US-to-UK food names/substitutions/equivalents

Runner beans are also known as Italian flat beans in the USA just to make matters more confusing.

Ketchup = tomato sauce or red sauce

We use 'ketchup' too.

Vicky

We use 'ketchup' too.

Vicky

True. But tomato sauce means different things in the US vs. UK.

US tomato sauce = UK pasta sauce
UK tomato sauce = US and UK ketchup

Had an argument once with DH because he asked for tomato sauce on something and I insisted that it had to be heated before I would serve it - he thought I was insane.  I was thinking pasta sauce; he was thinking ketchup.

I think that this is simplifying.  I would use the term 'tomato sauce' in different circumstances to mean different things...

I would like tomato sauce on my burger.

I would also like spaghetti in tomato sauce.


This thread is making me hungry!

 


Vicky

True. But tomato sauce means different things in the US vs. UK.

US tomato sauce = UK pasta sauce
UK tomato sauce = US and UK ketchup

Had an argument once with DH because he asked for tomato sauce on something and I insisted that it had to be heated before I would serve it - he thought I was insane.  I was thinking pasta sauce; he was thinking ketchup.

I know this is true because we went grocery shopping with Stacey once and she asked my little girl to find some tomato sauce and she came back with Ketchup when Stacey really wanted Pasta sauce.  It was pretty funny.

True for some people.  I'd say not universally true.


Vicky

That first pic looks more like broad beans to me, MrsR!

Yeah, you're right.  I've changed the pic.  But to me, French (green) beans and runner beans are two different things.

On things tomato-ey, in our UK household:

Ketchup = Ketchup
US Tomato Sauce = UK Passata

I wouldn't use corn syrup as a substitute for Golden Syrup though.  Pour it on pancakes, anyone? 

Vicky

i love white Karo syrup on pancakes!  (or at least i did when i was a kid and couldn't stomach maple!)

i love white Karo syrup on pancakes!  (or at least i did when i was a kid and couldn't stomach maple!)

I didn't think it was an uncommon thing to do either! 

True for some people.  I'd say not universally true.


Vicky

I agree that it might be regional. My northern husband would never refer to the stuff you put on spaghetti as tomato sauce

I agree that it might be regional. My northern husband would never refer to the stuff you put on spaghetti as tomato sauce

I've never heard that in the south either.  Pasta sauce is what most people I know say.

And a lot of people say tomato ketchup for ketchup-where I work we have many many conversations with customers about ketchup.  Or they say sauce-red, brown, tomato sauce.

Where I am from we have always called Tomato Sauce "Spaghetti Sauce" its a Long Island thing.

My Home Counties husband also says "Ketchup" never tomato sauce

>That first pic looks more like broad beans to me, MrsR!<

No, they're definitely French beans or stick beans.

Broad beans are bigger with flatter pods.

Broad beans are bigger with flatter pods.

I know my broad beans (my fave food) and those do look like them to me! There's no scale, so how can you tell the size? Besides, my broad beans are never flat ... they're full of fat yummy beans! 

Where I am from we have always called Tomato Sauce "Spaghetti Sauce" its a Long Island thing.

In Rhode Island, it's "red sauce" or "gravy."

Yeah, when I moved to W-NY and I heard people call it "gravy", it sort of grossed me out a bit.  I am not really sure why.  In Vt and other parts of NY, I've always heard it called spaghetti sauce.