Food is a sacred thing. Not only because it keeps us alive. But also because it’s one of life’s greatest pleasures and it brings us together. Food is a social element, I mean we take our loved person to dinner, we have lunch with our friends and do family dinners in special days.
So food is, besides social, a cultural element. That helps define a country and its traditions. In the case of the U.S. one of the world’s biggest, most populated and influential countries it’s no different. But since the U.S is a nation built by immigrants, food is very rich and diverse. So we are going to leave you with 6 dishes that are very common or linked to U.S.A. that were actually introduced by immigrants.
6.Pizza.
Let’s start with the most obvious one. Even though pizza is usually linked with the American fast lifestyle it’s more associated with Italy. Pizza was introduced to the U.S. by an Italian immigrant named Gennaro Lombardi, modern pizza actually originates in Naples, Italy.Lombardi, in fact, came from Naples as well. So when he migrated to New York he opened America’s first pizzeria back in 1905. Becoming extremely popular even until today.
5.Nachos.
Another obvious one. Nachos are known for everybody to be born in Mexico. Their creator, Ignacio Anaya, invented the international plate in its restaurant when military wives came to it after closing time.
The dish is one of those incredible and holy accidents. What Anaya did was to throw together everything that he could find around (tortillas, cheese, jalapeños, etc). And ended up creating the delicious plate we all love today, as so did the military wives back then.
4.Apple pie.
The American pie lifestyle isn’t so purely American now, right? The apple pie was first introduced by the early British colonizers and was very different to today’s version. As it included other fruits into the recipe, like pears, raisins and so on. Also, it was served into a pastry called “coffins,” that weren’t meant to be eaten and just serve the purpose of holding the filling.
Furthermore, the dish was a very common in all Europe. Having similar version in most countries, especially in France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. Being the German, with the apple strudel, and the Dutch version, with a pastry on top, the most similar ones to the one we enjoy today.
3.Potato salad.
The potato salad was something very common in European countries after the discovery of America. Especially in the eastern ones. The potato salad was first brought to the U.S. by german immigrants, who served it with vinegar and bacon.
But as time goes by and people change and try new things they add it mayonnaise. Many years later in New England. creating the delicious potato salad we know and enjoy nowadays.
2.Donuts.
One of the most delicious sweets that exist in the world and that is highly related to the U.S. Who would imagine cops or Homer Simpson without one? The donut has a long tradition and amount of versions across Europe.
But the most similar one to the ones we love is the Dutch version. Since dutch immigrants were the ones who brought it to the U.S. and used to call it “olykoeks” translating to “oily cake.”
1.Hot dogs.
Hot dogs are one of those things that scream U.S. out loud. They are a must eat if you ever visit New York. But hot dogs actually come from Germany. Yes, that’s right, German immigrant Charles Feltman introduced them to America in 1860.
This happened because Feltman was a baker in Coney Island, but from time to time his costumers asked for hot sandwiches. To what he put a hot sausage between a sliced bread and served the first hot dogs in the U.S.
Source: YouTube.com