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What Classic American Comfort Food Do You Wish Was Easier to Find Here?

(107 Posts)
Mrbenjamin Tue 09-Dec-25 15:47:13

I've been on a bit of a mission lately trying to recreate some of the classic American dishes I grew up loving, but I’ve found that some ingredients or even the exact methods just aren't common here in the UK (or wherever the majority of Gransnet users are).

I'm thinking of things like perfect, fluffy biscuits and gravy, real slow-cooked barbecue pulled pork, or a proper Chicago deep-dish pizza.

What American comfort food do you adore, but struggle to find or make correctly? And does anyone have any secret tips or recipes for getting that authentic American flavour using ingredients available here? I'd love to hear your experiences!

Shel1951 Wed 10-Dec-25 14:07:49

Only difference is some additives available in the USA are banned in Ireland and the UK.
That would make a difference in taste

orly Wed 10-Dec-25 13:55:04

JamesandJon33

We don ‘t eat biscuits and gravy. Biscuits are sweet and go with a cup of tea. Perhaps that is why you are having difficulty .

...."back home we call biscuits "crackers" and jam "jelly" so stick that in your "fanny pack"

.... divided by a common language as they say

Sueinkent Wed 10-Dec-25 13:41:41

Burritos.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 10-Dec-25 11:21:20

I always think the southern seafood sounds pretty good.

Grantanow Wed 10-Dec-25 11:16:35

I enjoyed pancakes with maple syrup in the US as a treat but I wouldn't make them a breakfast staple now - far too much sugar.

glammagran Wed 10-Dec-25 11:11:53

Hershey’s “chocolate” - an absolute abomination and smells of sick.

Smileless2012 Wed 10-Dec-25 11:08:37

You're right about the missing sunshine Lathyrus.

Smileless2012 Wed 10-Dec-25 11:04:00

They're just not the same butterandjam.

Coconut Shrimp was another favourite Spinnaker.

Blossoming Wed 10-Dec-25 11:03:22

I know very little about American food so I’m afraid I can’t help.

RosieandherMaw Wed 10-Dec-25 10:55:00

Spinnaker

One of the tastiest meals I had in the USA was Coconut Shrimp with Cheddar Cheese Grits, it was sublime.

I know its a question of taste but for me the combination of shrimps +coconut+cheddar (since when was that American?) + grits (which sound awful ) is a combination to be avoided.
Plus seafood plus cheese would presumably be unacceptable to anybody jewish

TerriBull Wed 10-Dec-25 10:47:23

NotSpaghetti

Banana cream pie is quite easy to make.
Why not give it a go?

You are right, there are recipes online for it. Somehow I got sidetracked by when Banoffee Pie emerged a while back, also easy to make and that kind of fulfilled the void. It's not the same though, must have a go at Banana Cream Pie sometime.

nanna8 Wed 10-Dec-25 00:18:51

I love the Southern BBQ spare ribs and that nice sticky sauce they come in . I buy some pre cooked at Costco but haven’t made them from scratch.

Spinnaker Tue 09-Dec-25 23:02:29

One of the tastiest meals I had in the USA was Coconut Shrimp with Cheddar Cheese Grits, it was sublime.

Chocolatelovinggran Tue 09-Dec-25 22:27:39

Grits are grim.

Deedaa Tue 09-Dec-25 20:43:23

I asked my Californian son in law about Grits. He said they are a 'Southern' thing and really don't try them. Most of the American recipes I've looked at are very heavy on sugar and you have to adapt them to British tastes. My big success has been Hamburger Soup, which my son and I both love. My son in law says his Dad used to make it all the time, because you can pretty much chuck any left overs in.

imaround Tue 09-Dec-25 20:29:01

Grits are just ground corn. I agree, not appealing.

We call your biscuits cookies. Our biscuits are a type of quick bread made with flour, baking soda. Water and a fat. We eat them with meals, but they are famous with the pork sausage gravy. It is a very heavy meal though.

Since the US is a huge country, we do not have a standardized comfort food. We have multiple types of BBQ here! Just the state of Texas alone has 2 different styles of BBQ!

From my state, our regional fish is pork green chili. It is a stew that can be eaten on its own with a tortilla, or served over other Mexican food like burritos and tacos. It is traditionally made with Hatch green chilis though, which may be hard to find in the UK.

I am happy to share any recipes you may want to try!

Tenko Tue 09-Dec-25 20:25:26

The best food I’ve had in the US was in the South . We did a road trip . Gatlingburg in the Smoky Mountains, Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans .DH and I shared our mains as the portions were huge . And we did sample Grits for breakfast, not a fan .

JamesandJon33 Tue 09-Dec-25 19:47:18

Best thing I ever ate in America was a braised beef on white bread sandwich, with peas and dark brown gravy. It was in an Amish restaurant. Everything else was underwhelming other than for its size.

NotSpaghetti Tue 09-Dec-25 19:32:43

Banana cream pie is quite easy to make.
Why not give it a go?

Granmarderby10 Tue 09-Dec-25 19:25:27

Well the American “biscuits” must be a bit like the scone topping that we in the UK would use for a cobbler either to top a savoury meat or a sweetened fruit dish. proper gravy for the meat one though and smooth custard or cream for the sweet one is a must.
Anyone wanting recipes should check out Six Sisters on YouTube they “do” loads of family meals using the Instant Pot multi cooker but other stuff too.

Allira Tue 09-Dec-25 19:12:37

I ate a wonderful key lime pie in the USA, sharp and delicious.
Then tried another one somewhere else and it was sweet and sickly.

Allsorts Tue 09-Dec-25 19:09:33

Never had any food in America I liked. The sweets too sickly sweet, the savoury food, very meat centred, I enjoy vegetables and salads, however i always lost weight whilst there. I cook slow roast pork, but not with the sticky sweet sauce. Don't enjoy cooked breakfasts , I have fresh fruit, greek yoghurt and oats much better. If I did have cooked it would be scrambled eggs on toast or a sausage or bacon roll with brown sauce, also a meal for one enough for two people.

Maremia Tue 09-Dec-25 18:56:43

It's weird, because they sound crunchy, but you are saying sloppy! shock

Maremia Tue 09-Dec-25 18:55:25

Oh no another illusion shattered.

Lathyrus3 Tue 09-Dec-25 18:54:50

I’ll confess I’m a sucker for Cinnabon.

It doesn’t taste the same when you buy it here.

Probably because the coffee’s not as good and the sunshine is missing🤔