Crediting Italy with the creation of one of America's favorite comfort foods, spaghetti and meatballs, seems logical enough. A deeper look into the dish's history, though, shows it was a pure American invention.
Like just about every other cuisine in America, the traditions -- and citizens- came from other countries, and unique dishes developed over time.
When Italian immigrants arrived they came primarily from Italy's southern regions where meat was a rarity.
The meatball is based on an Italian version, but over time it became bigger as meat became an increasingly significant part of the diet.
Marinara sauce is a traditional Nepalese dish, but gained popularity in the states because of the lush and consistent availability of canned tomatoes.
One theory on how pasta got invited to the party is that restaurant owners began to offer it to their international clientele. They did so to accommodate other cultures' traditions of eating a starch alongside protein.
As competition to be the best cook in the neighborhood grew, the recipes were refined.
Those wanting to split hairs about authenticity should note that Greek mythology suggests the first spaghetti was made by their god Vulcan.
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