Americana

It is easy to define some countries' cuisines because the food and recipes are indigenous of the region, often derived out of necessity or a means for survival—the ingredients naturally coming from the local land or sea. However, since the U.S. is a country made up of cultures from many other countries and Indigenous peoples, it can be somewhat challenging to define its cuisine—what recipes are "American"?

A myriad dishes could be listed as "American," but there are a certain few that fit the quintessential image of this diverse and expanding culinary tradition.