10 Iconic American Dishes

What is traditional American cuisine like? Any sensible person knows it’s far more than McDonald’s, Starbucks, or Asian restaurants. It’s much more complex and multifaceted, rooted in the free spirit and tastes of immigrants who began experimenting and reinventing familiar dishes in their own way.

To truly understand what authentic American cuisine is, you would need to visit each of the fifty states and delve into the food culture of nearly every community — a truly impossible task. However, AdmiGram.com knows a little trick: we’ve selected the top 10 most authentic American dishes that best capture the true spirit of America.

10 iconic American dishes

Barbecue: Texas

American barbecue is a national dish of the USA, but it’s in Texas where barbecue is made authentically. It’s prepared exclusively with beef, usually from the neck. The meat is coated in pepper, salt, herbs, and other spices, then slowly cooked over coals, making the process both leisurely and philosophical.

Philadelphia Cheesesteak: Pennsylvania

Who invented the first sandwich is unknown, but Pat Olivieri, founder of Pat’s Steaks, created the Philadelphia cheesesteak in 1930, and it was an instant hit. The cheesesteak consists of a crusty, elongated roll filled with steak slices, topped with provolone cheese or Cheez Whiz sauce, and usually with added onions.

Cobb Salad: California

Cobb salad was the favorite dish of Bob Cobb, the owner of the Hollywood restaurant Brown Derby. Every evening he made himself a salad for dinner with a mix of lettuce, tomatoes, chicken, avocado, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, and cheese. Today, this salad is served in various forms all over America.

Deep Dish Pizza: Illinois

Chicago-style pizza, or deep-dish pizza, became a harmonious blend of Italian, British, and American cuisines. More crispy dough, more melted cheese, and more delicious tomato sauce — just the way we like it. The pizza dough typically contains cornmeal, and after baking, cheese, tomato sauce, meat, or other toppings are added.

Traditional American Donuts: Louisiana

You can’t fully appreciate American cuisine without trying traditional American donuts at least once. It’s believed that the most authentic and delicious donuts are made in Louisiana. Typically, these are classic donuts without filling or with a cream filling. However, other fillings, such as chocolate or fruit, are also popular.

Clam Chowder: Massachusetts

Clam chowder is a traditional and popular American dish known far beyond the USA. Boston is the best city to experience the full delight of this soup. Every year, festivals are held where Boston restaurants compete to make the best clam chowder, which consists of clams, potatoes, celery, onions, and cream.

Key Lime Pie: Florida

Florida is known for its heat and abundance of limes. Traditional key lime pie rivals apple pie in popularity but is much simpler to make. It’s made with lime juice, condensed milk, and egg yolks. The recipe with a whipped cream or meringue topping became popular in the 1950s and is a hallmark of traditional American desserts.

Navajo Fry Bread: South Dakota

Navajo fry bread, recognized as the state dish of South Dakota, has a preparation method increasingly similar to Scottish bannock as more people become concerned about the healthiness of fried foods. Modern Navajo fry bread can be eaten plain for breakfast or turned into “Navajo tacos” with ground beef, lettuce, and cheese.

Sugar Cream Pie: Indiana

It’s hard to mess up making a sugar cream pie, which is why it’s so popular. Sugar, cream, a bit of flour, and eggs make for the simplest dessert in the world. If you ever find yourself in Indiana, be sure to try this dessert. Many bakeries across the state offer various versions of this old-fashioned pie with a delicate sugar cream filling.

Ahi Poke: Hawaii

Ahi poke is a delightful Hawaiian dish that has become popular far beyond Hawaii. The recipe is very simple: fresh yellowfin tuna is cut into small cubes and marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, salt, and chili pepper. Variations of the dish include octopus, with added ingredients like ginger, green onions, and seaweed.

image on top: Jay Wennington / Unsplash