Cooking A Dish From Every Country In The World
2021 New Year's Resolution
In 2021, I embarked on a culinary new year’s resolution when I decided I would try cooking a dish from every country in the world. Little did I know as I started in January, how this would be a challenge that helped me to travel without moving as the world went into lockdown! Yes, it was THAT year!
The List Of Every Country In The World
Firstly I needed a list of all of the countries in the world.
I used the United Nations list for an up to date number. At the time in 2021, there were 196 countries included in the list.
Planning For Cooking A Dish From Every Country In The World
I love a spreadsheet, so listed all of the countries in alphabetical order.
I didn’t have a grand plan with all of the recipes for the whole year, instead I researched roughly ten at a time.
Finding The Recipes
Identifying the national dish. Trusty Wikipedia, and the incredibly helpful Taste Atlas, helped me to identify the national dish for the different countries. If the recipe was something that I either couldn’t get the ingredients for, or was something I don’t eat, I’d find another dish that seemed to be unique or popular in that particular country
Finding a good recipe. Ideally I wanted a recipe which was easy to follow with clear steps and definitive measurements for the ingredients. I also preferred recipes with pictures as I find them to be a helpful guide as to what the finished item should look like. Of course, there were times when there really wasn’t too much to go on!
The Results From Cooking A Dish From Every Country In The World
I absolutely loved this resolution! So did the Other Half! Sometimes he rolls his eyes at my antics, but this was a challenge he was fully on board with!
Over the course of the year we tried some amazing flavour combinations, and I created 196 dishes I’d never cooked before. Our meals were colourful, fresh and mostly delicious. Many of the dishes have now made it into regular rotation when I’m cooking too!
What I Learnt By Cooking A Dish From Every Country In The World- Kitchen Confidence
Following techniques I’d never tried before, using ingredients I’d sometimes never heard of, and creating dishes I never knew existed, my confidence in the kitchen definitely grew with this challenge.
Creating 196 dishes that were all edible, and mostly delicious, gave me a boost in the kitchen, and inspired my 2022 New Year’s Resolution to cook with an A-Z of ingredients I’d never cooked with before.
What I Learnt - Geography
Researching into the recipes I learnt more about all of the different countries. Not only do I have more of an idea of where they all are, and what sort of cuisine they consume, I can usually remember all of the names of the countries – on a good day!
What I Learnt By Cooking A Dish From Every Country In The World - Photography
I had always planned to tweet about each new dish I cooked, but I didn’t pay too much attention to the pictures I took to start with. Hopefully you can notice an improvement in the photos if you scroll through. I’m definitely not an expert, but food photography became an unexpected additional piece of learning through the challenge.
What I Learnt - You Can't Always Get It Right
I shared all of the dishes I cooked on twitter. Despite my best efforts to find the right recipe, and make a dish ubiquitous with each country, some tweeters let me know when I hadn’t cooked the meal synonymous with their country.
This didn’t happen too often, and I loved it because I thought it was an opportunity to learn from a local. However I rarely got a reply when I asked them if they could share what I should have cooked. If you’re reading through this and know I’ve missed anything, please let me know!
All 196 Dishes Made When Cooking A Dish From Every Country In The World
Below you can scroll through each dish I made in alphabetical order by country.
I’ve included the name of the dish, a note about the food, and a link to the website where I found the recipe.
Alternatively, you can click on a letter in the grid below which will take you straight to the countries beginning with that letter.
Oh, and if you’re eagle-eyed and spotted the letters W and X are missing below, that’s because there aren’t any countries beginning with those letters. Which was helpful to keep my grid neat!
'A' Countries
Afghanistan
Dish : Kabuli palaw
Notes : A vegetarian rice dish, full of flavour. Grating the carrots would have helped with the asthetics.
Recipe : Gourmet Traveller
Albania
Dish : Tavë kosi
Notes : Baked lamb, rice and yoghurt. It doesn’t sound like it should work, but turned out to be a good combination.
Recipe : BBC Good Food
Algeria
Dish : Tajine Zitoune
Notes : A delicious chicken, mushroom and olive stew. Salty and juicy and I served mine with cous cous.
Recipe : Afro Gist
Andorra
Dish : Trinxat
Notes : A hearty and comforting meal, perfect for a winter warmer, with potatoes and bacon. Simple and delicious.
Recipe : International Cuisine
Angola
Dish : Muamba De Galinha
Notes : An aromatic chicken stew with plenty of garlic, onions and a bit of spice.
