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It’s challenging to describe American cuisine. The foods of the United States are composed of many different cultures in various combinations, just like the people who live there. Even though they might not have started out as “American,” there are many dishes that could be categorized in this way today as a food of USA
Apple PIE
We’ll start with the dish that inspired the idiom “As American as apple pie.” Apple pie is thought to have been brought to the US by European immigrants rather than being an American invention, but it has since cemented its place in American cuisine.
The Cheese Burgers
The “Hamburger Steak Sandwich,” which became popular in the 1890s, was the precursor to the cheese burger.Although it is debatable when the cheese was first used, Louis Ballast of Denver, Colorado, was given the cheeseburger trademark in 1935. Nowadays, a cheeseburger can be found on almost every American menu.
PIZZA
A spicy dish with an equally spicy tale is Nashville hot chicken. According to legend, a disgruntled lover served cayenne-coated chicken to Thornton Prince, a well-known ladies’ man and chicken entrepreneur, as a lesson. The dish ultimately won Prince over, he opened a restaurant, and the rest is history!
Jambalaya
Louisianan Cajun and Creole food called jambalaya is entertaining to say and entertaining to eat. Trinity, which resembles mirepoix but uses green pepper in place of the mirepoix’s carrots, is the first ingredient in both Creole (red) and Cajun (brown) jambalaya. When tomatoes are added, creole turns red. The spices can then be changed to one’s preference before adding rice to the dish. It’s a delicious and substantial one-pot meal.
FRIED STEAK
Country fried steak, also known as chicken fried steak, is made from cubed beef steak that has been breaded and fried in the same manner as chicken. Following that, it is slathered in southern white pepper gravy and frequently served alongside mashed or breakfast potatoes. It can be a dinner entrée or served for breakfast.
Meatloaf
On a Good Housekeeping list of Americans’ favorite dishes in 2007, it was ranked as the #7 dish. It can be enhanced with ground pork, sausage, any number of flavorings, or even a hardboiled egg in the middle. It is made with ground beef, eggs, and breadcrumbs that are formed into a loaf and baked.
Macaroni and Cheese
Pasta and cheese may be nothing new, but chefs have been putting their own twist on macaroni and cheese since the 1800s, when it appeared in “The Virginia Housewife.” Whether eaten as a side or as an entrée with meat or vegetables added, mac and cheese is a favorite across the board, from toddlers to culinarians.
Chicken and Waffles
It’s simple to assume that chicken and waffles is a relatively recent dish given how quickly it gained popularity in the last ten years. The dish actually predates the 1600s. The Pennsylvania Dutch originally served chicken and waffles with stewed chicken and gravy, but today’s breakfast lovers prefer the dish with fried chicken and maple syrup.
Philly Cheesesteak
A sandwich with the name of the city that gave birth to America on it is difficult to forget. When Philadelphian brothers Pat and Harry Olivieri decided to offer something different at their hot dog stand, they are credited with creating the cheesesteak. As the sandwich gained popularity, the brothers opened Pat’s King of Steaks, a steak sandwich restaurant that is still operational today.
Barbecue
Few things say summer like good American barbecue, from sweet, smoky Kansas City to tangy Carolina to the dry rubs of Texas. While barbecue is frequently used to describe the flavor or an occasion, it actually refers to the cooking technique (hence the variations in regional seasoning).
New York Cheesecake
With its rich, creamy texture, New York-style cheesecake serves as a versatile canvas for toppings of all kinds. Arnold Reuben of Reuben’s Restaurant and Delicatessen is credited with creating the New York cheesecake as we know it, which has come to represent indulgence and decadence in the dessert industry.
Cheese Curds
Squeaky cheese, also referred to as cheese curds, is a common food in Wisconsin and other northern states. They are created after the cheese clots after the culture is added. The curds are then left after the whey is squeezed out. They can be served as a topping, similar to the French fry and gravy dish poutine, or eaten alone as a snack or appetizer when deep-fried.
