Made in America: 10 Strange American Foods That You Might Haven’t Tasted Yet

Move over hamburgers, pizza, steaks, and fries, we’ll get back to you later. America isn’t only about these types of food. Besides the usual favorites and fusions, America also offers odd foodstuff that could be too extreme for many but are already normal for a certain region – and these are the things you shouldn’t miss in this country.

Why not try these strange foods made 100% in the USA?

1. Reindeer Hotdogs

Reindeer hotdogs are a hit on the crowds of Anchorage, Alaska. One of the most popular versions of the grilled sausage is matched with Coca-Cola and caramelized onions. The leanness and gaminess of the venison isn’t overpowering in these hotdogs thanks to the additional pork and beef mixture.

2. Geoduck

The world’s largest burrowing clam, the geoduck (pronounced as “gooey duck” ) is a type of mollusk that is priced worldwide. The most profitable marine creature can be found buried in the muck beneath Puget Sound, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean located in the U.S. state of Washington. Geoducks are served in restaurants by cooking them with rice wine vinegar or in hot pots, or by serving it as sushi and sashimi.

3. Fried Diamondback Rattlesnake

You’ve read it right. Fried rattlesnakes are exotic delicacies which are always available during the annual World’s Largest Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater, Texas. During the festival, you’ll be able to witness how the captured reptiles from County Coliseum are skinned, battered, and fried.

4. Turducken

Turducken is a lip-smacking bird-ception. It’s chicken stuffed into a duck stuffed into a turkey. Doesn’t this make you feel stuffed yet? The origins of the idea of creating this jam-packed dish are still unclear – whether it started from the legendary Paul Prudhomme or from Herbert’s Specialty Meats. But one thing is for sure: Turducken was first created in Louisiana.

5. Pickled Pigs Feet

Looking for a quick snack? Then better get a jar of pickled pigs feet. The trotters were slow-cured in a brine of white vinegar, salt and spices. This combination is a sure win for those who want to have a ham-like snack with a hint of sourness. It’s best to eat pickled pigs feet with rice or beans.

6. Bull’s Testicles

If you want more besides brains and intestines, how about trying out some tasty testicles – bull’s testicles just to be clear. These are often known as Rocky Mountain Oysters and can even be made using pig or sheep testicles. It is a well-known dish in parts of the American West and Western Canada.

7. Akutaq

Also known as “Eskimo Ice Cream”, Akutaq was a portable snack of the native people of Alaska made by mixing fat rendered from polar bear, seal oil, berries, and snow. Don’t worry if the fact of using polar bear fat and seal oil makes you feel unsure of trying this cold treat. There’s a modern version of Akutaq which uses shortening, berries, sugar, water or snow if available.

8. Chaudin

Although the word “chaudin”, which means “stomach” in French, sounds foreign, it is truly an American meat dish from southern Louisiana, USA. This traditional dish in Cajun cuisine is created by stuffing spices, pork, rice and vegetables in a pig’s stomach. It can be cooked in a Dutch oven, crock pot, or baked in an oven and is often sold smoked.

9.  Smoked Black Bear

Black bear meat is known to be high in protein, low in fat and cholesterol, and 100% grown in the wild. Its flavor will depend on what the bear has been feeding on and what time or season it was killed.

10. Deep-Fried Coke

America loves to fry. From corn dogs to deep-fried cheese curds, it seems everything can be fried and become a guilty pleasure. But who thought about deep-frying coke? Abel Gonzales, Jr., the creator of other deep-fried oddities like deep-fried butter and deep-fried beer. Fried coke is frozen coke batter, deep fried, and topped with coke syrup, whipped cream, cinnamon sugar, and a cherry.