American food sometimes feels foreign. Things like burgers are iconic, but of course there are other regional cuisines as well. However there are some foods that really make people ask: who came up with this? They feel peculiar. Some people from other countries can’t understand this kind of food. Nonetheless, they often end up on our plates in one way or another. Maybe it’s nostalgia, maybe it’s curiosity. And inevitably some people really like them. Come let’s take a look at some of the oddities in the American kitchen.
1. **Deep-Fried Butter**: I think it’s more of a challenge for the cook than just food. Recall that you saw a golden glob at the fair. That’s right, it’s Deep-Fried Butter. you take a bite and the melted butter oozes out. It’s honestly a little bit too much to eat, but more than that, it feels like a guilty pleasure. Eating one of these is like eating a week’s worth of calories.
What’s really weird is that people will stand in long lines for this. Would you eat butter on a spoon like that? Then why even fry it? However, Deep-Fried Butter shows that Americans turn a lot of things into guilty pleasures.
Recipe details: Deep-Fried Butter
Prep time: 30 min Additional Time:: 8 hr
Cook time: 10 min Total time: 8 hr 40 min
Servings: 12 servings
Energy: 400 kcal Protein: 4 g
Carbs: 27 g Fat: 32 g
Dish Tags:
Ingredients:
½ cup light brown sugar
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon (Optional)
1 ½ cups cold butter, cut into tablespoon-sized pieces
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, divided, or more as needed
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (Optional)
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 quart vegetable oil, or as needed
toothpicks
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar, or as needed
Cooking steps:
1. Whisk brown sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon together in a shallow bowl. Dip each piece of butter into cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat completely. Place butter pieces in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Freeze until hard, 8 hours to overnight.
2. Stir 1 cup flour, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Beat buttermilk, eggs, and white sugar together in another bowl; add flour mixture to buttermilk mixture and beat until smooth. Gradually stir remaining flour into buttermilk mixture until desired batter consistency is reached.
3. Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
4. Poke a toothpick into the center of each frozen piece of butter. Dip butter into batter to coat completely.
5. Working in batches, carefully drop coated butter pieces into hot oil and cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown and puffed, about 2 minutes. Transfer fried butter to a paper-towel lined plate and dust with confectioners’ sugar.
Get the recipe: Deep-Fried Butter
2. **Jell-O Salad**: This food would probably be more common at a Midwestern potluck. The more classic is a colorful jello salad made from a mixture of various things such as marshmallows or shredded carrots. Mayonnaise or cottage cheese is usually added as well. This dish was popularized in the past after the war, and this odd combination seems like it would be more likely to appeal to children.
Recipe details: Cranberry Jell-O Salad
Prep time: 15 mins Inactive time: Unknown
Cook time: Total time: 3 hrs 15 mins
Level: Unknown Servings: 12
Total weight: 1565.3 g Calories: 1604.9 kcal
Energy: 1604.9 kcal Protein: 12.4 g
Carbs: 320.8 g Fat: 40.5 g
Dish Tags: american, salad, lunch/dinner, Low-Sodium, Low Potassium, Kidney-Friendly, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Wheat-Free, Sulfites
Ingredients:
2 cups boiling water
2 (0.3 ounce) packages sugar-free cherry-flavored gelatin mix (such as Jell-O)
1 (16 ounce) can jellied cranberry sauce
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
½ cup chopped pecans
Cooking steps:
1. Gather all ingredients.
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2. Combine boiling water and gelatin mix in a bowl; stir until gelatin is dissolved.
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3. Stir in cranberry sauce and crushed pineapple.
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4. Transfer to a large glass serving dish or 12 individual dishes. Sprinkle pecans over top.
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5. Chill until set, 3 to 4 hours for individual dishes, or 4 hours to overnight for one large serving dish.
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Get the recipe: Cranberry Jell-O Salad
3. **Cheese in a Can**: You think of cheese as a block or maybe slices typically. But America said, lets put it in an aerosol can instead! Here is spray cheese, a processed item from dairy for crackers. Or celery or truthfully, just spraying it directly in your mouth. It is cheese made easy for busy people.
Spray cheese is sort of like a bad TV show you cannot stop watching. It feels processed till it is barely cheese you might think. Yet, it is an icon of American new ideas and products anyway.
Recipe details: Southern Pimento Cheese
Prep time: 15 mins Inactive time: Unknown
Cook time: Total time: 15 mins
Level: Unknown Servings: 12
Total weight: 1624.5 g Calories: 3997.1 kcal
Energy: 3997.1 kcal Protein: 259.2 g
Carbs: 156.8 g Fat: 259.8 g
Dish Tags: american, sandwiches, lunch/dinner, Low-Carb, Peanut-Free, Tree-Nut-Free, Soy-Free, Fish-Free, Shellfish-Free, Eggs, Milk, Soy, Sulfites
Ingredients:
2 cups shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup mayonnaise
1 (4 ounce) jar diced pimento, drained
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced (Optional)
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (Optional)
¼ teaspoon onion powder
salt and black pepper to taste
Cooking steps:
1. Gather all ingredients.
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2. Place Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, pimento, minced jalapeño, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and onion powder in a large bowl.