Recipe : Immaculate Bites
Antigua and Barbuda
Dish : Fungee and pepperpot
Notes : Easy to make and very colourful beef stew. It was sweet, salty and spicy all in one!
Recipe : The Rice Passport
Argentina
Dish : Locro
Notes : So many textures and flavours! Slow cooked beef and chorizo, served with beans, corn and butternut squash, with a bacon topping.
Recipe : Tesco Real Food
Armenia
Dish : Snkapur
Notes : Intense flavour in a hearty mushroom soup using fresh and dried ingredients.
Recipe : A year cooking the world
Australia
Dish : Lamingtons
Notes : The traditional dish for Australia seemed to be barbecue or roast lamb, which are things I’ve often cooked, so I found a recipe for these sweet, coconut cake treats instead.
Recipe : BBC Good Food
Austria
Dish : Schnitzel
Notes : Pork (or chicken), lightly fried in breadcrumbs. The Other Half is a huge fan of schnitzel and this was a winner!
Recipe : BBC Good Food
Azerbaijan
Dish : Qutab
Notes : A sort of flatbread/crepe filled with lots of herbs, spinach and feta.
Recipe : The Foreign Fork
'B' Countries
Bahamas
Dish : Chicken Souse
Notes : A deliciously light chicken stew packed with vegetables and a blend of citrus and spice flavours.
Recipe : International Cuisine
Bahrain
Dish : Machboos
Notes : Using the complex flavours of Bahrat, the rice was full of flavour and the chicken scrumptiously crispy.
Recipe : A year cooking the world
Bangladesh
Dish : Aloo Bhorta
Notes : Often served as an accompaniment, but delicious on its own. A blend of potato, garlic and herbs.
Recipe : Shanaz Rafiq
Barbados
Dish : Macaroni Pie
Notes : Just a few ingredients, including simple spices, make what is essentially macaroni cheese in pie form. Very tasty.
Recipe : Barbados.org
Belarus
Dish : Draniki
Notes : Simple potato pancakes, perfect with a spoonful of sour cream and smoky bacon.
Recipe : Hint Of Healthy
Belgium
Dish : Carbonnade flamande
Notes : Slow cooked beef and ale casserole. It may take a while but is well worth the wait and smells amazing.
Recipe : BBC Good Food
Belize
Dish : Belize rice and beans
Notes : With coconut milk and herbs this is a fantastic side dish, but we enjoyed it on its own.
Recipe : National Foods
Benin
Dish : Kulikuli
Notes : Deep fried peanut balls with onions and cayenne. Mine didn’t turn out that well and were incredibly claggy.
Recipe : Food.com
Bhutan
Dish : Ema datshi
Notes : Chilli and cheese stew. Quick, easy, not insanely hot like you might think, and much nicer than it sounds!
Recipe : 196 flavours
Bolivia
Dish : Salteñas
Notes : A bit more involved to make, but these baked empanadas stuffed with chicken, spices, potatoes, and raisins were impressive!
Recipe : Chipa by the dozen
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Dish : Klepe
Notes : Meat filled ravioli/dumplings in in a rich creamy sauce. Mine may not have looked all that pretty, but they tasted good!
Recipe : Balkan Lunchbox
Botswana
Dish : Sesswa
Notes : Incredibly simple to make. Slow cooked beef resulting in a melt in the mouth feast.
Recipe : G Adventures
Brazil
Dish : Brigadeiros
Notes : Deceptively easy to make chocolate truffle sweet treats.
Recipe : Tasty
Brunei
Dish : Nasi Katok
Notes : Deep fried chicken served with a delicious spicy buttermilk sauce. I’m not sure my sauce looks as it should, but it tasted fantastic!
Recipe : Kikkoman
Bulgaria
Dish : Banitsa
Notes : Filo pastry layered with feta and baked to flaky and savoury perfection.
Recipe : Food.com
Burkina Faso
Dish : Riz Gras
Notes : 11 ingredients go into this spicy chicken, tomato and rice dish. Filling and flavoursome!
Recipe : Food.com
Burundi
Dish : Burundi Beans and Bananas
Notes : An unusual combination! Surprisingly the sweet and savoury flavours work really well!
Recipe : International Cuisine
'C' Countries
Cabo Verde
Dish : Cachupa
Notes : Meat, squash, cabbage and beans make a really vibrant and delicious stew.
Recipe : Travel and Munchies
Cambodia
Dish : Trey Amok
Notes : Lots of ingredients go into this tasty fish curry which is not too spicy with lovely flavours.
