20 "American Foods" That Are Actually Jewish

20 foods that most Americans consider "just American" carry Jewish histories that the mainstream food industry erased through commercialization.  

These foods that we eat every day are actually Jewish — 20 foods found in kitchens, delis, bakeries, and grocery stores worldwide that originated from Jewish culinary traditions, were popularized by Jewish immigrants, or were invented by Jewish food entrepreneurs. 

Most people eat these daily without knowing the Jewish connection — from the bagel you had this morning to the pastrami on your sandwich to the seltzer in your fridge to the cheesecake on your dessert menu. 

The "Bloodlines and Borders" YouTube channel posted a video identifying all 20 — what each food is, how it traces to Jewish origin, which Jewish immigrant communities brought them to America, how Jewish delis and bakeries turned regional foods into national staples, why New York deli culture is fundamentally Jewish, and which foods were adapted from Eastern European Ashkenazi tradition versus Sephardic or Mizrahi origin.

All except one are kosher, the exception being the Reuben sandwich which contains both corned beef and swiss cheese. But it still has two possible Jewish origin stories, having been created either by New York restaurateur Arnold Reuben or Reuben Kulakofsky, a Jewish grocer in Omaha, Nebraska.

Enjoy!