Ever bite into a gooey chocolate chip cookie and imagine the centuries-old generation of grandmothers trying to perfect them? Or perhaps ancient Romans twirling forks of spaghetti. Many of the foods we consider timeless classics are surprisingly modern inventions, with stories of happy accidents and clever marketing. Today, we’ll be revealing 20 ‘traditional’ foods that were actually invented not long ago.
20. Fortune Cookies (1900s)
That cookie you crack after a Chinese meal to reveal your fortune? It’s not a Chinese delicacy at all! These fortune cookies were invented in California by Japanese immigrants. They were a staple of Chinese-American restaurants after World War II, when soldiers returning from the Pacific sought a treat.
19. Pad Thai (1930s)
Pad Thai might be the famous Thai dish everyone craves. However, it wasn’t an ancient recipe that was passed down; it was created in the 1930s as part of a government campaign to promote Thai nationalism. The government even passed down a standardized recipe to restaurants for consistency.
18. Caesar Salad (1924)
This well-loved salad has no connection to the Roman Empire. It was actually invented in Tijuana, Mexico, in July 1924 by an Italian-American restaurateur, Caesar Cardini. The reason behind this invention is that he’s running low on ingredients, so he threw together what was available and handed it over to a group of Hollywood celebrities.
17. Buffalo Wings (1964)
Can you imagine a spread without Buffalo wings? Well, this iconic American classic was only invented in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. It was credited to Teressa Bellissimo, the place’s owner, as she created it as a late-night snack for her son and his friends. What she did was deep fry some available chicken wings and toss them in a spicy sauce. She served the wings with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.
16. Banoffee Pie (1971)
This dessert is made of a combination of banana, toffee, and cream. However, it was not invented until 1971 at The Hungry Monk Restaurant in Sussex, England. It was created by the chef and owner, Ian Dowding, and Nigel Mackenzie, who claimed to have invented it. It gained popularity locally before going global.
15. Nutella (1964)
This chocolate hazelnut spread was a solution created to solve a post-war problem. Back in the 1940s, cocoa was scarce and expensive in Italy. With that, a pastry maker named Pietro Ferrero created a sweet paste made from hazelnuts, sugar, and a small amount of cocoa. He sold them as a solid block, but in 1964, his son, Michele Ferrero, reformulated it into a creamy version that can be spread.
14. Blended Iced Coffee (1980)
The Frappuccino you’re sipping is just one of the popular drinks created relatively recently. The concept of blended iced coffee alone was popularized in the 1980s. Later on, the Frappuccino was created in a Boston coffee shop called The Coffee Connection. With that, Starbucks acquired The Coffee Connection, along with the Frappuccino name, which they popularized globally.
13. Salmon Sushi (1980)
While sushi is an ancient Japanese tradition, it didn’t actually originate from salmon. It was a modern development that was invented in Norway. It was in the 1980s that a Norwegian delegation sought new markets for their farm-raised salmon, pitching the idea of using it for Japanese sushi. The Japanese were initially hesitant, as their local salmon was prone to parasites, but the high-quality, parasite-free Norwegian salmon promised to be different and eventually won them over. Now, salmon is one of the most popular ingredients in sushi.
12. Chocolate Fondant (1981)
Think that warm chocolate cake with a river of molten chocolate flow was invented back in the days of royalty? Well, no, it was in 1981 when French chef Michael Bras was credited for that. He was inspired by drinking hot chocolate after a long day of skiing, and he wanted to create a dessert that would evoke the same sense of comfort.
11. Boba (1980s)
Think this trendy tea-based drink is an old invention? Nope, it was created in 1980 in Taiwan. While there are competing claims, it became a sensation that its popularity spread across the world. Now, you can find boba shops in almost every major city. And apparently, many are craving this unique blend with chewy tapioca pearls.
10. Pasta Primavera (1975)
This classic Italian dish is actually an American invention. It was created in 1975 by New York restaurateur Sirio Maccioni at his restaurant, Le Cirque. Maccioni wanted to experiment with a new pasta dish that he tossed with a variety of fresh, seasonal vegetables. The result is a flavorful dish that he named “pasta primavera,” or spring pasta, in Italian.
9. General Tso’s Chicken (1975)
This sweet and spicy fried chicken dish we get at Chinese restaurants isn’t what it seems. It was actually invented in the 1970s by a Taiwanese chef named Peng Chang-kuei, who fled to New York. The reason behind the confusion is the name of the dish, which was adopted from a 19th-century Chinese general. Now, it’s a popular Chinese-American dish we love.
8. Hawaiian Pizza (1962)
This controversial pizza topping of ham and pineapple wasn’t that old. It was actually invented by a Greek-born Canadian named Sam Panopoulos at his restaurant in Chatham, Ontario. He invented the topping while experimenting with a new topping to attract more customers. He said that he was inspired by the sweet and savory flavors of Chinese-American cuisine.
7. Butter Chicken (1950)
This tomato-based chicken dish is an Indian cuisine staple, but it’s actually a modern invention. It was created in the 1950s by the Moti Mahal restaurant in Delhi, India. The chefs are looking for ways to use some leftover tandoori chicken, and they created a buttery sauce to simmer it in. The result? A dish that became a sensation.
6. Spaghetti Carbonara (1944)
This wasn’t some dish invented by ancient Rome. It was actually first created in 1944, during the Allied liberation of Rome in World War II. American soldiers wanted a taste of their home, so they asked for bacon and eggs in their pasta. With that, an Italian chef obliged and created a dish of spaghetti with eggs, cheese, and cured pork cheek (guanciale). The result is a well-loved Roman classic.
5. Doner Kebab Sandwich (1960s)
The classic doner kebab is a Turkish dish of meat cooked in a vertical rotisserie. However, the kebab sandwich is a relatively recent invention, where the meat is stuffed into a pita bread with salad and sauce. It was created in the 1960s by Turkish immigrants in Berlin, Germany, as they sought a way to make their traditional dish more accessible to the German audience.
4. Currywurst (1949)
This popular German street food was something that we’ll always crave. In fact, it was invented in 1949 in Berlin by Herta Heuwer. She was looking for a cheap and easy way for construction workers building the city, so she invented a dish of steamed and fried pork sausage topped with a sauce of ketchup and curry powder. It became an instant hit German classic to this day.
3. Nachos (1940)
Believe it or not, these tortilla chips topped with melted cheese and jalapeños were invented in 1940. They were created in the Mexican border town of Piedras Negras when a group of American military wives came to town for a day of shopping and were looking for a snack. The maître d’ of the local restaurant, Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya, improvised by topping some tortilla chips with cheese and jalapeños before baking them in the oven. He named the dish “Nacho’s especiales” when the women loved it.
2. Cavendish Banana (1960s)
The banana you see in the supermarket is relatively new. Well, the Cavendish banana accounts for 99% of the world’s banana exports, which only became widely available in the 1960s. It replaced the Gros Michel banana that was wiped out by a fungal disease. So, yes, the banana we know is a modern replacement.
1. Chicken Tikka Masala (1970s)
This authentic Indian classic was actually invented in the United Kingdom in the 1970s. It was created by a Bangladeshi chef in Glasgow, Scotland. He wanted to please a customer who complained that his chicken tikka was dry, so he added a can of tomato soup and spices to create a creamy sauce. The dish became a hit and has since then been Britain’s most popular dish.