Recipe : International Cuisine – Trey Amok
Cameroon
Dish : Ndole
Notes : Peanuts and spinach are the main ingredients. Unfortunately, mine turned out very grey and didn’t look too appealing. It tasted ok though!
Recipe : Immaculate Bites
Canada
Dish : Poutine
Notes : Deep fried potatoes with a rich gravy topped off with cheese curds. Stodgy but what a treat!
Recipe : Seasons and Suppers
Central African Republic
Dish : Kanda
Notes : Meatballs consisting of beef and pumpkin seeds. I think my sauce should have been thicker, but it tasted good.
Recipe : 196 Flavours
Chad
Dish : Daraba
Notes : Lots of vegetables cooked in a salty peanut butter sauce. Simple and scrumptious.
Recipe : Rachel Round The World
Chile
Dish : Cazuela
Notes : A simple, one pot dish consisting of chicken, sweetcorn and vegetables in a light and tasty broth.
Recipe : Taste Of Home
China
Dish : Kung Pao Chicken
Notes : A deliciously sticky, spicy and sweet meal with amazingly succulent chicken.
Recipe : Jamie Oliver
Colombia
Dish : Ajiaco
Notes : A chicken and potato stew, I’m not sure why I separated all the ingredients when I served it! Usually accompanied with avocado.
Recipe : The Spruce Eats
Comoros
Dish : Mtsola
Notes : A light and tasty fish stew packed with spinach and other veggies. Mine looked a lot greener than the picture on the recipe!
Recipe : AfroGistMedia
Congo - Democratic Republic of
Dish : Moambe
Notes : Thick and rich peanut butter and chicken stew. Salty and savoury.
Recipe : Food.com
Congo - Republic of
Dish : Makayabu
Notes : A really lovely and light fish and green vegetable stew. Easy to make and good with rice.
Recipe : AfroGistaMedia
Costa Rica
Dish : Gallo pinto
Notes : Quick, easy, filling and delicious. Often served at breakfast but perfect any time. Rice and beans topped with a poached egg.
Recipe : Striped Spatula
Côte d’Ivoire
Dish : Kedjenou
Notes : A fairly spicy stew with aubergines and chicken that doesn’t take too much effort and is really tasty.
Recipe :196 Flavours
Croatia
Dish : Strukli
Notes : A lot more effort to create but worth the time to make a rich and creamy cheese filled dough bake.
Recipe : Honest Cooking
Cuba
Dish : Ropa Vieja
Notes : Has a longer cooking time which allows the fantastic flavours to really mix with the beef, tomato and vegetables.
Recipe : Daring Gourmet
Cyprus
Dish : Afelia
Notes : Pork marinated with red wine and coriander seeds to make a scrumptious stew.
Recipe : BBC Good Food – Afelia
Czech Republic
Dish : Vepřo knedlo zelo
Notes : Pork roasted with light seasoning and caraway seeds, served with hearty dumplings. Delicious.
Recipe : 196 Flavours
'D' Countries
Denmark
Dish : Stegt Flæsk
Notes : Thick bacon served with a perfectly complimentary light creamy parsley sauce
Recipe : Copenhagen.net
Djibouti
Dish : Skoudehkaris
Notes : A one pot dish of tender lamb and rice for a lovely warming meal.
Recipe : National Foods
Dominica
Dish : Callaloo soup
Notes : Coconut, meat, and I substituted spinach for the leaves to make this flavour packed soup.
Recipe : Dominica Gourmet
Dominican Republic
Dish : La bandera
Notes : Chicken, beans and rice, assembled to resemble the flag of the Dominican Republic. Really nice.
Recipe : Compassion Explorer
'E' Countries
East Timor
Dish : Batar Da’an
Notes : Suitable for vegetarians and vegans, this is a deliciously filling dish of corn and beans with butternut squash too
Recipe : International Cuisine
Ecuador
Dish : Fritada de chancho
Notes : Braised pork marinated with orange juice, onions and garlic. Light, refreshing and tasty.
Recipe : Laylita’s Recipes
Egypt
Dish : Koshari
Notes : There’s a lot going on in this dish, including lentils, pasta and chickpeas, with a slightly spiced tomato sauce and fried onions.
Recipe : The Mediterranean Dish
El Salvador
Dish : Pupusas
Notes : Light dough stuffed with cheese and beans and a flavoursome pork mixture served with an El Salvador coleslaw.
Recipe : Tasty
Equatorial Guinea
Dish : Succotash
Notes : A delicious mix of beans sautéed with sweetcorn, butter and herbs and topped with chopped bacon and herbs. Very tasty.
