the whipped topping and yogurt. Using a rubber spatula, carefully fold remaining ingredients into whipped topping. Chill before serving.

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