Each country has its own unique and popular dish. Want to try foreign dishes? Here are some of the most popular dishes from Europe, Africa, North & South America, Africa, Australia & Oceania, and Asia. Pick your choice. (Photos courtesy of Wikipedia)
Jannson's Frestelse - Sweden
Jannson's Frestelse or Jannson's Temptation is an onion and anchovy mixture layered in between this slices of potato to make this popular Swedish dish. Fresh cream is poured on the top and the pie is baked until it is golden brown.
Danish Pastries - Denmark
These sweet rolls are rich, flaky, and often iced. The Danes eat them at anytime of the day, but particularly at midmorning with cups of strong coffee. Delicious Danish pastries have become popular in many parts of the world.
Irish Stew - Ireland
Ireland's best-known dish is a stew from lamb or mutton. It is simmered in hot water with potatoes, onions, carrots, leeks, and pearl barley. Potatoes have been a staple food in Ireland since 1800s. Irish stew is traditionally served with dumplings made from suet.
Wurst - Germany
Wurst means sausage, and Germany is said to have over 1,500 different kinds. Every region has its specialty, often sold as snacks on the street with a roll and a large dollop of mustard.
- Bratwurst is long and served grilled.
- Weisswurst is boiled and
- Frankfurters are named after the city they came from - Frankfurt
Fundue - Switzerland
Fundue is a famous Swiss dish made with melted cheese. Cheeses such as Gruyene and Emmental, produced on Swiss dairy farms, are heated in a pot and flavored with garlic, pepper, white wine, and kirsch (cherry liqueur). Fresh bread is dipped into the hot cheese using forks.
Quiche Lorraine - France
Quiche Lorraine consist of a shell of crisp pastry, filled with beaten eggs, cream cheese, seasoning, and chopped bacon. The tart is baked for 45 minutes in the oven until it is golden brown. This is a traditional dish from Lorraine, a region in northeastern France. French cuisine is thought by many people to be the finest in the world.
Paella - Spain
Paella is rice flavored with saffron, garlic and herbs. It is mixed with seafood, chicken or ham, and vegetables. This popular dish is named after the large shallow pan in which it is usually cooked. It comes from southwestern Spain.
Spaghetti Bolognese- Italy
This dish from Bologna mixes spaghetti with a meat and tomato sauce. Spaghetti is just one form of pasta. Each region of Italy has its own favorite types of pasta and its own special sauces.
Greek Salad - Greece
Greek salad is made with tomatoes, cucumber, black olives, and cubes of feta, a crumbly white goats' cheese. It is sprinkled with herbs and olive oil. Crusty bread and Greek wine called retsina often accompany this traditional dish.
Goulash - Hungary
Goulash is Hungary's national dish. This rich stew is made with meat, onions, and potatoes. It is often served with noodles and slices of black bread. Goulash is flavored with paprika, sour cream, mushrooms, cabbage, or peas may be added according to the preference of the cook.
Tagine of Lamb - Morocco
To make a tagine, lamb is stewed gently with pumpkin, raisins, and chilies. This is served with either rice or couscous (tiny grains of wheat). Sugar and fruit, as well as strongly flavored spices, are added to many Moroccan meat dishes.
Couscous - Tunisia
Tunisia is famous for its couscous dishes. Couscous is made from wheat that has been pounded into fine grains. It is steamed until it is fluffy and served with either stewed lamb or vegetables. The Arabic name for it (kuskus) comes from the word kaskasa or “to pulverize”.
Kyinkyinga - Mali
Kyinkyinga are a type of kabob sold by street vendors all across West Africa. On the skewers are pieces of green pepper and meat flavored with ginger and peanut sauce.
Okra Stew - Ghana
Okra stew is a popular West Africa vegetable. When cooked and used in soups and stews, it becomes smooth and sticky. In Ghana it is cooked with prawns, fish, meat and vegetables such as eggplants and tomatoes.
Chin Chin - Nigeria
Chin chin are small pastries flavored with sugar and spices. Green or pink food coloring is sometimes added. They are a popular party snack, enjoyed with palm wine. Chin chin may also be served at weddings and birthday feasts.
Beg Wot - Ethiopia
Beg wot is a thick stew made with red meat, tomatoes, and chili peppers. It is ringed with aubergine slices and served with green basil leaves on a bed of injera bread. This slightly sour tasting flat bread is used as both a food and a communal plate.
N'Dizi Na Nyama - Tanzania
N'Dizi Na nyama is a tasty stew made from beef, coconut milk, tomatoes, and unripe bananas or plantains. Bananas are widely grown in Tanzania and are often used in cooking.