Recipe : National Dish
Eritrea
Dish : Zigni
Notes : Amazing flavours and depth in this mouthwatering spicy beef stew with warming berbere spices.
Recipe : Great British Chefs
Estonia
Dish : Rosolje
Notes : An incredible pink salad made with beetroot, potato, apple and pickles along with some additional spices.
Recipe : Panning The Globe
Eswatini
Dish : Slaai
Notes : Avocado spiced up with coconut, ginger and peanuts to create this incredible tasting fresh salad.
Recipe : 196 Flavours
Ethiopia
Dish : Doro Wat
Notes : A chicken curry using warming berbere spices topped with boiled eggs to make a fiery taste sensation
Recipe : Ministry of Curry
'F' Countries
Fiji
Dish : Kokoda
Notes : Rather than cooking the fish, it is marinated with lime, and served with chilli and coconut to make a deliciously light and fresh dish.
Recipe : National Dish
Finland
Dish : Karelian
Notes : Dense bread filled with a buttery rice and egg filling full of flavour.
Recipe : This is Finland
France
Dish : Beef Bourgignon
Notes : Beef marinated and slow cooked to create a mouthwateringly tender stew perfect for a winters day.
Recipe : BBC Good Food
'G' Countries
Gabon
Dish : Poisson Salé
Notes : Salted cod stew made with aubergine, leek, cabbage, tomato and some spice. Great flavour combination.
Recipe : Arousing Appetites
The Gambia
Dish : Dodoma
Notes : A chicken stew thickened with a good helping of peanut butter, and a warming kick from scotch bonnet.
Recipe : The Daring Gourmet
Georgia
Dish : Chakhokhbili
Notes : A straightforward yet incredibly delicious combination of chicken with ripe and fresh tomatoes, herbs and chillies.
Recipe : Simply Homecooked
Germany
Dish : Sauerbraten
Notes : A slow process of marinating beef in spices and vinegar, then slow cooking to create an incredible meat and sauce.
Recipe : National Foods
Ghana
Dish : Kelewele, also known as Aloco
Notes : plantains (I used bananas), coated in a spices and fried for a crunchy snack or side dish that’s soft in the middle.
Recipe : African Bites
Greece
Dish : Mousaka
Notes : Layers of aubergine, lamb cooked in a tomato and herb suace, and potatoes, topped with a bechamel sauce.
Recipe : My Greek Dish
Grenada
Dish : Oil Down
Notes : An aromatic medley of white fish, vegetables and herbs with a dash of coconut milk too.
Recipe : 196 flavours
Guatemala
Dish : Pepian
Notes : A wonderful spicy meat stew with a thick and rich sauce including warming notes of cinnamon, allspice and chilli
Recipe : Spanish Academy
Guinea
Dish : Yetisse
Notes : A colourful and rich tuna and tomato stew with vegetables and a light warming kick of heat.
Recipe : 196 flavours
Guinea Bissau
Dish : Cafriela de Frango
Notes : A simple dish packed with flavour from chilies, garlic and lemon with lightly browned juicy chicken.
Recipe : Beeb Recipes
Guyana
Dish : Guyanese Pepperpot
Notes : Beef slow cooked in a delectable, rich, sweet and spicy sauce including orange, cinnamon, cloves and chilies.
Recipe : Chatelaine
'H' Countries
Haiti
Dish : Griot
Notes : Pork cooked in a broth of citrus and spice served with shredded pickled veg.
Recipe : Great British Chefs
Honduras
Dish : Macheteadas
Notes : Looking a bit like doughnuts, they are actually a delicious and light fried bread.
Recipe : Craftlog
Hungary
Dish : Goulash
Notes : A delicious meat stew with fresh, seasonal vegetables and the warmth of paprika.
Recipe : Saveur
'I' Countries
Iceland
Dish : Kjötsúpa
Notes : Lamb and root vegetable soup in a simple and light yet delicious broth.
Recipe : The Spruce Eats
India
Dish : Khichdi
Notes : A healthy and colourful vegetarian dish featuring rice and lentils for a comforting bowl of food.
Recipe : Dassana’s Veg Recipes
Indonesia
Dish : Nasi Goreng
Notes : Spicy and savoury. Chicken stir fried with rice and shredded omelette, and plenty of chillies.
Recipe : BBC Good Food
Iran
Dish : Khoresh-e ghormeh sabzi
Notes : Beef and beans cooked in aromatic fresh herbs for a taste sensation.
