Nachos have been around practically forever, right?
Wrong!
You might be surprised to learn that a lot of common foods we assume have been in existence for centuries or more are actually relatively new.
That’s a subjective line to draw, of course, so for purposes of this article, we’re talking about something invented since World War II, which ended in 1945.
Nachos (1940)
This food is so simple and so popular that you’d expect it to have been around for centuries. Actually, it’s less than a century old, and, unlike some other foods on this list, it did come from Mexico, a place you’d guess it came from.
Apple Crumble (1940s)
This dessert came about in Great Britain, where, as well as in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, it’s called apple crisp. Apple crumble is actually a different dessert in those places.
Spaghetti Carbonara (1944)
Spaghetti and other types of pasta have been around for a long time, and some say spaghetti originated in China and that Marco Polo introduced it to Italy. Whatever the truth of that is, carbonara dishes did get their start in Italy.
Currywurst (1949)
With a name like this, you might think it’s a toss-up whether it’s from India or Germany. In fact, it’s from Germany, where Indian immigrants influenced the cuisine in the 1940s.
Butter Chicken (1950s)
This one, though, really did come from India. As Indian cuisine has grown in popularity around the globe as a result of immigration, many more people have gotten to try this dish.
Hawaiian Pizza (1962)
Spoiler alert: pizza topped with ham and pineapple didn’t come from Hawaii. It was actually first prepared by a Greek-born Canadian in Ontario!
Doner Kebab Sandwich (1960s)
Germany was the source for this one. Food experts speculate that Turkish immigrants brought their food styles with them, ultimately mixing with traditional German cuisine and creating new dishes.
Chicken Tikka Masala (1970s)
Here’s another dish you might assume came from India but actually came from a European country, in this case Great Britain. However, it was Indian cooks living there who created the dish.
General Tso’s Chicken (1970s)
This one had to have been from China, right? By now, you know the answer. This spicy dish originated in the U.S. What’s still in dispute is which of two Chinese chefs in New York introduced the dish first.
Pasta Primavera (1975)
Unlike spaghetti carbonara, pasta primavera does not come from Italy. An Italian restaurateur from New York created it in Canada and then brought it to the States.
Chocolate Fondant (1981)
This decadent dessert consists of dark chocolate, sugar, eggs, butter, wheat flour, cocoa powder, vanilla syrup, and salt. If you enjoy it, thank France.
Ciabatta Bread (1982)
This Italian-sounding food actually did originate in Italy. It’s delicious buttered, dipped, or used when making a sandwich.
Bubble Tea (1980s)
Also commonly called boba tea, this beverage has become wildly popular in the U.S. In the early 1980s, this tea-based drink surfaced in Taiwan, and immigrants brought it here.
Salmon Sushi (1980s)
People are often surprised to learn that a food they associate with Japan actually originated in Norway. At the time, Pacific salmon had too many parasites for it to be safely eaten raw. Farm-raised Atlantic salmon in Norway didn’t.
Blended Iced Coffee (1980s)
This staple for many coffee drinkers was born right here in the United States. That’s probably not too surprising given how reliant so many Americans are on their daily coffee(s).
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