Indiana has a ton of awesome culinary creations to offer, but if you weren't born a Hoosier, some of them might sound kind of weird to outsiders. In fact, some of these dishes might seem like downright strange food combinations. Not sure what's considered so weird about some Indiana specialties? Here are 9 Indiana strange food combinations that only a true Hoosier will love.
1. Peanut Butter and Hamburgers
Many Hoosier burger restaurants offer a combination of peanut butter and burgers on their menus. This sweet and savory combination sometimes comes with jalapenos to add the heat, but generally baffles visitors from out of state.
2. Strange Popcorn Combinations
Sprinkles and sugar on popcorn? Loaded baked potato popcorn? S'mores, sour apple, bacon, or honey mustard popcorn? To many it sounds weird and unusual, but to Hoosiers, it just sounds like a traditional Indiana snack.
3. Persimmons + Pudding
Okay, persimmon pudding exists beyond Indiana, but its a specialty here and many visitors have never tried or heard or it before. The combinations in this homemade dish often surprise and sometimes intrigue visitors.
4. Chicken and Waffles
Indiana may not be in the south, but Hoosiers love chicken and waffles. The sweet maple syrup paired with the savory chicken and neutral waffle make for an amazing, flavorful dish. While many southern visitors will feel at home trying this, other out of state tourists tend to skip this menu item.
5. Sauerkraut, Dough, and Other Add-ins
Many people across the U.S. love sauerkraut, but few outside of Indiana and the Midwest know what sauerkraut balls are. A perfect blend of deep fried dough and sauerkraut, these balls often include optional add-ins, such as ham.
6. Breading and Pork
The Hoosier tenderloin is famous and quite unique. Elsewhere tenderloins might refer to cuts of beef, but here, tenderloins equal thin strips of pork, hand battered in breading, and sprinkled with the perfect amount of spice.
7. Chili and Noodles
Others refer to this dish as chili mac, but in Indiana (particularly southern Indiana), we just know it as chili. Macaroni noodles or spaghetti make this dish extra filling and perfect.
8. Variations of Pickles
From sweet and spicy to pickling other foods that might seem odd to outsiders, Hoosiers love trying new types of pickled cuisine.
9. Deep fried...well, everything
Look, we don't indulge in deep fried food everyday, but we also won't deny deep frying foods makes them taste heavenly. From deep fried butter to deep fried girl scout cookies, this is one combination that many non-Hoosiers find slightly weird.
Be honest, did any of these strange food combinations puzzle you? Even within Indiana there's diversity among food, so some of these might be new to you. If not, tell us which are your favorites and let us know if we missed anything!
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