These Are America's 40 Greatest Dishes, Ranked

This article appeared in pensandpatron.com and has been published here with permission.

There are some food items in the United States that get a lot of flak. However, there are some dishes that are real symbols of ingenuity at the time, spur-of-the-moment ideas that became staple dish items decades later, or even a blending of cultural dishes to create something that really highlights the diversity that America has.

40. Cobb Salad

Cobb salad was first introduced by Chef Paul J. Posti. So, if his name was Posti, why do we call it "Cobb" salad?

He first concocted the dish when he was cooking at a restaurant called Robert Cobb. The salad includes lettuce, chicken, boiled eggs, avocado, and Roquefort cheese. This makes it a pretty filling option but still a salad that's cool enough to enjoy in the summer! You'll see it on almost any salad menu.

39. California Roll

Given how many cultures come together in the United States, it's no surprise that there are a number of dishes that have been brought over and then tweaked with local inspiration.

Sushi is something that Japan brought to the United States and the options you can get are nearly limitless. However, as you might expect, the California roll originated in California. There are a few different origin stories for this sushi roll that swaps out the raw fish for imitation crab alongside cream cheese and avocado.

38. Grits

As far as versatility goes, you won't find anything that's quite as versatile in Southern cooking as a good helping of grits. Grits are made of cornmeal, and they have a really simple recipe for boiling it down.

However, you might find sweet or savory versions of the basic recipe as well. This one actually predates the United States and is a recipe that comes from Muskogee tribes that lived there long before America was even a dream.

37. Twinkies

When people who aren't from the United States think of snacks that were invented in America, it doesn't take long for Twinkies to come to mind.

These cakes are stuffed with creme. The traditional choice is full of a more neutral - but sickeningly sweet - cream. But since the company released them, they've introduced a number of other flavors, including chocolate cream and even fruit creams.