Let’s be honest, there are a lot of “Italian” dishes out there that are a complete farce. Delicious? Absolutely! Genuine Italian? No. Here are some classic dishes that are labeled “Italian”, but they did not originate in Italy. You might be surprised!
Spaghetti and Meatballs
This classic dish is found in most Italian restaurants. But did it originate in Italy? No. This dynamic duo was formulated in America. If you watch Big Night with Stanley Tucci, you’ll see how the American customers only want spaghetti and meatballs over classic Italian risotto.
“Italian” Dressing
You won’t have any luck finding this type of dressing in Italy, it’s mostly served in American restaurants. Similar to spaghetti and meatballs, Italian dressing was designed in America. In Italy, a typical salad is spruced up with red-wine vinegar or olive oil.
Cioppino
Cioppino is a fish stew cooked with tomatoes, wine, and spice. While the flavors of Cioppino are hevaily inspired by ingredients found in Italy, this delcioius stew originated in San Francisco, California.
Muffuletta
Muffuletta is a sandwich that consists of layers of marinated olive salad, salami, ham, Swiss cheese, provolone, and mortadella. The sandwich exudes fresh and bright flavors, like most Italian food, but Muffuletta was first created in New Orleans.
