American cuisine is really an amalgam of what our ancestors either grew here hundreds of years ago or brought with them from their native countries and incorporated into the U.S. lifestyle. Here are questions about flavors and foods from around the world we enjoy.
1) Related to the tomato and potato, this member of the Nightshade family is believed to have originated in India. Known variously as brinjal or aubergine in other countries, what do we call this vegetable?
2) Originating in Spain, what enbreaded, fried, or baked stuffed pastry is popular in Latin American cultures, as well as being served at some U.S. food trucks?
3) Popular in Tuscan cuisine, and sometimes eaten with beef ragu, what common pasta means “little ribbons” in Italian?
4) Meaning “miscellaneous leftovers,” what dish called tsap seui in Cantonese may have actually been created by Chinese Americans?
5) French fries do indeed owe some of their backstory to original French cuisine, and Thomas Jefferson had them served at an 1802 state dinner. But what would a Parisian call French fries?
6) What is the fifth taste? Sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and saltiness we all grew up with. But becoming more used since the 80s as a flavor word, this “pleasant savory taste” shows up in dishes with a brothy, meaty taste. Name this Japanese-origin word.
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