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3. Mix until thoroughly combined.
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4. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
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5. Enjoy!
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Get the recipe: Southern Pimento Cheese
Read more about: Quick and Easy Spicy Grilled Cheese Sandwich for Summer
4. **Twinkie Casserole**: Some people find it a sweet and wonderful treat. Others don’t want to go near them at all. Usually, it’s topped with a layer of whipped cream and pudding.
But what really polarizes this dish is the amount of sweetness in it. It feels like sugar on top of sugar. But for many, it represents the ultimate comfort food.
5. **Peanut Butter and Pickle Sandwich**: Again, this is a highly polarizing food. The peanut butter gives a rich flavor similar to something like cream, while the pickle brings a refreshing tartness. This creates a unique flavor combination that has supporters.
According to historical research, the roots of this sandwich come from past times of economic hardship. People got creative with ingredients they could afford. Whether you love it or hate it now, it should be a uniquely American treat.
Recipe details: Poor Man’s Sandwich
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Level: Easy Servings: 1 servings
Calories: 361 kcal
Protein: 14 g
Carbs: 31 g Fat: 22 g
Dish Tags: american, lunch/dinner, Low-Carb, Kidney-Friendly, Vegetarian
Ingredients:
1 ½ tablespoons creamy peanut butter
2 slices whole wheat bread
6 slices dill pickle
1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
2 teaspoons mayonnaise
Cooking steps:
1. Spread peanut butter onto one bread slice. Place the pickle slices and onion onto the peanut butter. Spread mayonnaise onto remaining bread slice, then place on top of the other piece of bread.
Get the recipe: Poor Man’s Sandwich
Read more about: The Ultimate Guide to Pickled, Jarred, and Canned Snack Nirvana
6. **Kool-Aid Pickles**: Speaking of pickles, let’s discuss pickles made with Kool-Aid Pickles. Usually the pickles are drained and refilled in jars with a Kool-Aid powder mix. Sometimes it is cherry flavored and sometimes grape flavored is used. Pickles made this way are brightly colored, but they all taste sweet and weird.
This dish comes from the South and is quite popular online. Some people are horrified by the concept of making this dish. While others are excited about it and think it is the perfect combination of flavors. Is this culinary genius or insanity? The answer is yet to be revealed.
Recipe details: Carolyn’s KOOL-AID Pickles
Prep time: 5 mins Inactive time: Unknown
Cook time: Total time: 7 days 5 mins
Level: Unknown Servings: 8
Total weight: 1014.6 g Calories: 512.6 kcal
Energy: 512.6 kcal Protein: 4.6 g
Carbs: 128.6 g Fat: 2.7 g
Dish Tags: american, desserts, lunch/dinner, Low-Fat, Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Sulfites
Ingredients:
1 (32 ounce) jar dill pickles
2 (0.13 ounce) packages unsweetened red KOOL-AID®
½ cup white sugar
Cooking steps:
1. Open pickle jar, and pour off the liquid from the jar into a bowl. Add KOOL-AID and sugar to the pickle liquid, and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Pour mixture back into the pickle jar, making sure that pickles are completely covered and there are no air spaces. Cover jar tightly and shake well.
2. Refrigerate the pickles for at least one week before serving.
Get the recipe: Carolyn’s KOOL-AID Pickles
7. **Meatloaf with Ketchup Glaze**: Meatloaf, for all its creativity, is a comforting dinner dish. But the point is that this dish is flavored with nothing more than a generous drizzle of ketchup on top.Meatloaf is a staple in many households. So while some people find this dish nostalgic, others find it completely unappetizing. But you have to admit, it is a symbol of classic American style.
Recipe details: Good Eats Meatloaf
Prep time: 25 min Inactive time:
Cook time: 45 min Total time: 1 hr 10 min
Level: 1 hr 10 min Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Total weight: 1579.7 g Calories: 2911.0 kcal
Energy: 2911.0 kcal Protein: 241.0 g
Carbs: 183.4 g Fat: 135.3 g
Dish Tags: american, condiments and sauces, lunch/dinner, Dairy-Free, Peanut-Free, Tree-Nut-Free, Soy-Free, Shellfish-Free, Sulfites
Ingredients:
6 ounces garlic-flavored croutons
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 onion, roughly chopped
1 carrot, peeled and broken
3 whole cloves garlic
1/2 red bell pepper
18 ounces ground chuck
18 ounces ground sirloin
1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 egg
1/2 cup catsup
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Dash Worcestershire sauce
Dash hot pepper sauce
1 tablespoon honey
Cooking steps:
1. Heat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. In a food processor bowl, combine croutons, black pepper, cayenne pepper, chili powder, and thyme. Pulse until the mixture is of a fine texture. Place this mixture into a large bowl. Combine the onion, carrot, garlic, and red pepper in the food processor bowl. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped, but not pureed. Combine the vegetable mixture, ground sirloin, and ground chuck with the bread crumb mixture. Season the meat mixture with the kosher salt. Add the egg and combine thoroughly, but avoid squeezing the meat.
