As a home-cook and foodie I love taking inspiration from as many cultures as I can when I cook. One of my personal goals is to make at least 1 dish from every country and every major city around the world, and I've been compiling a list of my favorite dishes from each country to research and create versions of my own. I have tried and created many dishes from well-known countries, but I would love to know more about the culture and cuisine of places that are less talked about or less well represented.
So what are your favorite dishes and cuisines from your local city or country? Or local dishes you know of from other places? Or maybe you have your own list of your favorites?
My addition: Garbage Plates from Rochester NY. They sound strange at first but have become one of my comfort foods. When they are done well, they hit the spot like no other. As for a lesser known dish I absolutely love Roti Canai which is a type of curry and bread from Malaysia.
My list so far:
Japan: Spicy Miso Ramen
South Korea: Curry Tteokbokki
China : Lo Mein
Taiwan: Mongolian Beef
Thailand: Pad Thai
Malaysia: Roti Canai
Singapore: Singapore Street Noodles
India: Lamb Marsala
Syria: Maqluba
Libya: Couscous Bil-bosla
Turkey: Gozleme
Greece: Lamb over Rice
Russia: Stroganoff
Italy: Carbonara
Germany: Rahmshnitzel
Belgium: Liege Waffle
France: Croque Monsieur
UK: Lamb Tikka Masala
Sweden: Kottbullar
Iceland: Pylsur
Canada: Poutine
US: Garbage Plate
Mexico: Carne Asada Tacos
El Savador: Charamuscas
Trinidad: Dahl
Jamaca: Peanut Punch
Guyana: Pepper Pot
Brazil is a very large place with each state/region having its own type of food.
So if I may make a suggestion of my hometown's favourite snack (which I think originated in the state of São Paulo)
We call it Prensadão -- It's a Brazilian take on a hot dog, and like everything Brazilian... It is very extra.
The hardest part to get outside of Brazil is probably the bread. It uses a bread that is a bit like a hamburger bun in texture, but instead of being round, it's a rectangle and it's large.
You start with hot-dog sausages. Cook them up, then slice them in half longitudinally (so you get two long half-sausages). Get like three or four of those and put them in the bread.
Then you add Potato Straws, Cheddar Cheese, Little Tomato Cubes, bacon (fried until crispy), and optionally some chicken (grilled and then cut into tiny shreds)
(Other optional additions: Calabrese sausages, sweet corn, ham, mozarella, cream cheese)
You know you reached ideal Prensadão density when it looks like you CAN'T CLOSE YOUR DAMN SANDWICH.
So now you put it in a hot pan, get a large piece of metal, and squish that bitch down using your body for leverage (our local restaurants have dedicated presses for doing this, but you can and I HAVE improvised with just. ANOTHER PAN.) -- Flip. Press again to toast and squeeze on the other side.
Serve with a sauce made of mayonnaise blended with garlic and chives for added flavour.
Or if you want the meal traditionally associated with Brazil, you should try feijoada. Made with black beans, pork, and sausages. Served with some oranges to take the edge off.
I'll have to try this one! It vaguely reminds me of a dish I tried in Arizona called a Sonoran hot dog. Basically a piece of bread stuffed with a bacon wrapped hot dog and an insane amount of toppings and sauces/salsas