Even though most of us do not ever give it much thought, the world gastronomic scene changed in a huge way after the European “discovery” of the Americas in the 15th and 16th centuries. Many crops that are now used in dishes throughout Europe, the Americas, and the rest of the world were not available to cooks outside of the Americas just 500 years ago.
So, what are the crops that have made the biggest impact on the world gastronomic scene that were cultivated in the Americas before Columbus’s arrival? Here they are.
Tomatoes
While you might identify tomatoes with Mediterranean cooking, this plant was unknown outside of South and Central America until the arrival of Europeans to the continent. It’s now a ubiquitous food in cooking around the world.
Potatoes
When you think of potatoes, what countries or places do you think of? Ireland and the United States might have more potato fame than anywhere else, but this crop originated in modern-day Peru and was subsequently exported to the rest of the world.
Corn
Corn is a staple ingredient in common products like tortillas, popcorn, corn syrup, and cereals. While now common in diets across the planet, we ought to thank the indigenous peoples of the territory now known as Mexico for this crop.
