From unique meats and seafood to fruits you’ve never heard of, there is a whole world of cuisine available in Europe that you’d be hard-pressed to find in the United States. According to an online forum, this list of popular European foods are nearly impossible to find in America.
Raw Pork (Mett/Hackepeter)
To many Americans, this seems like food poisoning waiting to happen, but it’s actually a popular dish in Germany. Mett or Hackepeter is raw ground pork seasoned with salt and pepper served on a bread roll, often accompanied by onions.
Rabbit
Although you might find rabbit rarely in certain high-end restaurants, Americans usually have the option of chicken or beef. One reader mentioned, “Rabbit is almost never seen in US grocery stores, which surprised my French in-laws.”
Octopus
In certain regions, especially those along the water where it’s plentiful, octopus is a popular food. In the Galicia region of Spain, pulpo is a signature octopus dish seasoned with paprika. One user says, “In Croatia, especially here on Adriatic, we eat octopus a lot.”
Black Currants
If you’re American and you’ve never heard of this berry, there’s a reason for that. They’re illegal! According to one user, “Black currants were banned from import for a long time because they carried a fungus that could kill American trees. That’s why they’re not easy to find.”
Horse Meat
One commenter says, “While this isn’t something that every European nation does, Horse is considered to be a delicacy in some parts of Europe and in France, they have a thing called “Chevalines” which is a butcher shoppe that specializes in Horse meat.”
Clotted Cream
A popular spread in England, clotted cream is served alongside scones and jam for afternoon tea. It’s a thick, slightly sweet dairy spread that tastes like something in between butter and whipped cream.
Blood Sausage
Also called black pudding, blood sausage is basically what it sounds like: animal blood in a sausage casing with filler to harden it. It’s a popular food all over the United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Whole Fish (with the eyes)
Although both Europeans and Americans commonly eat fish, the way it’s prepared can differ quite a lot. Many American tourists may be disturbed when they order fish in Spain or Portugal, and an entire fish comes on the plate with eyes intact. However, most Europeans prefer whole fish because you can more easily ascertain the high quality of the fish this way.
Lingonberries
Somewhere in between a cranberry and a blueberry, lingonberries have a tart, slightly sweet flavor. These red berries are popular in Scandinavian countries, where they’re used to make jams, sauces, tarts, and more.
Reindeer
They eat Rudolph in Europe? In certain areas with colder climates and larger reindeer populations, like Iceland and Norway, reindeer is commonly eaten like venison in the U.S.
Mutton
Although we more commonly see lamb here in the U.S., mutton is similar but from an older sheep. Mutton is often eaten alongside potatoes in England, Scotland, Norway, and Iceland.
Marzipan
Marzipan is a candy made from a sweet, hardened paste made from ground almonds and sugar. You can occasionally find marzipan in America in specialty stores, but it’s not nearly as common a treat as it is in Europe. In Spain, the Christmas markets fill the streets in winter with stalls featuring marzipan shaped into every imaginable thing, from fruits to dogs to burgers.
Buckwheat
Buckwheat is commonly ground into flour or used whole in dishes like soba noodles, pancakes, porridge, or as a side dish. Buckwheat is a nutrient-rich, gluten-free seed that is often categorized as a grain due to its use in cooking. Despite its name, it is not related to wheat and belongs to a group of foods commonly referred to as “pseudocereals,” which are seeds that are consumed like grains.
One American said, “Buckwheat, apparently. We eat buckwheat as a flour sometimes, most frequently as pancakes. But even that is a tiny minority of pancakes consumed. Buckwheat eaten like oatmeal is highly unusual, and I would guess when it does happen, it’s a cultural carry-over.”
Source: Reddit
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