Must-Try Midwest Foods

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com
June 01, 2012
Here's a bucket list of definitive dishes that flavor life in the Midwest, from juneberry pie to toasted ravioli.
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North Dakota Juneberry Pie

Called the Blueberry of the Northern Plains, juneberries (also known as serviceberries) give bakers in North and South Dakota a reason to warm kitchens in summer. Pies featuring the berry bake a deep purply red and bring a nutty almond flavor to every fork full.North Dakota Juneberry Pie

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Cincinnati-Style Chili

Locals spar over whether Skyline or Gold Star makes the better version (and whether the secret ingredients should be cinnamon, cocoa or allspice). Whichever, chili in the Queen City translates as a mild, meaty sauce served over spaghetti noodles and topped with shredded cheese.Cincinnati-Style Chili

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Kansas Zwiebach

When Mennonites came to Kansas, they brought their German language, Turkey Red wheat and the recipe for this addictive sweet, soft dinner roll with a doughy topknot. The secret to its rich taste and moistness: potato water, sugar, butter and egg. Don't confuse it with the tooth-breaking cracker of the same name.Kansas Zwiebach

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Michigan Pasties

When miners carried these meat-and-veggie pies in their pockets in Michigan's UP, they counted on sturdy crusts. Our version is a little more tender and moist. But it still works great the traditional way--drenched in gravy or ketchup.Michigan Pasties

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Knoephla

German-Russians settling the Dakotas put Red River Valley potatoes to good use in this creamy-rich potato-filled base with noodle dough cooked. It's white-on-white comfort food.Knoephla

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Gooey Butter Cake

A baker's honest mix-up (swapping the amounts of flour and sugar) led to the happy mistake of this beloved St. Louis dessert. It's always true to its sticky name, but now bakeries offer it in flavors such as chocolate, peanut butter and apple.Missouri Gooey Butter Cake

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South Dakota Peach Kuchen

German settlers brought the recipe for this tender coffee cake to the northern plains. The industrious pioneers changed up the taste by folding local fruits into the batter: apple, gooseberry, plum and even no-fruit cottage cheese. Here's our biscuitlike version with summery peaches. Serve it warm for breakfast or with ice cream for dessert.South Dakota Peach Kuchen

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Missouri Toasted Ravioli

Like many good legends, this one has a murky origin. Stories say a cook in St. Louis' Italian Hill neighborhood dropped cooked raviolis into hot fat. The world has been enjoying dropping the crispy appetizer into tomato sauce ever since.Missouri Toasted Ravioli

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Kansas City barbecue

Everyone raves about KC's 'cue, but do they mean Gates? Arthur Bryant's? Jack Stack? Don't worry about it. Just get there and start eating. Especially the burnt ends. Or try our Kansas City-inspired recipes.Oklahoma Joe's Tasty RibsSmoked Beef BrisketSpicy Chicken Wings with Blue Cheese DressingThe Good-with-Everything Kansas City Barbecue Seasoning

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Bison burgers

Savoring a plate of bison on the Great Plains offers more than the mystique of the Old West. Bison delivers delicious, iron-rich protein with less fat than beef.Home on the Range BurgerBison-Zucchini Burgers

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Indiana Sugar Cream Pie

Some say empty apple bins inspired Hoosier Quakers to create this single-crust dessert of sugar, cream and flour. The short ingredient list may make you think something's missing. But try it once, and you'll see why the humble phenom became Indiana's official pie in 2009.Indiana Sugar Cream PieSee our how-to video on making Sugar Cream Pie

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Fish boil

You may not normally cross the street to eat boiled fish and potatoes. But set them atop a blaze on a Door County summer evening, and it's an unforgettable experience.Wisconsin Fish Boil recipe

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Fresh-picked morels

The thrill of a hunt in the spring woods is our favorite part-until you saute those 'shrooms in butter and dig in.Sauteed Morel Mushrooms

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Beans and Ham Hocks

Thanks to the ham hocks, the only seasoning needed in these homey beans is a bit of salt.Beans and Ham Hocks

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Lefse

Eat like a Norwegian! Lutheran church kitchens bustle at the holidays as parishioners mix potato, flour, butter and cream to create this Scandinavian tortilla. Eat it with a smear of butter and a sprinkle of sugar.Lefse

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North Dakota chippers

Crisp Red River Valley potato chips dive into melted chocolate for a funky twist that nailed the sweet-salty taste long before it became a craze. Our recipe was inspired by chips from Widman's in Grand Forks, North Dakota.Widman's Chippers

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Wild rice pilaf

As served by the Angry Trout Cafe in Grand Marais, Minnesota, this dish is a timeless taste of the land, with hand-harvested local grain plus dried cherries and pecans. Here's our own version of a Minnesota wild rice pilaf; make with your choice of dried cherries, apricots or cranberries.Wild Rice, Barley and Dried Cherry Pilaf

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Dutch letters

Impeccable Iowa shops such as Pella's Jaarsma Bakery serve delicious almond paste tucked into S-shape pastries. Some say the S stands for Sinterklaas, but sweet works for us.Jaarsma's Dutch Letters

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Fresh cherries (and cherry pie)

Stop at a roadside farmstand for a basket or buy them in pie form. Tart, just-picked cherries are special within sight of the trees that nurtured them in Michigan's fruit-belt along Lake Michigan or in Door County, Wisconsin.Michigan Cherry-Berry Pie

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Horseshoe sandwich

Despite a fine-dining rep, Maldaner's in Springfield, Illinois, shamelessly buries a meat sandwich under cheese sauce ooze and fries. It's their guilty pleasure--and ours.Springfield Horseshoe Sandwich

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Kringle

A classic almond filling rolled up in flaky Danish-style pastry brings honor to Racine as Kringle Capital of the World. New fillings like cheesecake, chocolate and Key lime add zing to the choices at shops such as O&H Danish Bakery. O&H Kringle recipe

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Wisconsin supper clubs

Cooler than a Rat Pack film, these old-school eateries know sensible steaks and relish trays never go out of style. Don't miss sipping a brandy old-fashioned.Brandy Old-Fashioned

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By The editors of MidwestLiving.com