Recipe : The Caspian Chef
Iraq
Dish : Masgouf
Notes : Seasoned with herbs and spices, carp is traditionally used for this dish. I used sea bass and it was so tasty.
Recipe : Cookpad
Ireland
Dish : Irish Stew
Notes : Beef and vegetables in a rich and tangy sauce made with Guinness for a wholesome and hearty dish.
Recipe : Daring Gourmet
Israel
Dish : Falafel
Notes : Fritters full of garlic, herbs and chickpeas, I served mine with flatbreads, humous and salad.
Recipe : Mediterranean Dish
Italy
Dish : Ragu alla Bolognese
Notes : A hearty slow cooked beef sauce that was well worth the effort and perfectly complemented the pasta.
Recipe : BBC Good Food
'J' Countries
Jamaica
Dish : Ackee and Saltfish
Notes : I had to improvise with some ingredients. It still turned out to be delicious and fresh
Recipe : BBC Good Food
Japan
Dish : Curry Rice
Notes : Chicken cooked in a sweet, thick and mild sauce, that reminded me a bit of chip shop curry sauce. Scrumptious!
Recipe : Chopstick Chronicles
Jordan
Dish : Mansaf
Notes : Lamb cooked in a light yoghurt sauce with gentle spices and served over pitta bread. Unusual and moreish.
Recipe : Food.com
'K' Countries
Kazakhstan
Dish : Beshbarmak
Notes : Light and fresh flavours in this unusual and filling dish with beef, vegetables and doughy noodles.
Recipe : Arbuz
Kenya
Dish : kuku-wa-kupaka
Notes : Chicken in a delicate light and spicy coconut sauce, with a citrus and chilli kick.
Recipe : Biscuits and Ladles
Kiribati
Dish : Palusami
Notes : Smooth, silky and creamy pumpkin and coconut soup. Wonderful sweet and earthy flavours.
Recipe : International Cuisine
Korea, North
Dish : Bimibap
Notes : An assortment of rice and vegetables with a sweet and salty sauce that all gets mixed up in the bowl after serving.
Recipe : The Wanderlust Kitchen
Korea, South
Dish : Bulgogi with Kimchi
Notes : Marinated and succulent beef that is sweet, savoury and salty at the same time, with fermented vegetables
Recipe : Ingmar
Kosovo
Dish : Flia
Notes : The trickiest of all the dishes I made. Lots of time and lots of layers go into making this tasty cheesy flan/bread.
Recipe : Global Table Adventure
Kuwait
Dish : Gers ogaily
Notes : A simple looking cake with incredible flavours of cardamon and saffron and a wonderfully moist consistency.
Recipe : Amira’s Pantry
Kyrgyzstan
Dish : Plov
Notes : Beef, vegetables, rice, and a few simple spices go into this filling and easy pilaf meal.
Recipe : Natasha’s Kitchen
'L' Countries
Laos
Dish : Larb
Notes : Deliciously light, fresh, slightly caramelised and spicy. A warming salad with chicken that’s fairly easy to make.
Recipe : The Woks Of Life
Latvia
Dish : Piragi
Notes : They may look like simple bread buns, but they’re actually stuffed with sweet sautéed onions and salty and smoked bacon.
Recipe : Belly Rumbles
Lebanon
Dish : Lamb Tagine, Trator Style Salmon, Tabbouleh and Baba Ganoush
Notes : The Other Half is a big fan of Lebanese food so I made a bit of a feast and it was amazing!
Recipes :
BBC Good Food – trator style salmon
Lesotho
Dish : Spinach and tangerine soup
Notes : An unusual combination of earthy and citrus flavours. I wasn’t a big fan of this one.
Recipe : 196 Flavours
Liberia
Dish : Liberian chicken gravy
Notes : Chicken and scotch bonnet go into this slow burning stew. It usually includes seafood too but I don’t really like it so left it out.
Recipe : Immaculate Bites
Libya
Dish : Shakshuka
Notes : A rich and tangy tomato sauce with poached eggs that cook in the mixture for a filling dish any time of day.
Recipe : BBC Good Food
Liechtenstein
Dish : Hafalaab Ham Soup
Notes : A light broth with hearty corn dumplings, smokiness from ham, and plenty of fresh herbs.
Recipe : Copy Me That
Lithuania
Dish : Šaltibarščiai
Notes : A vivid and colourful creamy beetroot soup. Best served cold. Earthy and smooth.
