There's no point in denying it: The US is full of strange and unusual foods. While there are many things in this country that don't make sense, that doesn't mean that they aren't good. As hard as it is to admit, there are just some flavor combinations out there that are delicious to our taste buds but are frighteningly unfamiliar to our brains. The reason being is that many of us can't manage to reconcile how one food item should taste while also combining it with another food item from the opposite end of the scale.
The even bigger problem is that now that we've heard about these combinations, there aren't many choices left but to just give in and try them. And if they really are that good? Then the even bigger problem is figuring out how to say, "yes, a side of peanut butter with that burger, please."
Chocolate And Avocado
This creamy and decadent combination was discovered during the keto creation when many were looking for healthier alternatives to getting their chocolate fix. Since avocado has such a mild flavor (or none at all as many people would say), it was somewhat of a no-brainer to combine the two.
With an avocado's naturally creamy texture and blank slate of a flavor profile and chocolate's strong flavor profile and versatile texture, these two make for one heck of a good chocolate mousse.
Ice Cream And Fries
This is one of the oldest combinations in the book and got its start at fast-food restaurants. There's something about dipping a hot, greasy, and salty fry into a sweet, cold, creamy milkshake that makes for a match that simply can't be beaten.
It's a classic salty-and-sweet profile but it's also so much more than that. There's some type of magic that happens when the right type of fry is dipped into a malty milkshake and it's one that many people crave on the regular.
Coca-Cola And Fried Chicken
This combination was almost by accident when two of the most popular comfort food items were combined. Fried chicken is glorious in every way, shape, and form, and, for a lot of people, a bottle of coke is the perfect accompaniment to every dinner.
The combination of these two gives way to a burst of effervescent sweetness that mingles so well with the crispy, crunch, and tenderness of a piece of fried chicken. The soda cuts through the greasiness and salt of the overall dish, making for a dynamic duo.
Cheddar And Apple
There's something about sweet and salty combinations that we can't get away from. However, cheddar and apple bring along with them some opposite but complementary flavors that work so well together that they've even earned a pie recipe devoted to the two.
The salt and sharpness of cheddar is the perfect match for an apple, which brings to the table a certain sweetness but also a slight tang and crunch to match melted cheddar's creaminess.
Peanut Butter And Burgers
Consider the fact that when we eat spicy Thai peanut sauce over beef and noodles, it's not all that different from combining peanut butter with ground beef.
The flavor profile is similar without the spice and it's a proven fact that adding peanut butter to burgers will, indeed, make them juicier. This combination might sound crazy and even a little gross but trust us - it's one food hack that has proven its weight in burger buns.
Pizza And Ranch
Usually, it's just the pizza crust that's headed for a swim with ranch dressing but for some people, it's the whole enchilada. Er, pizza slice.
It's totally unclear what makes a slice of cheesy, saucy, slightly oily pizza such a great combination with ranch dressing, but it's one of the best. the herbiness and creaminess of this dressing combined with the slightly salty and hearty slice of pizza are like heaven and earth on a plate.
Peanut Butter And Mayo
There are actually several recipes from the Depression Era that have been given new life in recent years and, apparently, peanut butter and mayo is one of them. This combination seems to work so well due to the fact that mayo does have a mild flavor with an albeit tangy undertone while peanut butter is pretty one-note and adds an appropriate nuttiness to whatever it's used in. When the two are combined together, mayo allows for a respectable amount of moisture while peanut butter picks up the flavor as well as the texture of a dish.