A Guide to Popular Eat Dishes Around the World (And How They're Made)
Food is an essential part of every culture, and each country has its own unique dishes that reflect its history, geography, and traditions. Whether you're a foodie or someone who enjoys trying new flavors, the world is full of delicious and diverse eat dishes that can satisfy every taste. In this blog, we’ll explore some of the most popular and mouthwatering dishes from around the globe and also guide you on how they are made.
1. Pizza (Italy)
Pizza is one of the most beloved dishes worldwide, originating from Italy. It consists of a flat dough base topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and a variety of toppings, from vegetables to meats.
How It’s Made:
1. Dough: Mix flour, yeast, water, salt, and olive oil to make the dough. Let it rise for at least an hour.
2. Sauce: Prepare a simple tomato sauce with garlic, olive oil, and seasonings like oregano and basil.
3. Assembling: Roll out the dough and spread the sauce. Add cheese (mozzarella is classic) and your choice of toppings.
4. Baking: Bake at a high temperature (around 450°F or 230°C) for 10-15 minutes until the crust is golden and crispy.
Must-Try Varieties:
Margherita Pizza: Classic pizza topped with tomato, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil.
Pepperoni Pizza: A popular choice with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni slices.
2. Sushi (Japan)
Sushi is a traditional Japanese dish made with vinegared rice, seafood (often raw), and vegetables. It has evolved over centuries and can now be enjoyed in many forms.
How It’s Made:
1. Rice: Cook sushi rice and mix it with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt to season it.
2. Fish: Use fresh fish like tuna, salmon, or shrimp. Slice the fish thinly for nigiri or roll it for maki.
3. Rolling: If making maki, spread rice on a nori sheet, add fillings, and roll tightly using a bamboo mat.
4. Assembling: Serve sashimi (sliced fish) or nigiri (fish on top of rice).
Must-Try Varieties:
Nigiri: A slice of raw fish placed over a small mound of rice.
Maki Rolls: Sushi rice and fillings wrapped in seaweed and sliced into bite-sized pieces.
Sashimi: Thinly sliced raw fish, served without rice.
3. Biryani (India)
Biryani is a flavorful and aromatic rice dish from the Indian subcontinent, typically made with basmati rice, spices, and meat such as chicken, beef, or mutton.
How It’s Made:
1. Marinate: Marinate meat (chicken, beef, or mutton) with yogurt, spices, and herbs for a few hours.
2. Cook Rice: Partially cook basmati rice with whole spices like cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon.
3. Layering: In a large pot, layer the marinated meat and partially cooked rice. Add fried onions and saffron-infused milk.
4. Cooking: Cook the layered biryani on low heat (dum cooking) for about 30-45 minutes until fully cooked.
Must-Try Varieties:
Hyderabadi Biryani: A well-known variety from the southern part of India, made with a slow-cooking method.
Kolkata Biryani: Known for its use of potatoes alongside the meat.
4. Tacos (Mexico)
Tacos are one of Mexico’s most iconic dishes. They consist of a small tortilla filled with a variety of fillings, including beef, chicken, fish, and vegetables, topped with fresh salsa, guacamole, and cheese.
How It’s Made:
1. Tortilla: Warm soft corn or flour tortillas on a skillet or grill.
2. Filling: Grill or sauté your choice of meat (chicken, beef, or fish) with spices like cumin, chili powder, and garlic.
3. Assembling: Place the filling in the tortilla and top with salsa, fresh cilantro, onions, guacamole, and cheese.
Must-Try Varieties:
Taco Al Pastor: Marinated pork, pineapple, and cilantro served on a soft corn tortilla.
Fish Tacos: Lightly battered fish, cabbage slaw, and a tangy sauce.
5. Pasta (Italy)
Pasta is another Italian staple that has become a global favorite. Made from durum wheat flour, it is typically served with a variety of sauces, from tomato-based to creamy Alfredo.
How It’s Made:
1. Making the Dough: Combine flour and eggs to make a dough. Roll it out and cut it into your desired pasta shape.
2. Boiling: Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente.
3. Sauce: Prepare your sauce – for example, sauté garlic, onions, and tomatoes for marinara or melt butter and cream for Alfredo.
4. Mixing: Toss the cooked pasta with your chosen sauce, top with cheese, and serve.
Must-Try Varieties:
Spaghetti Carbonara: Pasta served with eggs, cheese, pancetta, and pepper.
Lasagna: Layered pasta with meat sauce, béchamel, and cheese, baked to perfection.
6. Dim Sum (China)
Dim Sum refers to a variety of bite-sized dishes traditionally served in small baskets or on small plates. This Chinese cuisine is typically enjoyed with tea and features a variety of dumplings, buns, rolls, and other treats.
How It’s Made:
1. Dough: Prepare dough for dumplings or buns (usually made with flour and water).
2. Filling: Make the fillings, such as ground pork, shrimp, or vegetables, and season with soy sauce, ginger, and garlic.
3. Shaping: Form dumplings, buns, or rolls by wrapping the dough around the fillings.
4. Steaming or Frying: Steam or fry the dim sum to cook the fillings and make the dough soft or crispy.
Must-Try Varieties:
Siu Mai: Open-topped dumplings filled with pork or shrimp.
Char Siu Bao: Steamed buns filled with barbecued pork.
7. Paella (Spain)
Paella is a traditional Spanish rice dish from the region of Valencia, made with saffron-infused rice, seafood, chicken, and a variety of vegetables.
How It’s Made:
1. Rice Base: Sauté onions, garlic, and tomatoes in olive oil. Add rice and saffron, allowing it to absorb the flavors.
2. Adding Protein: Add chicken, seafood, or both, and cook with the rice until the rice is tender and absorbs all the flavors.
3. Simmering: Let the paella simmer on low heat until everything is cooked and the rice forms a crispy layer on the bottom (socarrat).
Must-Try Varieties:
Seafood Paella: Made with a variety of seafood like shrimp, mussels, and squid.
Valencian Paella: A traditional version made with chicken, rabbit, and vegetables.
8. Pho (Vietnam)
Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup made with beef or chicken, and it’s served with a rich, aromatic broth made from simmered bones, herbs, and spices.
How It’s Made:
1. Broth: Boil beef bones or chicken with spices like cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and ginger for hours to make a flavorful broth.
2. Noodles: Cook rice noodles (banh pho) in boiling water.
3. Assembling: Serve the noodles in a bowl, pour hot broth over them, and top with sliced beef or chicken, fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and lime.
Must-Try Varieties:
Pho Bo: Beef pho, with tender slices of beef and fresh herbs.
Pho Ga: Chicken pho, with tender chicken and rich broth.
9. Baklava (Turkey/Middle East)
Baklava is a sweet pastry made from layers of filo dough, filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with honey or syrup. It is a traditional dessert in Turkey and many countries in the Middle East.
How It’s Made:
1. Layering: Brush filo dough with melted butter, layering it with crushed nuts (usually pistachios or walnuts) in between.
2. Baking: Bake the layers until golden and crisp.
3. Sweetening: Once baked, pour hot sugar syrup or honey over the baklava to soak and sweeten.
Must-Try Varieties:
Pistachio Baklava: Made with pistachio nuts and syrup.
Walnut Baklava: Made with walnuts, often used in Turkish and Greek versions.
10. Kebab (Middle East)
Kebabs are skewered meats, often grilled over an open flame. They ar
e a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine, with various regions offering their own unique versions.
How It’s Made:
1. Marinating: Marinate meat (lamb, beef, or chicken) with yogurt, garlic, onion, and spices like cumin and paprika
