The sights of different countries are not only works of art, famous paintings, architectural objects, but also dishes. Croissants, for example, are a real symbol of a French breakfast in some Parisian coffee shop against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, and at the words “pasta” or “gelato” Italy pops up in my head.
But what if we say that in fact these dishes originated in completely different countries, how would you like that? The British company CDA in its blog revealed the secrets of the origin of some products that can surprise you!
Croissants
Where, in our opinion, croissants come from: France.
Where croissants actually come from: Austria.
Whether you eat croissants salty or sweet, the delicious puff pastry-based delicacy that is so deeply rooted in French culture was created in Vienna, Austria. The spiritual ancestor of the croissant can be considered a bagel. Many historians believe that the crescent-shaped treat dates back to the monastery bakeries, and it was baked as part of rituals in honor of Easter, and this pastry was first mentioned in the 12th century.
Fish and chips, fish and French fries
Where, it seems to us, fish and French fries come from: Great Britain.
Where did the fish and French fries actually come from: Portugal.
If there’s one thing the British coast is famous for, it’s fish and chips. It will be difficult for you to find a seaside town that does not have at least one place where you can try them. Fish with fried potatoes became so popular in the UK that during World War II, Winston Churchill exempted this dish from rationing. Surprisingly, this dish is actually not British, but Portuguese
It is said that Sephardic Jews from Portugal brought an ancient Andalusian dish called pescado frito to the UK in the 1400s, when they were fleeing religious persecution. The white fish was fried in a thin layer of flour, ready for Shabbat. And when potatoes became popular in the 1800s, they perfectly complemented the dish.
Ice cream
Where, in our opinion, ice cream comes from: Italy.
Where the ice cream actually comes from: Mongolia
Italians are famous all over the world for the quality of their ice cream and gelato, so it’s forgivable to think that they invented this sweet treat, but this is a mistake. In fact, this is Mongolia’s achievement (at least that’s what the story says).
It wasn’t exactly the ice cream we know and love today, and it all happened completely by accident. It is said that Mongolian horsemen carried milk from buffaloes or yaks through the Gobi Desert. They jumped, the temperature dropped, and the churned milk froze. As the Mongol Empire expanded in the 1200s, the popularity of this frozen milk/cream also grew. It is said that Marco Polo brought this idea to Italy at the end of the 13th century.
Pasta
Where, it seems to us, pasta comes from: Italy.
Where the pasta actually comes from: China.
Sorry, Italy, but this dish also came from another country. It is said that noodles gained popularity in Italy around the 13th century and were most likely brought by European travelers. They probably discovered egg noodles thanks to the nomadic Arabs who brought the first pasta to the west from Asia.
What distinguishes Italian pasta from other types of noodles is the use of durum wheat. Egg noodles have long been a staple of the Chinese diet, starting in the first century BC.
But the improvement of the manufacturing process and the addition of durum wheat varieties made the pasta affordable and versatile, provided it with a long shelf life in dried form, as well as excellent taste qualities combined with local Mediterranean products, which firmly rooted it as part of Italian culture.
Donuts
Where, in our opinion, donuts come from: USA (New York).
Where the donuts actually come from: Greece
Dunkin‘ Donuts and Krispy Kreme are just a couple of major American brands that have made a global name for themselves solely through the sale of this dessert. But donuts are not a native American product, as you might think. They didn’t have a distinctive ring shape before. The earliest version of the doughnut in its familiar form dates back to the time when Dutch settlers brought them from Europe to New York (or New Amsterdam, as it was then called).
But the homeland of the donut is in Greece. Lukumades, as they are called, are essentially small balls covered with honey and walnuts. They are also considered the oldest recorded dessert. They have been awarded to the winners of the Olympic Games as “honey tokens” since the very first ones in 776 BC.
Vindaloo
Where, in our opinion, does vindaloo come from: India.
Where vindaloo actually comes from: Portugal.
It seems that when it comes to local food, Portugal does not receive proper recognition. Although many dishes have been imported from India and adapted to other cuisines, vindaloo is not one of them. It is believed that its very name is actually a distorted pronunciation of the Portuguese dish Carne de Vinha D’alhos — a dish of meat marinated in wine vinegar and garlic.
This meat dish was brought to the Goa region of India by Portuguese settlers in the 15th century, and in Portugal it was eaten many centuries earlier. Since wine vinegar was not used in India, locally produced ingredients such as tamarind, black pepper and cardamom were used instead. Perhaps the addition of chili peppers is something that the Portuguese Empire inherited from South America.
The Scotch Egg
Where, it seems to us, the Scottish egg comes from: Great Britain (Scotland).
Where does the Scottish egg actually come from: India.
It’s unclear how this dish got under the Scottish flag, but it has a secret: it’s not Scottish at all. It is believed that the eggs that many people like to eat at picnics are inspired by the Indian dish nargisi kofta, which was mentioned in India as early as 500 BC. Nargisi kofta consists of a hard-boiled egg smeared with seasoned minced meat, and all this is then fried. It is likely that the British encountered Nargis kofta while traveling in India.
London department store Fortnum & Mason claims to be the creator of the Scotch egg as we know it today, advertising it as a snack for travelers in the early 18th century. They may not have invented this dish, but they certainly popularized it.
Swedish meatballs or Swedish meatballs
Where, in our opinion, the Swedish meatballs came from: Sweden.
Where do Swedish meatballs actually come from: Turkey.
What’s a trip to IKEA without Swedish meatballs? By name, it seems that this dish is Scandinavian, but in fact it came from Turkey (at least its recipe). The idea of rolling meat into balls to make it easier to eat is not unique (China has been doing this for centuries), but the Swedes loved most of all exactly how they did it in Turkey.
It is said that the Turkish recipe was brought to Scandinavia in the 18th century by King Charles XII. Turkish meatballs, known as “kufta”, are made from beef and lamb with onion, egg, parsley, breadcrumbs and salt. Nowadays, Swedish meatballs are usually made from pork.
Churros
Where we think Churros is from: Spain.
Where churros actually comes from: China.
Dessert churros is an integral part of Spanish street cuisine, but this dish is not originally Spanish.
This is a variation of one of Yutiao’s favorite Chinese breakfast dishes, which is actually a little salty rather than sweet. Deep-fried strips of dough were brought to Spain via Portugal in the 17th century. A star-shaped nozzle was used to form the dough, and the dish turned into the famous sweet delicacy churros.
Chicken tikka masala
Where, in our opinion, tikka masala comes from: Bangladesh.
Where does tikka masala really come from: United Kingdom (Glasgow)
Chicken tikka (“tikka” means “piece”) definitely originated in the Indian subcontinent during the Mungal Empire and became popular around the 1600s, which is well documented.
But tikka masala is a completely different story. If tikka is usually a dry dish of meat marinated with spices, which is cooked on coals, then tikka masala is a juicy, rich and creamy dish. In the 1970s, an Indian chef worked in Glasgow, and it was there that he developed a dish that Westerners began to consider an Indian-Bangladeshi treat.
Here is a moment of history for gourmets. Surely you are already salivating!
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