Many of the world’s most famous dishes are closely tied to particular countries, but what if they didn’t actually originate there? From croissants that started in Austria to fortune cookies with Japanese roots, history tells a different story than popular belief. These are nine iconic dishes that didn’t come from where you think.
1. Tempura
Tempura is battered and fried seafood or vegetables, and many believe this dish originated in Japan. In reality, it was introduced to Japan by Portuguese Jesuits during the mid-16th century. That’s right, tempura is a Portuguese dish!
2. Red Spaghetti Sauce
We wouldn’t blame you if you thought that red spaghetti sauce originated in Italy. However, many of the sauces that people like to eat on top of a pile of noodles originated in ancient Rome. The first red sauce pasta recipe can be found in a French cookbook from 1797.
3. Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut, which is made from pickled cabbage, is often served with many traditional German foods, but it was only introduced to Europe during the 13th century. The Mongols, led by Genghis Khan, may have introduced a variation of fermented cabbage to Eastern Europe during this time.
4. Croissants
Most people believe the famous croissant originated in France, but that’s not true. It originated in Austria! In 1838, Austrian baker August Zang opened a store in Paris and began serving Viennese crescents to the public. It was then that French bakers adapted the Austrian kipfel, replacing its denser dough with flaky, buttery puff pastry. This innovation led to the modern French croissant, distinct from its Austrian predecessor.
5. Caesar Salad
Did you know that Caesar salad did not originate from the United States? In reality, an Italian immigrant, Cardini, invented the recipe while working in Tijuana, Mexico. Chef Cardini used whatever ingredients he could find to make the salad, which consisted of Romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, boiled egg, garlic, olive oil, and Worcestershire sauce.
6. Frog Legs
Contrary to popular belief, frog legs did not originate in France. It is believed that Dutch and British diners ate this dish during the 17th century. It most likely originated in England. Based on findings at Stone Age excavation sites, archaeological evidence from 2013 suggests that prehistoric Britons ate frogs and toads as early as 6250–7600 BC.
7. Cheesecake
Many people believe that Arnold Reuben invented cheesecake in New York City. In 1929, he made a cream cheese-based version that differed from the soft cheesecakes found in Europe. In reality, Europeans had been making cheesecakes for centuries before then. Cheesecake has been around for ages and was probably first invented by ancient Greeks or Romans.
8. Fortune Cookies
It has become a tradition to crack open a fortune cookie in Chinese restaurants, but these cookies most likely originated in Japan. According to Yasuko Nakamachi, a researcher, fortune cookies could be found in Japan during the 19th century. The executive of one of the biggest fortune cookie manufacturers, Derrick Wongan, said, “The Japanese may have invented the fortune cookie. However, the Chinese people really explored the potential of the fortune cookie. It’s Chinese-American culture. It only happens here, not in China.”
9. Apple Pie
Apple pie did not originate in the United States. It originated in Europe and was brought to the States when colonists arrived in North America. A 1381 recipe from England features “figs, raisins, pears, and saffron in addition to apples.”
Sources:
Essential ‘National’ Food Dishes Whose Origins We Were Totally Wrong About
7 iconic dishes that don’t originate where you think they come from
15 Foods That Aren’t From Where We Thought
