Food is the common bridge that connects people from different cultures and regions. It often gives us a glimpse of the widely different culinary world that exists in other parts of the world. While we all love indulging in authentic cuisines from various regions, some widely popular ‘traditional’ dishes aren’t native to their associated country/place. Let’s explore 12 such dishes whose real origins can surprise you.
French Fries
The name of this dish may make it appear that French Fries are from France, but in reality, its true origin is Belgium. According to common lore, locals in Namur in francophone Belgium were fond of eating fried fish. During one freezing winter in 1680, they couldn’t get any fish as the River Meuse froze due to extreme temperatures. It made them explore alternatives, and potatoes stood out.
They fried the potatoes similarly to how they fried the fish, which is how fries were created. When American soldiers stationed in Belgium first tried these fries, they started calling them ‘French Fries,’ as French was the commonly spoken language then.
Vindaloo
This spicy and tangy curry is one of Indian cuisine’s best-kept recipes, but it isn’t Indian. The vindaloo people eat today is a Goan adaptation of the Portuguese dish ‘carne de vinho e alhos.’ The Portuguese colonized Goa in the early 15th century and introduced this dish to the locals.
It was adapted well into their cuisine after making a few changes. In India, people tweaked the original dish by adding local spices such as black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, vinegar from coconut toddy, etc. This addition created a flavorful version of vindaloo that most people love.
Danish Pastry
People worldwide love Danish pastry, but few know that its origin belongs to Austria, not Denmark. In the mid-19th century, Denmark witnessed a massive strike by Danish bakers, creating a severe shortage of skilled professionals in bakeries. The government brought bakers from Austria to address this shortage.
Austria bakers introduced their native baking techniques, including their unique method of laminating dough with butter for a flaky, layered texture synonymous with Danish pastries. They also introduced Danish bakers to different flavor combinations, such as custards, cream cheese, jam, etc., shaping the current Danish pastries people enjoy.
Curry
The first thing that comes to mind on hearing the term ‘curry’ is India. There’s a misconception that every Indian dish with a gravy or sauce is curry. In fact, no such ‘term’ is used for a dish in any local Indian language. Indians have specific names for their dishes, such as Chana Masala, Rogan Josh, Matar Paneer, etc. but never curry.
The Britishers first coined this term when they were fascinated by India’s spices. They later created a curry powder featuring several spices used in Indian cooking. So, the curry you make using this curry powder is British, not Indian.
London Broil
If you ask a Brit for London Broil, they won’t understand your request. While the dish may sound like it originated in London, it has no association with the city or England. It originated in the United States and refers to a distinct cooking technique. While there’s more history and mystery behind this dish, it’s believed the name ‘London’ was added to make the dish look exotic. People first found this name in American cookbooks in the 1930s, which was likely included to market cheaper beef cuts.
Hawaiian Pizza
While people continue debating the choice of putting pineapple on pizza slices, there’s a more interesting debate doing rounds – its origin. While the name indicates that it was first prepared in the Hawaiian state in the United States, it was actually invented in Canada.
Sam Panopoulos, a Greek immigrant in Canada, was the first to introduce Hawaiian pizza. He owned a restaurant with his brothers in Ontario, where he started getting adventurous with food. He even introduced Americanized versions of Chinese meals before experimenting with a pizza by adding canned pineapples to it.
Singapore Noodles
Singapore Noodles have fans worldwide, but people in Singapore are still confused about this dish. Contrary to the common belief, Singapore Noodles doesn’t share its origin with Singapore. It was first made in Hong Kong when the place was a British colony. It was a period of trade boom where spice powders and curries from previously British-ruled India were readily available, prompting local chefs to use these ingredients in their dishes. They used the word ‘Singapore’ to make the dish sound exotic, as the place was less known during the 1950s or 60s.
Apple Pie
Apple pie is one of America’s most loved desserts but isn’t native to America. Apples weren’t even grown in North America until the arrival of European settlers, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg came from distant countries like Indonesia and Sri Lanka. It’s believed that apple pie was first created in England from combined culinary influences from the Netherlands, France, and the Ottoman Empire. It was later brought to America, where it eventually became their cultural identity.
Pavlova
This meringue-based dessert was often confused as a Russian dessert because of the popular Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. However, two countries are debating to claim its origin. According to Australia, its chef Herbert “Bert” Sachse created Pavlova in 1935 at Perth’s Esplanade Hotel. New Zealand says an unnamed chef first made Pavlova at a Wellington Hotel during Anna Pavlova’s only tour to the country in 1926.
Tempura
Tempura is one of Japan’s most iconic dishes, but surprisingly, it wasn’t first made in Japan. It is believed that Tempura originated in Portugal. Portuguese took their deep-frying technique and peixinhos da horta, a delectable dish featuring battered and fried green beans, to Japan in the 16th century. Japanese adapted this dish after refining the recipe using local ingredients, such as shrimp and seasonal vegetables, paving the way for the current version of Japanese Tempura.
Churros
Churros is a sugary fried dough treat believed to have originated in Spain and Latin America. However, researchers believe that churros first came from China through Portuguese visitors in the 1500s. Some scholars believe that youtiao (fried-dough sticks from China) and churros are distant cousins, with the Islamic zulabiya as the common element. The origin claims are still debated, as some nationalistic Spanish residents say that Spanish farmers were the first to make this delicious treat.
Salisbury Steak
Although this dish shares its name with a city in England called Salisbury, it has nothing to do with the city or the country. It was originally created by Dr. James Henry in the United States as a proposed cure for digestive illness in Civil War soldiers. Since digestive illnesses were killing more soldiers during the war, consuming a diet rich in beefsteak and coffee was suggested. It paved the way for the legendary Salisbury steak, which was typically made with a concoction of ground beef, pork, chicken, and other types of meat.
