I hate to ask questions...costs points..sakes but I read an answer that called lasagne American Italian. Please explain or is this just good ol America slapping good ol America in front of everything and calling it theirs ?
2007-01-30 17:52:56 · 6 answers · asked by mickattafe 3 in Food & Drink ➔ Ethnic Cuisine
Well American Italian food is way different than real Italian food. For instance, Italians cook their pasta "al dente", while most Americans prefer pasta overcooked. Italian lasagna looks and tastes nothing like what Americans call lasagna.
I see the other side of it too... Italians have their version of an American Hotdog..... tastes nothing like what is in the States.
Cultures influences other cultures all the time... and of course all people put their own little twist on things. Especially food.
What most Americans see at Chinese Buffet style restaurants is a far cry from Chinese food as well.
2007-01-30 22:40:22 · answer #1 · answered by Kat 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it's probably to indicate that it's not truly Italian, but more what Americans consider to be Italian. Instead of thinking there's just the one word slapped in front, think of it more like "American version of..."
For example, though, to most Americans, Italian food consists of Pizza (what??), or a big bowl of Spaghetti (at least there's a basis there). I think lasagne falls into that category. Anyway, I would consider that to mean an American adaptation of an Italian food. Hence, American Italian.
2007-01-30 23:57:41 · answer #2 · answered by flamingopink 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lasagna is one of those (let me use the term lightly) a "fusion" and more regional dishes. It's basically American ingredient with a heavy Italian cooking style influence. Another good example of this, pizza. It's nothing like the original Italian pizza (which is much more simple and basic), but the basic thing is a pizza. You could also consider them California style pizzas a first cousin of American-Italian pizza.
Another analogical example of these adopted cuisine is Tex-Mex. Who would have thought that fajitas, chili, and nachos are a Texan invention although they share the same Mexican ingredient? Here's another: Chinese-American chop suey and fortune cookies.
2007-01-30 22:32:56 · answer #3 · answered by G G 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes pizza is italian. And well, yes the burger was invented in america, but i think dishes like steak, and eggs and bacon, pancakes with maple syrup and things like that are more of the traditional american meals. So, i would say its steak for america. And i would say the most famous english food is fish in chips from the U.K. Hope this helps. :)
2016-05-23 22:05:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When Italians came to the US, they had to adapt their recipes according to what was available. Therefore, recipes changed. Those changed recipes were passed down to the next generation, and eventually became part of family tradition. I can only assume that the American Italian lasagna recipe called for cottage cheese because ricotta wasn't available. Nowadays, ethnic ingredients are readily available, but that wasn't the case 100 years ago.
2007-02-02 13:42:12 · answer #5 · answered by bedhead 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Olive Garden
2007-01-31 05:36:17 · answer #6 · answered by Dia 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