What exactly is "American food"? Your first reaction might be hot dogs, hamburgers, steak, etc. Even some Americans can't name more than three, so for us foreigners, this question is even more difficult to answer.

The United States boasts a vast territory and a short history, and has attracted immigrants from over 100 countries and ethnicities. Its current population is approximately 280 million, including approximately 43 million Spanish-speaking people, 36 million African Americans, and over 10 million Asian immigrants. This vast influx of diverse communities has established families and businesses in the United States, making it a melting pot of peoples . American cuisine, too, stems from this melting pot . Even if you don't enjoy American cuisine, I'm sure you'll find something else to suit your taste.

Even small towns in the United States often have Italian, Taiwanese, Japanese, and Thai food.

Larger cities also offer Indian, Korean, Greek, Middle Eastern, Cuban, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Russian, Iranian, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Peruvian, Burmese, Indonesian, and Turkish cuisine.

You can find authentic cuisine from almost any country you can think of here. For a foodie who wants to try all the food in the world, the United States is actually a good choice.

The Formation and Characteristics of American Cuisine

Influenced by early immigrants (British Puritans and American pioneers), traditional American cuisine, like traditional Americans, is characterized by its " rough and authentic" nature . It uses fresh ingredients, relies on no additives or seasonings, and preserves the food's original flavors. The cooking process is streamlined, with no elaborate steps required for grilling, pan-frying, or deep-frying, and no emphasis on slow cooking (except for a few regional dishes). There are no elaborate embellishments, and everything on the plate is easily digestible, satisfying a satisfying and satisfying meal. The basic structure of American food is a one-two-three-four system, like a triangle: the most important ingredients are beef, chicken, fish, lamb, pork, and shrimp, and bread, potatoes, corn, and vegetables.

At the end of the 19th century, with the development of American civilization and economic prosperity, coupled with the advancement of information and transportation, Americans' dietary requirements gradually increased. In particular, starting in 1965, the United States relaxed its immigration policies, leading to a massive influx of people from all walks of life and all walks of life from around the world. This massive influx of new immigrants had a profound impact on American society and cultural structure. The cooking styles and culinary characteristics brought by these immigrants were like a spark that ignited a prairie fire, bringing a rich and diverse range of foods to the tables of American families and restaurants.

A wide variety of American cuisine

Americans have a light palate, preferring raw and cold foods , such as cold shabu-shabu vegetables and tender steaks, and preferring hot soups that are not too hot. Dishes are generally salty with a hint of sweetness. Pan-frying, deep-frying, stir-frying, and grilling are the primary cooking methods, rather than braising or steaming. Meat, fish, and vegetables are staple foods, with bread, noodles, and rice as side dishes. Sweets include cakes, homemade pies, and ice cream. They enjoy vegetables such as green beans, broccoli, pea sprouts, sword beans, and mushrooms. Meat is deboned , fish is deboned, and shrimp and crab are deshelled.

Americans like to eat meat dishes such as sweet and sour fish, sweet and sour pork, fried beef, fried steak, fried pork chops, roast chicken, and fried chicken. They like to drink beverages such as ice water, mineral water, Coca-Cola, beer, whiskey, and brandy. They like to add ice cubes to their drinks and do not like to drink tea.

They drink tomato juice, orange juice, and other drinks as appetizers before meals , beer, wine, soda, and coffee after meals, and rarely drink strong alcohol. Americans also dislike pig's trotters, chicken feet, sea cucumbers, animal offal, and fatty meats.

No seasoning is added when cooking . The seasonings are placed on the table for guests to use, including soy sauce, vinegar, MSG, pepper, chili powder, etc.

Some Americans enjoy eating earthworms, canned food, and crackers . Salad oil and sauce are commonly used as seasonings for cold dishes. Many enjoy Cantonese and Sichuan cuisine, as well as sweet sauces, oyster sauce, and seafood sauce. They also enjoy mixing raw liquors like whiskey, gin, and vodka into cocktails .

Based on the above historical and cultural background, there are three major criteria for defining American cuisine !

1. Originated in the United States
2. Modified by the United States
3. Unique to the United States

Only one of the above three conditions is met

So here are the pictures! Next time you're asked this question, you can finally skip the hot dogs and hamburgers...

Thanksgiving Turkey Thanksgiving Turkey Leg

Thanksgiving Turkey On Thanksgiving, American families eat roast turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and potatoes.

Actually, eating turkey doesn't have to be so heavy. If you want to try something new, roasted turkey legs are a great option. They're sold at various night markets and amusement parks. Personally, I find the skin of the turkey legs to be more delicious than the meat.

Pie

Apple pie, a symbol of America

Pecan pie
contains egg yolks, brown sugar, and pecans.

While people often think of the burrito as a Mexican
dish, it was actually invented in San Francisco! Burrito fillings can include chicken, pork, bacon, corn, rice, bell peppers, tomatoes, chili peppers, onions, and avocado.

California Roll

Sushi is of course a Japanese dish, but the California roll was invented by the Japanese after they came to California to suit American tastes. Now people all over the world love California rolls.

Barbecue chicken pizza

Traditional Italian pizza is the domain of New York and Chicago. Californians like to change the ingredients to make more creative pizzas.

Smoked salmon

It looks so American! A large baking sheet is topped with meat sauce, mixed vegetables, gravy, and cheese, and topped with a generous layer of golden hash browns! This Minnesota home cooking is incredibly satisfying, and it's a complete meal.

Chicken Wild Rice Soup

A Minnesota specialty! Minnesota wild rice is black and becomes crunchy in creamy soups, with a unique chewy texture. Putting it in a bread bowl makes it a complete lunch. (Wild rice is scientifically known as Zizania latifolia, but people eat the thick stems, called wild rice stems. Americans don't eat wild rice stems, but instead gather the seeds.)

Beer Cheese Soup

Wisconsin's dairy products are a specialty, with a dizzying array of cheeses. The state is also a heavy drinker. The inventor of this soup must have been incredibly drunk! It tastes just like beer!

Pulled pork sandwich made
with meat slow-roasted for 24 hours

Beet salad
is delicious with a little goat cheese

Pear gorgonzola salad.
Gorgonzola is a type of cheese. It's also delicious with walnuts or pecans.
(Source: Internet)