Chocolate Cake
You might not anticipate the German chocolate cake to appear on a list of American foods if you are unfamiliar with its history. In actuality, the name honors American baker Samuel German, who created the sweet chocolate used in the cake and is not derived from the nation of Germany.
Cobb Salad
The Cobb salad is traditionally made with four types of greens, fried chicken, hardboiled eggs, bacon, bleu cheese, tomato, and avocado. Generally these ingredients are laid out in rows upon service. The name comes from restaurant owner Bob Cobb, who, after not eating all day, is said to have mixed together all the leftover ingredients in the kitchen. .
Ranch Dressing
![Ranch Dressing](https://www.chefspencil.com/wp-content/uploads/Ranch-Dressing-.jpg)
Ranch dressing has been the most popular dressing in the United States since 1992 and is often associated with Midwest cuisine. Steven Henson came up with the recipe in 1949, named it Hidden Valley Ranch, and began selling it to local markets.
Ranch dressing is now available in supermarkets and restaurants across the country and appears as a flavor in many popular snacks.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
We often hear that the chocolate chip cookie was an accidental invention, with the baker adding forgotten chunks of chocolate to the cookie batter and hoping it would melt. Ruth Wakefield, the inventor of the chocolate chip cookie herself, insists that this is in fact not true. While running the Toll House, she deliberately developed the recipe to accompany ice cream. 80 years later the recipe can still be found on the back of Nestle’s Toll House
. Submarine Sandwich
Depending on where you are, you may hear people refer to the lengthy sandwiches that are cut in half lengthwise and are filled with meat, cheese, vegetables, and condiments as “subs,” “heroes,” “hoagies,” or “grinders.” They are typically filled with deli meats but have also been known to include meatballs, chicken parmesan, and other more inventive fillings. They can be served hot or cold.
New York Cheesecake
With its rich, creamy texture, New York-style cheesecake serves as a versatile canvas for toppings of all kinds. Arnold Reuben of Reuben’s Restaurant and Delicatessen is credited with creating the New York cheesecake as we know it, which has come to represent indulgence and decadence in the dessert industry.
Chili
Chili is a hotly debated dish in North America, with some insisting that true chili does not contain tomatoes or beans. In some parts of the country, namely Cincinnati, chili lovers will tell you that you must include pasta as well. Regardless of your thoughts on the ingredients, chili is a great way to warm up on a cold day and is best served with another American favorite, corn bread.
German Chocolate Cake
![German Chocolate Cake](https://www.chefspencil.com/wp-content/uploads/German-Chocolate-Cake.jpg)
If you don’t already know the history of the German chocolate cake, you might not expect it to show up on a list of American foods. The name does not in fact come from the country of Germany, it is instead named for American baker Samuel German, who developed the sweet chocolate used in the cake.
The cake is traditionally cut into layers and served with a coconut pecan frosting.
The Cobb salad is traditionally made with four types of greens, fried chicken, hardboiled eggs, bacon, bleu cheese, tomato, and avocado. Generally these ingredients are laid out in rows upon service. The name comes from restaurant owner Bob Cobb, who, after not eating all day, is said to have mixed together all the leftover ingredients in the kitchen. .
Ranch dressing has been the most popular dressing in the United States since 1992 and is often associated with Midwest cuisine. Steven Henson came up with the recipe in 1949, named it Hidden Valley Ranch, and began selling it to local markets.
Ranch dressing is now available in supermarkets and restaurants across the country and appears as a flavor in many popular snacks.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
![Chocolate Chip Cookies](https://www.chefspencil.com/wp-content/uploads/Chocolate-Chip-Cookies-1.jpg)
We often hear that the chocolate chip cookie was an accidental invention, with the baker adding forgotten chunks of chocolate to the cookie batter and hoping it would melt. Ruth Wakefield, the inventor of the chocolate chip cookie herself, insists that this is in fact not true. While running the Toll House, she deliberately developed the recipe to accompany ice cream. 80 years later the recipe can still be found on the back of Nestle’s Toll House chocolate