When you learn one of your go-to foods [View all]

that you think you invented is actually an age-old dish: the NYT magazine this week had an article on yamatsuki, a Japanese cabbage preparation. Basically, it consists of chopping cabbage, mixing it with a lot of salt, letting stand for a few hours, and, after rinsing, add sesame oil and sesame seeds. We've been making this for years (aside from the sesame) and calling it Quick Pickled Cabbage - it's a staple chez nous.

Anyone else ever find out that what they thought was their own invention was a traditional food from elsewhere? It fits into my hypothesis that there are only about seven different foods, and everything is a variation on a theme.