As a country of immigrants, it's no surprise that many immigrant families celebrate America's Independence Day by incorporating cuisine from their home countries into the classical mix of hamburgers and potato salad.
Megan Figueroa was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. Her father is a first generation Mexican-American. Come July Fourth, her family eats carne asada, pinto beans, salsa and rice with their hamburgers and hot dogs.
But her favorite Independence Day treat is something her father calls elotes — Mexican corn on the cob.
What goes into making these elotes? "My dad spent a lot of time in Naco, Sonora, Mexico. And on the streets of Naco there would be street vendors that would sell corn on the cob, and they would put cheese, hot sauce, lime and salt on these corn on the cobs," Figueroa says. And voila — elotes.
"For me, being Mexican-American is being American. I've known nothing different." And, she adds, having corn with Mexican cheese and hot sauce on the Fourth of July is as American as it comes.
Anupy Singla, author of The Indian Slow Cooker, is cooking tandoori chicken on the grill, serving up a quick garbanzo bean salad, and making veggie-bean burgers with Indian spices.
Singla and her husband were born in India, and she says these meals provide her children with ways to appreciate their culture through food.
"We just want to pass down all of the great food memories we've had growing up — but it also helps us keep our childhoods at the forefront of our minds."
When Tinbete Ermyas was growing up in his Ethiopian household, his family held on to both Ethiopian and American traditions.
"For us, the Fourth of July is a multicultural holiday where we celebrate both parts of our heritage, " Ermyas says.
His favorite food during July Fourth dinner is siga tibs — sauteed beef made with different spices.
"It instantly reminds me of home and the Fourth of July, and of all the different cultures we celebrate in our family."
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