Independence Day: 5 American dishes for the most important day

The United States is preparing to celebrate one of its most important national events: the Fourth of July. A very important date known as Independence Day that celebrates independence from Great Britain which occurred on July 4th, 1776, following the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.

Between institutional ceremonies, fireworks, concerts, events, picnics, barbecues, how are you going to celebrate the Fourth of July? Will you spend it with family or friends, outdoors or lunch at home in good company? Whatever your choice, here are 5 dishes to inspire your Fourth of July celebrations in style!

NB: the suggestions below combine the best of American tradition with ideas, ingredients and preparations from the Italian table, for a perfect mix that combines flavor and a hint of lightness and freshness.

1) At the table for Independence Day: smoked chicken wings

Among the most popular dishes for the Fourth of July celebrations, smoked chicken wings are a must, easy to prepare both on a charcoal grill and a gas grill. If you do not have outdoor space, they can also be cooked on an electric hob or in the oven.

Among the essential ingredients are chili and garlic powder, mustard, paprika, kosher salt, barbecue sauce and of course chicken wings. The grilling must be indirect, and to be ready the wings must become golden and reach a temperature of 165° F in the thickest part of each piece.

2) Pork ribs with barbecue sauce

Another great classic are pork ribs, also to be prepared on the grill or in the home oven.

As a cut for the ribs you can choose the one you prefer - we recommend St. Louis style ribs - remembering to eliminate any membrane. Before cooking, brush the ribs with a mixture of spices such as paprika, garlic, mustard, pepper, chili, fine salt. And then… let the dance begin: in the case of grilling, put them first on the direct heat to obtain the succulent crust that will give them a delicious flavor, then continue cooking for a couple of hours in indirect mode. If instead you use an oven, preheat it to 160 °C and let the ribs cook for about 2 hours. Serve with barbecue sauce.

3) Coleslaw salad

Cabbage, carrots, mayonnaise, white onion, low fat white yogurt, a teaspoon of white vinegar, one of mustard, two of lemon juice and a pinch of salt: a few simple ingredients and your coleslaw salad is ready!

Two tricks to make it even more enjoyable? Make sure that you have removed all the water residues once you have cut and rinsed the cabbage, and finely chop the vegetables so that everything reaches the perfect texture.

4) Grilled prawns

If you have vegetarian guests, as an alternative to meat you can opt for another popular recipe on Independence Day: grilled prawns.

Once again, having a charcoal or gas grill is not binding; you can always use a hob or the oven. The secret, in addition to choosing quality fish, is marinating it: before cooking, prepare a condiment with lemon, oil, garlic and parsley and let the prawns marinate in it for an hour. The same condiment can be presented at the table and used as a dressing.

5) Cheesecake

And dulcis in fundo… welcome cheesecake! You can prepare it as you prefer: with raspberries, berries or strawberries, sticking to the original version, or with banana, chocolate, coconut, lemon, pineapple: many variants to unleash your creativity and leave your diners speechless!

Share photos of your recipes for the Fourth of July with Healthy Italia on Facebook and Instagram: we will be happy to see what you have created!