Just as you thought you knew everything there is about your favorite food, you found something surprising about it. Often, we associate our food with certain cuisines that belong to a specific place.
Several of the food you know originated in areas you may not associate them with. Some of the favorite food items we know have unexpected origins, like those included on this list.
1. Hamburgers
Hamburgers may be famous for being an all-American classic, but its origins were elsewhere. According to NPR, Genghis Khan and his army carried raw meat scraps under their saddles. This meat would tenderize as they galloped around and would be referred to as meat patties as time goes by.
2. Apple Pie
Another food item that is often thought to be of American origin is the apple pie. According to Today, I Found Out, the first recorded recipe for this pie is from England. The original recipe was a far cry from the one we know now as it required figs, pears, and even saffron.
3. Pasta
We've always thought that Pasta originated from Italy, but in reality, it descended from ancient Chinese noodles. The recipe for noodles was brought over to Italy. Thanks to Marco Polo.
4. Cheesecake
An American dessert icon that does not originate in America. The first cheesecake recipe was found on the Greek island of Samos, which is estimated to be nearly 2,000 years old. Cheesecakes were said to be fed to Olympians to serve as a source of energy. The original recipe was made from flour, wheat, honey, and cheese.
5. French Fries
French Fries are not French since they originally came from Belgium. Belgians are said to fry potatoes as a food source to replace fish when rivers freeze over in the winter.
6. Croissants
Another foodie favorite that is not really from France as many thought is the croissant. It was refined and perfected in France; however, its origins were traced to Austria. The earlier versions of croissants were less flaky than what we have now.
7. Churros
Just when you thought churros is Mexican, you find out that it came from Asia. According to Taste Of Home, these twisted cinnamon-sugar treats were first found in China. Some Portuguese sailors then brought the recipe to Latin America, where it was perfected and made famous to what we know now as churros.
8. Mongolian BBQ
Contrary to popular belief, Mongolian BBQ is not of Mongolian origins. Sources point to Taiwan as the original innovator of this dish back in the 1950s. The style appears to be a mix of Japanese teppanyaki and Taiwanese stir-fry. However, the true origin of Mongolian BBQ is still partially unknown at present.
9. Caesar Salad
The Caesar Salad may be famous all across America, but it originated somewhere else. It was reported that Italian-American restaurateur Caesar Cardini was the first to develop the recipe in Tijuana, Mexico.
10. Donuts
A staple dessert in American but originally belongs and traced back to Greece. The ancient Greeks originally invented the first donuts known as loukoumades. These were given as prizes to winners of the ancient Olympic games.
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