Let’s take a look at the most popular dishes of other countries…
COVER STORY
“There is no love sincerer than the love of food,” George Bernard Shaw said, and we most sincerely concur. After all, eating is perhaps one of the favourite most activities of the Pakistani people. Whether it’s a celebration or the event of death, the most important matter for most people is to choose the right menu. There was a time when serving dinner was banned at weddings, and only snacks were allowed. People didn’t like the rule one bit and even said it was better to attend funerals because there was no restriction on serving qorma and biryani at funerals. We take our food very seriously!
If we have to vote for a national dish, Biryani would be a serious contender, but wait! Biryani would also qualify as the national dish of India, but this is where culture comes into play where food is concerned. Not only do we love good food, we are happy to embrace the cuisine of other lands and cultures - with just one condition: it must be good enough to titillate our taste buds. What we eat generally reflects our heritage, and our exposure to the dishes of people we socialize with. But, since the world is now a huge global village, we can try the popular dishes of other countries right in our country.
Other than biryani, pulao and nihari are also very popular, but can anything beat good chana chat, dahi bullay, samosay or bun kebab? Too many choices, too many varieties and we are all the richer for it.
Let’s take a look at the most popular dishes of other countries…
Hummus, Middle East
This humble Middle Eastern spread, made with chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice and tahini has become a fridge staple all around the world. This tangy and creamy treat tastes good as a dip, with breads, with meats, with vegetables, beans or with pretty much anything you enjoy eating. But please, learn to pronounce ‘hummus’ correctly!
Fish 'n' chips, UK
Freshly cooked, piping hot fish and chips, smothered in salt and soused with vinegar, wrapped in newspaper and eaten out-of-doors on a cold and wintry day – it simply cannot be beaten! Fish ‘n’ chips used to be a staple of the Victorian British working class. It was in 1863, when Mr Lee started selling fish and chips in Lancashire from a wooden hut in the market. And instantly, this popular delicacy became a favourite among the industrial population of Britain.
Pho, Vietnam
Pho is a noodle soup and a pillar of Vietnamese cooking. This oft-mispronounced national dish (“fuh” is correct) is just broth, fresh rice noodles, a few herbs and usually chicken or beef. Pho comes in a variety of forms in Vietnam; remember Anthony Bourdain’s show when Barack Obama visited Vietnam and had pho at a local restaurant with him? Pho is now a popular comfort food around the world. Fragrant herbs, the salty broth and starchy noodles topped with juicy meat shavings make a perfect bowl of pho to enjoy at home or on a busy market street.
Fajitas, Mexico
Fajitas are one of the most loved Mexican foods. Fajita is derived from the Spanish word “faja” for belt, and alludes to the skirt steak meat of a cow, placed in the beef carcass beneath the heart and lungs. Skirt steak used to be given to Mexican vaqueros (cowboys) as part of their pay in ranch lands of South and West Texas, after beef were butchered. A genuine fajita is a tortilla wrapped against-the-grain sliced skirt steak.
Fajitas look very different from the genuine ones now. There are no rules involved! Use any kind of meat and then throw in side servings of capsicum, onion, guacamole, sour cream and salsa into a warm, flour tortilla.
Sushi, Japan
Prepared with vinegared rice and a wide range of ingredients including seafood, vegetables, and sometimes fruit. Sushi tastes best when served with wasabi, pickled ginger and soy sauce. A popular garnish for this dish is Daikon radish. The type of fish in it defines a sushi's taste. However, the vinegared rice gives the dish a tangy taste overall. Tuna, eel, and salmon tend to have a light flavour while octopus flavoured sushi is generally strong in taste.
Neapolitan pizza, Italy
The best pizza was and still is the simple Neapolitan, an invention now protected by its own trade association that insists on sea salt, high-grade wheat flour, the use of only three types of fresh tomatoes, hand-rolled dough and the strict use of a wood-fired oven, among other quality stipulations. With just a few ingredients – dough, tomatoes, olive oil, salt and basil – the Neapolitans created a food that few make properly, but everyone enjoys thoroughly.
