Malinda Russell | |
|---|---|
| Born | ca. 1812 |
| Died | after 1866 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | cook, pastry chef |
| Years active | 1840–66 |
| Known for | writing the first cookbook penned by an African-American woman in the U.S. |
| Notable work | Domestic Cook Book: Containing a Careful Selection of Useful Receipts for the Kitchen (1866) |
Malinda Russell (ca. 1812 – ?) was a free African-American woman from Tennessee who earned her living as a cook and published the first known cookbook by an African-American woman. The book is historically significant, as it shows that African-American Southern cooking was not solely the domain of poverty cooking, but provides evidence of a sophisticated cosmopolitan skill with complex dishes.[1]