Midwestern cuisine has simple roots—the region's strong connection to agriculture has defined its hearty, locally-driven cooking. In the American heartlands, find an abundance of fresh produce that's used to feed the entire hungry nation—from crisp vegetables to juicy fruits and leagues of heirloom wheats. While synonymous with "American food," Midwestern cuisine has historically been influenced largely by the cuisines of central and eastern Europe. Today, there are very few rules: the region is an incredibly diverse place that also celebrates the traditional foodways of immigrants ranging from Japanese to Filipino. From venison loin to beer cheese soup, here are our very best Midwestern recipes.
Wild Rice with Roasted Buttered Onions
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Paw Paw Ice Cream
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Wood-Roasted Apples with Burnt Cinnamon Caramel
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Spice-Rubbed Venison Loin with Red Wine Sauce
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Boston Cooler

Black Coffee Spike
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Japanese Pretzel Tonkatsu Burger
Bacon Fried Rice
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Indiana Sugar Cream Pie

Birch Syrup and Soy Sauce-Glazed Roast Duck
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Beet Kvass Gimlets
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Braised Paprika Kraut
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Japanese-Style Swiss Chard and Sesame Salad

Peanut Butter Buckeyes
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Cincinnati Chili
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Beer Cheese Soup


Cheddar Cheese Biscuits

Buttermilk Cookie Salad
Kansas City-Style Chili

Green Bean and Peach Salad