Recipe : The Spruce Eats
Luxembourg
Dish : Judd Mat Gaardebounen
Notes : Smoked pork with creamy broad beans, a nice complimentary savoury and salty combination
Recipe : Daily Compass the original site I found the recipe from has since shut down
'M' Countries
Madagascar
Dish : Malagasy Romazava
Notes : A beef stew with plenty of greens, although some were more difficult to track down so I improvised.
Recipe : International Cuisine
Malawi
Dish : Chicken curry with Nsima
Notes : A stew-like chicken curry that was full of flavour with easy to find ingredients for a wonderful dish.
Recipe : Food 52
Malaysia
Dish : Nasi Lemak
Notes : Cooling and sweet coconut rice complimented by the heat and spice of sambal. Delicious and fresh.
Recipe : Rasi Malaysia
Maldives
Dish : Gulha
Notes : Fluffy coconut dumplings stuffed with a light tuna mix and a fiery kick. Very scrumptious.
Recipe : Dinner by Dennis
Mali
Dish : Tiguadege Na
Notes : Lots of tomatoes and herbs are cooked with meat and peanut butter to make a light yet rich sauce.
Recipe : Together Women Rise
Malta
Dish : Imqarrun il-forn
Notes : A bubbling hot golden pasta bake with pork and herbs and a crispy golden topping.
Recipe : Apron and Whisk
Marshall Islands
Dish : Chukuchuk
Notes : Deliciously light and sweet coconut balls, a perfect accompaniment for many other dishes.
Recipe : International Cuisine
Mauritania
Dish : Bonava
Notes : Potatoes and lamb are the stars of the show in this stew with light herbs and spices.
Recipe : 196 flavours
Mexico
Dish : Mole
Notes : Chocolate and chillies are used in this warming chicken dish which is amazingly spicy, bitter, sweet and salty at the same time.
Recipe : Jamie Oliver
Micronesia
Dish : Chicken Kelaguen
Notes : Marinated chicken with fresh coconut and green onions are used to make this simple and scrumptious salad.
Recipe : 196 Flavours
Moldova
Dish : Zeama
Notes : A light chicken broth with noodles, root vegetables and a zesty lemony kick.
Recipe : International Cuisine
Monaco
Dish : Barbagiuan
Notes : Looking a bit like minature cornish pasty’s, but stuffed with cheese for a savoury tasty bite.
Recipe : World Food Tour
Mongolia
Dish : Bansh
Notes : Delicious little meat filled dumplings which took more effort to make but were well worth it. Worked well dipped in some soy sauce.
Recipe : Travel Food Atlas
Montenegro
Dish : Čorbast Pasulj
Notes : A delicious bean stew that’s really easy to make, colourful, tasty and very filling.
Recipe : The Balkan Hostess
Morocco
Dish : Vegetable Tagine
Notes : Subtle warming flavours mixed in with fresh vegetables and herbs for this easy to make dish served with cous cous.
Recipe : The Mediterranen Dish
Mozambique
Dish : Piri Piri Chicken
Notes : I was nervous about the amount of chillies used in the recipe, but wow! The chicken was so succulent and wonderfully flavoured.
Recipe : Explorers Kitchen
Myanmar
Dish : Mohinga
Notes : An unusual fish soup with noodles, boiled eggs and a squeeze of lime for a citrusy burst.
Recipe : Happy Foodie
'N' Countries
Namibia
Dish : Namibian Beef Stew Potjiekos
Notes : Usually cooked over an open fire, my stove top attempt at the beef stew was simple and scrumptious.
Recipe : Ester Kocht
Nauru
Dish : Coconut Crusted Fish
Notes : Ever so slightly like the British fish and chips, but rather than batter, the fish is coated in a wonderful light and sweet coconut crumb.
Recipe : International Cuisine
Nepal
Dish : Chicken Sekuwa
Notes : A really simple recipe. Chicken marinated in yoghurt and fresh herbs for a flavoursome and juicy dish.
Recipe : Food.com
Netherlands
Dish : Dutch Stamppot
Notes : A comforting dish usually consisting of mashed potato and smoky sausages.
Recipe : Panning The Globe
New Zealand
Dish : Maori Boil Up
Notes : A light soup-like dish with pork, bacon, plenty of vegetables, and a thin yet tasty broth.
Recipe : Little Figgy
Nicaragua
Dish : Indio Viejo
Notes : An unusual take on a beef stew, using tortillas to make a thick sauce, which tasted better than it looked.
Recipe : Curious Cuisiniere
Niger
Dish : Dounguouri Soko
Notes : A lamb stew with beans, tomatoes and peppers. Usually served with mayonnaise too!