Rendang, Indonesia
Often called “the world's most delicious dish”, Rendang is prepared by simmering beef with coconut milk with a mixture of the best of spices including turmeric, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, chillies, and galangal.
The dish is then stewed for a few hours which gives it a tender texture and exotic taste. The blast of flavours is surely one of the reasons why the dish is loved globally and is also one of the best dishes in the world. Easy to rustle up, this dish is often served at ceremonies or to honour guests.
Ramen, Japan
If not tried, you must have heard of Ramen at least once in your life. However, we are not talking about the packaged instant noodles. Ramen is a Japanese dish made of wheat noodles and served in the broth along with vegetables and meat. Ramen comes in several flavours, from tangy to spicy, depending on the flavour of the broth. Every region in Japan has its own.
Kebab, Turkey
A dish popular across the Middle East, kebabs are originally from Turkey. They consist of ground meat or seafood, fruit, and vegetables and are cooked on a skewer with a big fire underneath, just like a barbeque on the grill. It is cooked with various accompanying ingredients including garlic, black pepper and vegetable oil. Mutton or lamb are generally the traditional meats used in kebabs. This dish has a perfect blend of taste, ranging from tangy to spicy, making it one of the best dishes in the world.
Apfelstrudel, Austria
More commonly known as Apple Strudel, Apfelstrudel is a popular pastry in Austria and other parts of Europe. The dish consists of an oval strudel pastry covered with mouthwatering apple filling inside. The apple filling is prepared with grated apples, cinnamon, sugar, breadcrumbs and raisins. This delicacy tastes best when served with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. You can experiment with vanilla sauce instead of ice cream and custard instead of cream to try new flavours.
Pad Thai, Thailand
A common street food all over Thailand, Pad Thai is a stir-fried rice dish accompanied with noodles. This healthy dish is made with stir-frying noodles with eggs and tofu. What brings out the flavour from the dish is the unique blend of sauces - tamarind pulp, dried shrimp and fish sauce and garnished with garlic and red chili pepper. The dish is served along with roasted peanuts and lime wedges. There are extra ingredients that are provided on the side such as radishes, bean sprouts and other vegetables.
Goulash, Hungary
A dish most popular in Central Europe, Goulash is stewed meat dating back to 9th century Hungary. The main elements of the dish are the spices, especially paprika. Goulash is prepared from either beef, veal or lamb. The meat is cut into pieces and neatly seasoned with salt. It is then browned with oil and sliced onion. The dish is left to simmer after adding paprika to it. It is served with a variety of vegetables including carrot, parsley, celery, and potatoes. Potatoes are also added to the dish to make it thicker and smoother (because of the starch). The dish is a symbol for Hungary and also one of the national dishes. The comforting nature of the stew is what makes it one of the best dishes in the world.
Kimchi, Korea
Kimchi is a staple Korean side dish prepared from fermented vegetables such as Korean radishes and cabbage, and topped with several seasonings including garlic, chilli powder, scallions and ginger. The dish is loved by all, especially health freaks because of its high dietary fibre and vitamin C, and low calorie characteristics. Kimchi has a prominent sour flavour due to fermentation. Other flavour notes such as spicy and umami are also observed.
Dosa, South India
Dosa is a type of pancake made from fermented rice batter. The dish looks like a crepe and the main ingredients are black gram and rice. Earlier, dosa was prominent only in South India and Sri Lanka. It is now a well-known dish in India and all over the world. It is usually filled with various stuffings with potato being the main ingredient. Dosa is served along with chutneys and sambar (vegetable stew).
Massaman Curry, Thailand
Prepared with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, cumin, bay leaves, nutmeg and mace, Massaman curry is a mild, relatively rich curry of Thailand. Blended with the local spices, this tangy and not too spicy curry differs from the other regular curries of the nation and for all the right reasons. Instead of including the curry leaves in the cooking process Massaman curry uses spices and aromatics like cumin, lemongrass and galangal that helps in creating a delectable base for the dish.
- Compiled
