If Your Taste Buds Are Happy, Thank An Immigrant

From 2010 to 2012, sales of ethnic foods in the United States rose 4.5 percent, totaling $8.7 billion. Contributions from immigrants have absolutely altered meal time for the majority of Americans. Here's a list of some of the most successful dishes introduced to our palates by the culinary geniuses amongst us:

1. Sourdough bread

Sourdough originated in Ancient Egypt and was brought stateside by French bakers during the California Gold Rush. Since then, the bread has become synonymous with San Francisco. Even the mascot of the San Francisco 49ers is named Sourdough Sam. Source.

2. Pizza

Pizza arrived in the United States courtesy of Italian immigrants in the late 19th century. The first pizzerias were opened in Chicago and New York City somewhere around 1903 and 1905. At the time an entire pie would run you 5 cents. Source.

3. Burritos

While the origins of this Mexican dish go back centuries, popular opinion is that the burrito first appeared on the menu at El Cholo Spanish Cafe in the 1930's. Regional Americanized varieties of the burrito now exist: Mission style in San Francisco, burritos with chilis in Los Angeles, and the extremely popular burritos of San Diego, including the California (with fries), carne asada, and surf n' turf. Source.

4. Ice cream

Forms of beta ice cream date back to the 4th century B.C. and were imported to the United States from Europe in the 1700's. Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson are said to have been big fans of the dessert. Source.

5. Kebabs

In the United States, kebabs are mostly consumed as the Turkish shish kebab variety, on skewers. Doner kebabs or shawarma are also gaining in popularity. The dish is a common Berlin street food and often introduced by relocated immigrants from Germany. Source.

6. Guacamole

This avocado-based sauce originates with 16th century Aztecs, when it was called "ahuacamulli." The California Avocado Advisory Board published early recipes for guacamole in the 1940's. Two biggest days for avocado sales? Super Bowl Sunday and Cinco de Mayo. Source.

7. Fried plantain or platanos fritos

Unlike the banana which is often eaten raw, plantains are used for cooking. Take your pick when it comes to who introduced fried plantain to America as the popular treat is indigenous to tropical regions and a staple food in East, West and Central Africa, Central America, coastal South America, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. In Texas, Louisiana and Florida plantains are often grilled.

8. Cannoli

Cannoli are a popular Sicilian pastry dessert introduced to the United States in the early 1900's. Americanized versions sometimes swap out the ricotta cheese base for sweet custard or whipped cream. "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli." is also a famous line from The Godfather. Source.

9. Quiche

Especially popular in the United States in the 1970's and 1980's, the quiche originates from the Lorraine region of France. The first recipe for a Quiche Lorraine appeared in the 1951 version of popular cookbook, Joy of Cooking. Source.

10. Hummus

Hummus consumption has exploded in the United States, powered by the arrival of immigrants from Armenia and Israel in the 20th century, as the popularity of the dip/spread has taken on a life of its own. The demand for hummus is driving record-breaking years for U.S. chickpea harvest, and American farmers now export the crop to Spain, Turkey, and Pakistan. Source.

11. Jollof rice

Jollof rice is popular in restaurants in the United States owned by West African immigrants from Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Leone and others. Jollof rice is thought to be the predecessor to jambalaya, a popular Cajun dish.

12. Taco

Tacos were imported by Mexican mine and railroad workers around 1904. They started gaining steam after World War II, as original patents for taco shells were awarded to Mexican restaurant owners in the 1940's. Glen Bell then took the taco to mass-market with the Taco Bell brand. Mexican regional tacos, like tacos al pastor and tacos de barbacoa, continue to gain popularity in the U.S. for their authenticity. Source.

13. Pad Thai

Thai cuisine is hugely popular in the United States, and no dish more so than Pad Thai. In fact, Pad Thai was listed at #5 on CNN's World's 50 most delicious foods in 2011. Source.

14. Falafel

Popular amongst vegetarians, vegans, and carnivores alike, falafel is now a trendy street food in the U.S. due to Middle Eastern and Jewish immigrant-owned businesses.

15. Curry

Curry is a broad word used for a variety of dishes in West Indian, South and Southeastern Asian cuisines. Curries have become popular since the mid-20th century as the number of international fusion restaurants in the United States have exploded. Source.

16. Chorizo

Chorizo in America is currently having its moment as Spanish-style tapas bars gained massive popularity in recent years. For the Mexican variety, chorizo con huevos (chorizo with scrambled eggs) is a staple on many American brunch menus. Source.

17. Harissa

Harissa is the most popular hot chili sauce in North Africa. Since its introduction to Americans by immigrants from Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, harissa has been spicing up dishes across the country just like its cousins sriracha, West Indian pepper sauce, and tabasco. It goes great on falafels (#14), kebabs (#5) and hummus (#10). Source.

18. Matzah ball soup

Commonly served during Passover, matzah ball soup is affectionately known as Jewish penicillin. In 2010, the world's largest matzah ball was prepared in Tuscon, Arizona ahead of New York's Jewish Food Festival. It weighed 426 pounds and required 1,000 eggs. Source.

19. Gyros

Gyros have been enjoyed by the people of Turkey, Greece, and the Middle East for generations. By all accounts, they made their U.S. debut in New York City in the early 1970s. Source.

20. Baklava

Baklava’s history goes all the way back to the 8th century, when it first appeared as a lavish desert in Assyrian culture. Baklava was brought to central and western Europe by Turkish people. In the U.S., Baklava is often found at Greek, Turkish, and Middle Eastern restaurants. Source.

21. Sushi

Sushi--meaning “sour tasting”--originates from a dish featuring fermented raw fish traced back to the 8th century in Japan. Japanese immigrants in California first brought modern-day sushi rolls to the United States in the 1960’s. The California Roll, specifically, is an American adaptation of a traditional tuna roll featuring the addition of a slice of avocado.

Source.

22. Injera

Injera is a thin bread product made from the grain teff, which is native to Ethiopia. The food originally came to the United States with waves of Ethiopian immigrants in the 1970s. In the 1980’s, American farmers started importing teff seeds to grow themselves and the popularity of injera continues to rise in American urban centers today. Source.

23. Pho

Pho, a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup, was first brought to the United States by Vietnamese refugees after the end of the Vietnam War. Pho became a mainstream cuisine in the U.S. in the 1990’s and is especially popular on the West Coast. Source.

24. Macaroons

There is great diversity in macaroons world wide, but the earliest macaroons come from Italy and appear in books of recipes as early as 1725. Macaroons in the United States are traced both to Italian and Scottish recipes. The coconut version of macaroons are especially prevalent in Jewish communities and are used as a dessert during Passover. Source.

25. Couscous

Couscous is a staple food of North Africa and can be traced specifically to ethnic Berber communities. Though it is traditionally prepared from durum wheat by hand, American consumption of couscous is largely limited to pre-prepared couscous that can simply be boiled with water and spices.

26. Naan

Naan is a kind of flatbread that originates from Asia. Though many different kinds of Naan exist, the most common varieties of naan in the United States can be traced to India and Persia. The spelling of the word “naan” in English was first seen in 1979. Source.

27. Hot dogs

Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker’s hot dog stand on Coney Island turned the hot dog into an American icon. Since 1916, the very same Nathan’s has put on the International Hot Dog Eating Contest on the Fourth of July. Source.