Shawna Levet8 Best Dishes Around the World and How to Make Them
Sometimes when you travel abroad you discover one food that you love so much you keep ordering it over and over. If only you could learn the art of making it yourself… maybe it would take you right back to those amazing memories. Thanks to the internet, many famous dishes from around the world can be found right at your fingertips. The exact ingredients may be harder to source, but do your best! And if nothing else, trying to make something unique will give you even more appreciation for the culture!
The best dishes around the world… and recipes to go along!
1. Pupusas – El Salvador
A simple, thick corn flour tortilla stuffed with cheese and beans or meat, topped with fermented slaw called curtido, and a bit of spicy salsa. It seems so simple, yet this traditional Salvadoran and Honduran staple packs a powerful amount of flavor. It’s a great street food that can be eaten on the go!
2. Kimchi – Korea
Kimchi is made by lacto-fermenting cabbage along with other vegetables and flavors. It is eaten at almost every meal in Korea and, depending on the ingredients, may be sour, spicy, or even a little sweet. Kimchi is loaded with probiotics, due to the fermentation process. Hundreds of kimchi recipes include a wide variety of ingredients, but common additions to the cabbage are garlic, ginger, spring onions, carrots, radish and cucumber. It is not very labor intensive, however you do need to prepare the dish well in advance so it has time to ferment.
3. Bunny Chow – South Africa
This spicy, aromatic comfort food has absolutely nothing to do with bunnies. Bunny chow is a South African street food that basically consists of hollowed out bread filled with warm curry. There is a lot of history behind this dish. Although it is influenced by the unique Indian culture present in South Africa, you will not find Bunny Chow anywhere in India.
4. Dolmades/Dolmas – Greece
Dolmades are Greek, stuffed grape leaves that work well as either an appetizer or a side dish. Like many Greek dishes, Dolmades are refreshing yet filling. There are a few ways to make them, however many recipes for dolmades recommend a mixture of rice, beef, and spices stuffed in the leaves. The rolled bites are then cooked in a bright, lemony broth and drizzled with olive oil.
The Best Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmas)
5. Paella – Spain
Making paella is a fine art. And it is one that is protected fiercely by the Spanish people. The most authentic paella is generally found in the region of Valencia. While you can get the more familiar seafood paella in many restaurants, the true Valencian paella usually contains rabbit, chicken, and green beans. Don’t forget the secret ingredient – saffron!
Learning the Secrets of Real Paella in Valencia
6. Apfelstrudel – Austria
Nothing is cozier on a cool day than something warm and appley fresh from the oven. Tart apples coated with sugar, cinnamon, rum and raisins, then tucked in layers of flakey dough… mmm!
Apfelstrudel (Austrian Apple Strudel)
7. Poutine – Canada
Simple but oh-so-rich poutine! Poutine is made with French fries topped with brown gravy and cheese curds. Poutine makes another great street food although you probably want to eat this with a fork.
8. Mochi – Japan
While mochi is most closely associated with ice cream in the United States, in Japan it has many other uses (and an interesting history as well)! The sweet, sticky rice dough may be filled with red bean paste, dried, grilled, or wrapped in a sakura leaf (cherry tree) during the springtime.