Recipe : 196 Flavours
Nigeria
Dish : Nigerian Jollof
Notes : A one pot rice dish oozing with juicy flavour from tomatoes and peppers, topped with freshly herbs.
Recipe : Urban Farmie
North Macedonia
Dish : Zelnik
Notes : Layers of flaky pastry filled with meat, cheese, leek and onions for a savoury sort of pie.
Recipe : Macedonian Cuisine
Norway
Dish : Fårikål
Notes : Slow cooked lamb and cabbage stew with peppercorns. A simple and hearty dish.
Recipe : North Wild Kitchen
'O' Countries
Oman
Dish : Shuwa
Notes : Slow cooked lamb marinated in a deliciously warming spiced rub including nutmeg, cumin and paprika.
Recipe : Great British Chefs
'P' Countries
Pakistan
Dish : Nihari
Notes : There’s a lot going on in this slow cooked beef dish. It was fabulous, although I think I may have split the cream!
Recipe : Flour and Spice
Palau
Dish : Tinola
Notes : A light chicken stew with green vegetables and a hint of heat from ginger.
Recipe : Jeanelle Eats
Panama
Dish : Panamanian Sancocho
Notes : A thick chicken soup that was good for the soul and bursting with simple flavours.
Recipe : International Cuisine
Papua New Guinea
Dish : Mumu
Notes : Pork, pineapple, chicken and coconut. This was a deliciously sweet and savoury tropical stew!
Recipe : International Cuisine
Paraguay
Dish : Sopa Paraguaya
Notes : A cheesy cornbread that was light and fluffy and easy to make. Usually served as an accompaniment
Recipe : 196 Flavours
Peru
Dish : Peruvian ceviche
Notes : The fish ‘cooks’ through marinating for an intensely zingy, light and refreshing salad.
Recipe : Jamie Oliver
Philippines
Dish : Adobo
Notes : Chicken cooked in a gorgeously delicious sticky sauce. A bit like a sweet and sour but less tart.
Recipe : Recipe Tin Eats
Poland
Dish : Bigos Stew
Notes : A definite winter warmer. Saurkraut, cabbage and smoky flavours, this tasted wonderfully Eastern European!
Recipe : Everyday Healthy Recipes
Portugal
Dish : Bacalhau a Gomes de Sá
Notes : A bit like a light pie made with salt cod and potatoes topped with boiled eggs and olives.
Recipe : Olivia’s Cuisine
'Q' Countries
Qatar
Dish : Thareed
Notes : A Middle Eastern beef stew with a rich and warming spiced sauce and plenty of vegetables.
Recipe : Feastful Fork
'R' Countries
Romania
Dish : Sarmale
Notes : Fairly simple ingredients including cabbage stuffed with pork and herbs. Wonderfully hearty.
Recipe : The Spruce Eats
Russia
Dish : Shchi
Notes : A wonderful vegetable soup with cabbage, potatoes and herbs and a delicious dollop of sour cream.
Recipe : National Foods
Rwanda
Dish : Lamb Brochettes
Notes : Marinated lamb kebabs with tomatoes, chilies and herbs for a dish that’s easy and not overly spicy.
Recipe : African Bite
'S' Countries
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Dish : Saltfish and Plantains
Notes : I had to get creative with some ingredients that I couldn’t get my hands on, and made this delicious light and fresh fish dish.
Recipe : Caribbean National Weekly
Saint Lucia
Dish : Green Fig and Saltfish Salad
Notes : The green fig is actually a green banana. An unusual but tasty sweet and savoury combination for a light salad.
Recipe : International Cuisine
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Dish : Fishcakes
Notes : Scrumptious light fish mixed with peppers and herbs then gently fried until lightly crispy on the outside.
Recipe : Spice Island Cooking
Samoa
Dish : Pani Popo
Notes : A light and fluffy and seriously delicious coconut bread bun. Delicious on their own or dunked into a stew or curry.
Recipe : Wild Wild Whisk
San Marino
Dish : Swallows Nest's
Notes : A one pot cheese and ham pasta dish, arranged to resemble Swallow’s nests apparently.
Recipe : Global Table Adventures
Sao Tome and Principe
Dish : Calulu De Peixe
Notes : Fish and vegetables simmered together for a nice light, filling, and colourful stew.
Recipe : Travel Food Atlas
Saudi Arabia
Dish : Al Kabsa
Notes : A one pot spicy chicken and rice dish, mine might have been a bit thick but tasted good.
