American cuisine

American cuisine refers to the diverse styles of cooking in the United States. Beginning with the traditions of English cuisine of the 17th and 18th centuries, mixed with some American Indian culinary traditions (corn and yams, maple syrup, etc.), it has changed considerably over the last three centuries, becoming a synthesis of culinary traditions from around the world, combining the cuisines of different immigrant cultures. German "hamburg steaks" and sausages, Italian pizza and pasta, and Chinese dishes have become American specialities.

A German dish that became popular in the United States - Hamburg-style steak and eggs

Modern American food is characterised by an extremely wide spread of semi-finished products, fast food restaurants and restaurants of various national cuisines, which also makes it difficult to characterise American cuisine.

The American invention of fast-food restaurant food

has become widespread around the world

Speaking of the early history of American cuisine, we note that initially the first colonists ate the fruits of strawberries, blueberries, blueberries, cherries, currants, gooseberries, plums, raspberries, sumac berries, juniper berries, carcasses, elderberries, hawthorns, and walnut trees. Meat of rabbit, raccoon, opossum, rat, chipmunk, pigs, peccary, wolverine, badger and porcupine was eaten. Of birds, turkey, partridge, quail, pigeon, plover, and skylark. Waterfowl were represented by ducks, geese, swans. Snail and turtle meat and frog legs were also served.

The painting by American artist Jean Leon Gerome Ferris is titled "The First Thanksgiving in 1621" and depicts European settlers celebrating with the Indians

American recipes were shaped by the national cuisines of the early settlers, primarily English, but also Native American (native), Spanish, German, French, Italian, Chinese, African, and others. Of great importance for the creation of recipes for cooking in American families is the climate, conditions of different regions of America.

Salads are widespread in the USA: from the simplest (for example, from fresh cucumbers or tomatoes) to multicomponent speciality mixtures on a vegetable basis.

The famous Caesar salad with chicken and breadcrumbs was invented by American chef Caesar Cardini in the 20-40s of the XX century. The salad quickly gained the love and popularity of ordinary Americans, becoming the most famous dish of traditional US cuisine

Typical of the southern states are fried chicken, country-fried steak, smoked pork (barbecue), cornmeal fritters and bread, crab, she-crab soup and Maryland crab cakes.

Barbecue

Crab cakes

In the New England states, boiled corned beef and vegetables (boiled dinner), fish dishes, lobster, and clam chowder (a type of traditional American soup made from shellfish and broth, with either milk (New England clam chowder) or tomatoes (Manhattan clam chowder) added) are traditional.

Boiled corned beef and cabbage

New England clam chowder

Beef steak cooked over charcoal, jacket potatoes, and chocolate cake are the centrepieces of the Midwestern table. Italian cuisine ("deep dish" Chicago pizza, fried ravioli in St. Louis, etc.) has had a strong influence on Midwestern urban cuisine.

Chicago-style deep dish pizza

Fried ravioli

The southwest is dominated by a fusion of Mexican and American cuisine, the so-called Tex-Mex, whose characteristic dishes include fajitas, tacos, burritos, chilli con carne (the main component is hot peppers and ground meat), stuffed sweet peppers and other Tex-Mex dishes.

Fajitas - one of the most popular dishes of traditional Mexican cuisine, which is grilled and striped meat and vegetables wrapped in a tortilla (soft wheat tortilla)

Tacos (corn or wheat tortillas with a variety of fillings) seasoned with cilantro and onions

Burritos with meat filling

Chilli con carne with beans and tomatoes

Ice is widely used in the American diet. A pitcher of ice is a common attribute of service in a restaurant. Iced tea is popular. Beer is usually served cold in a chilled mug.

In American cuisine, rice is often used as a side dish - long, brown and wild rice. Many spices are used in cooking: garlic powder, several kinds of pepper, cloves, nutmeg, oregano, tarragon, cinnamon, ginger, bay leaf, cumin, dill, vanilla, onion powder, etc., and peanut butter

Peanut butter

Seafood menus are exceptionally varied in America.

Supermarkets and grocery shops sell many convenience foods. On weekdays, many Americans use convenience foods for lunch or prepare, for example, beef with a side dish (jacket potatoes and spinach or beans from a bag). Fresh vegetables go on the salad: lettuce, escarole lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, scallions, cucumbers, radishes. For dessert, a cake made from purchased biscuit mix is served. Sandwiches, both hot - hamburgers, cheesesteaks (thinly sliced roast beef with cheese and fried onions) and cold (ham, turkey breast, vegetables) are typical of an American lunch. Weekends, holidays, family gatherings, and other celebrations usually involve more time-consuming recipes. At Christmas, turkey and apples are often roasted and apple pie is baked.

Sandwich

Hamburger

Cheesesteak is a sandwich filled with chopped and fried beef with onions and cheese

Stuffed turkey with vegetables

American apple pie

Also very popular in the USA is the so-called "American cheese" (American cheese) - a dairy product made from rennet cheeses, melting cheeses, cottage cheese, butter and other dairy products with the addition of spices and fillers by melting the cheese mass (at a temperature of 75-95 њC.) - made from a mixture of cheeses, most often colby and cheddar.

American cheese on toast

Many people have probably also heard of the common in the States torus-shaped pastry made of pre-boiled yeast dough - bagel.

Bagel with smoked salmon

Another "masterpiece" of American cuisine is corn dog, a sausage covered with a thick layer of cornmeal dough and fried in hot oil. A corn dog is the analogue of a sausage in batter or a hot dog. They are almost always served on a wooden stick, although some early versions did not have sticks.

Among the "sweet" American dishes besides the holiday apple pie are banana bread (a sweet muffin whose main ingredient is ripe bananas); pecan pie (a sweet custard pie made mostly of corn syrup or molasses with pecans); chocolate brownie; muffin (English name for muffin - a small round or oval pastry, mostly sweet, containing a variety of fillings, including fruit); cheesecake (a European and American dish that is a raw dessert ranging from cottage cheese casserole to cake soufflé); marshmallow (marshmallow-like candy consisting of sugar or corn syrup, gelatin softened in hot water, dextrose, and flavourings whipped to a sponge-like consistency); maple syrup (a sweet syrup made from the sap of the sugar maple, red maple, or black maple tree); and of course, popcorn (corn kernels burst from the inside out when heated).

Banana Pecan Bread

Pecan pie is a popular food in the United States for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. The pie was first started by French colonists in New Orleans when they learned about the pecan nut from the Indians