3. Pack this mixture into a 10-inch loaf pan to mold the shape of the meatloaf. Onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, turn the meatloaf out of the pan onto the center of the tray. Insert a temperature probe at a 45 degree angle into the top of the meatloaf. Avoid touching the bottom of the tray with the probe. Set the probe for 155 degrees.
4. Combine the catsup, cumin, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce and honey. Brush the glaze onto the meatloaf after it has been cooking for about 10 minutes.
Get the recipe: Good Eats Meatloaf
8. **Pickle Popsicles**: This dish is literally, yes, pickle juice frozen into popsicles. It sounds really kinda hard to believe, but some people are still obsessed with the texture.
But, honestly, who looks at a jar of pickles and thinks “freeze it for dessert”? Some people genuinely like it, while others are afraid to try it. But I have to say this is a heavenly creative recipe, very classic American.
9. **Spam Sushi**: Sushi, on first impression, is a rather delicate Japanese food. It met the famous canned meat known to many as Spam. and so, Spam Sushi was born here. This culinary idea first came from the Hawaiian Islands. The dish consists of grilled Spam placed on top of rice cubes. It is then wrapped securely in seaweed. People on the islands really like this snack. Other places would see this dish and their jaws would drop.
Recipe details: Spam Musubi
Prep time: 25 min Inactive time:
Cook time: 30 min Total time: 55 min
Level: 55 min Servings: Makes 10 musubi
Total weight: 1569.5 g Calories: 2772.6 kcal
Energy: 2772.6 kcal Protein: 92.2 g
Carbs: 424.5 g Fat: 74.3 g
Dish Tags: japanese, main course, lunch/dinner, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Peanut-Free, Tree-Nut-Free, Fish-Free, Sulfites
Ingredients:
5 cups cooked sushi rice, room temperature
5 sheets nori, cut in half lengthwise
1 (12 oz.) can Spam
6 tbsp soy sauce
4 tbsp mirin
4 tbsp sugar
Furikake, to taste
Cooking steps:
1. Cut Spam into 10 slices. Fry until slightly crispy. Remove and drain on plate lined with paper towels. In another pan, combine soy sauce, mirin and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to low. Add Spam slices, coating them in the mixture. When mixture has thickened, remove Spam from pan.
2. Lay a sheet of nori lengthwise on a clean surface. Moisten lower half of musubi maker (see Note), and place on lower third of nori. Fill musubi maker with rice and press flat until the rice is 3/4-inch high. Sprinkle rice with furikake. Top with slice of Spam. Remove musubi maker and keep in a bowl of warm water to keep it clean and moist.
3. Starting at the end towards you, fold nori over Spam and rice stack, and keep rolling until completely wrapped in the nori. Slightly dampen the end of the nori to seal it. Repeat with the other nine Spam slices, making sure to rinse off musubi maker after each use to prevent it from getting too sticky.
Get the recipe: Spam Musubi
Read more about: Spicy Egg Fried Rice – A Homemade Takeout Adventure
10. **Cereal Milk**: Perhaps after finishing a bowl of cereal and thinking, “This milk is so good? Someone should bottle it,” some may have thought at one time or another.Cereal Milk came along and made it taste exactly like the leftovers from the cereal bowl. Some businesses have made it into ice cream, and other sweet treats.
Some people may find the flavor appealing. But others can’t get past the fact that it’s just sugary leftover milk liquid.
Recipe details: Cereal Milk Punch
Cook time: Total time: 1 hr 10 min
Level: Easy Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Total weight: 1135.7 g Calories: 1578.0 kcal
Energy: 1578.0 kcal Protein: 36.6 g
Carbs: 141.2 g Fat: 91.3 g
Dish Tags: british, drinks, lunch/dinner, Kidney-Friendly, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Egg-Free, Peanut-Free, Sulfites
Ingredients:
4 cups whole milk
3 cups frosted corn cereal, such as Frosted Flakes, plus a few flakes for garnish
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 cup brandy or dark rum
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, plus strips of orange peel for garnish
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, plus more for garnish
Cooking steps:
1. Stir the milk and cereal together in a large bowl or pitcher and add the cinnamon stick. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
2. When you are ready to serve, strain the milk through a fine-mesh strainer into a punch bowl or pitcher, making sure to squeeze out as much milk as possible. Stir in the brandy, orange juice, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg and enough ice to fill the pitcher. Pour the punch into rocks or punch glasses filled with ice. Run a strip of orange peel over the rim of each glass and add to the punch. Grate over a little nutmeg, sprinkle a few cereal flakes over the glasses and serve immediately.
Get the recipe: Cereal Milk Punch
Read more about: Deciding Whether to Refrigerate or Not is the Great Debate
Here we are at the end of this creative tour of America’s quirky cuisine. Throughout this discussion, one thing has become apparent. Americans have never been afraid to take chances with their food. The existence of these quirky and divisive dishes shows us something. They are a great example of the spirit of experimentation and creativity. This spirit truly defines American culture itself.
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