staple of Southern cuisine (4)
I believe the answer is:
okra
'staple of southern cuisine' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for okra that I've seen before include "Pod eaten in soups, stews etc" , "Bhindi or lady's finger" , "vegetable dish" , "old ladies' fingers" , "Green pods, in stews" .)