Recipe : International Cuisine
Senegal
Dish : Thieboudienne
Notes : Spicy jollof rice, light white fish with subtle yet spicy flavourings, and plenty of vegetables.
Recipe : Yummy Medley
Serbia
Dish : Pljeskavica
Notes : A deliciously meaty pork and beef burger, usually served in pitta breads with a tomato and cheesy sauce.
Recipe : Cooking the globe
Seychelles
Dish : Rougail Saucisse
Notes : Sausages chopped and service in an aromatic tomato sauce. Fairly easy and tastes good too.
Recipe : 196 Flavours
Sierra Leone
Dish : Groundnut Stew
Notes : Chicken with peanut butter, onions and peppers. A savoury and filling stew like dish.
Recipe : Notes from a messy kitchen
Singapore
Dish : Hainanese Chicken Rice
Notes : More than just chicken and rice, this has a depth of delicious savoury flavour using chicken fat.
Recipe : Tasty
Slovakia
Dish : Bryndzove Halusky
Notes : Wonderfully creamy potatoes topped with the perfect accompaniment of crispy, salty, bacon and fresh herbs.
Recipe : National Foods
Slovenia
Dish : Ajdovi Žganci Pečenica
Notes : A sort of buckwheat porridge, which didn’t turn out as hoped, served with smokey sausages and fried onions.
Recipe : Ingmar
Solomon Islands
Dish : Curried coconut, lime and squash soup
Notes : A deliciously refreshing and warming vegetable soup, with a light citrus twist.
Recipe : BlogSpot
Somalia
Dish : Digaag Duban
Notes : Chicken rubbed with numerous spices and baked until crisp and golden on the outside and succulent on the inside.
Recipe : The Spice Adventuress
South Africa
Dish : Bobotie
Notes : Lightly curried meat, layered with rice and a creamy topping and dried fruits. Wonderful flavours.
Recipe : BBC Good Food
Spain
Dish : Tapas
Notes : I made several tapas dishes for spain including patatas bravas, padron peppers, chorizo with red wine, smoky albondigas and croquetas.
Recipe :
BBC Good Food – chorizo with red wine
The Spanish Chef – patatas bravas
Sri Lanka
Dish : Kottu Roti
Notes : Chicken, vegetables, spices and chopped flatbread all mixed together for an unusual texture but fantastic flavour.
Recipe : The Flavour Bender
Sudan
Dish : Ful Mudammas
Notes : Quick, simple, easy, and incredibly tasty with just a few ingredients including beans.
Recipe : The Mediterranean Dish
South Sudan
Dish : Fish Stew
Notes : Fresh and full of flavours. I used a basic white fish as I don’t like sea food, and it worked well!
Recipe : Hunt Gather Cook
Suriname
Dish : Pom
Notes : Chicken and vegetable casserole with a crispy topping. Great textures and tastes.
Recipe : Arousing Appetites
Sweden
Dish : Köttbullar
Notes : Wonderfully delicious meatballs with a traditional rich and creamy sauce. Scrumptious!
Recipe : All that’s Jas
Switzerland
Dish : Rösti
Notes : A crispy and golden, tasty potato fritter, often served at breakfast or as a side dish. Quick and easy.
Recipe : International Cuisine
Syria
Dish : Kibbeh Bil Sanieh
Notes : A baked lamb pie, made with pinenuts, light spices and bulgur wheat. Served with a sour cream.
Recipe : Mother Would Know
'T' Countries
Taiwan
Dish : Beef noodle soup
Notes : A light beef broth with a depth of flavour, plenty of noodles, and just the right amount of heat.
Recipe : Tasty
Tajikistan
Dish : Qurutob
Notes : Lamb with a wonderful yoghurt sauce and flatbread. Lots of steps but a great result.
Recipe : Arousing Appetites
Tanzania
Dish : Ugali
Notes : Hearty beans in a coconut and vegetable sauce. Easy, filling and flavoursome.
Recipe : Ingmar
Thailand
Dish : Pad Thai
Notes : Noodles with a savoury and zingy taste and finishing crunch from the crushed nuts.
Recipe : Recipe Tin Eats
Togo
Dish : Gboma Dessi
Notes : A delicious spinach and tomato stew with meat, I opted for chicken which worked really well.
Recipe : Spice Breeze
Tonga
Dish : Kapisi Pulu
Notes : Corned beef with cabbage. I’m not a fan of corned beef, but this worked well with some sweet potato mash.
Recipe : Food.com
Trinidad and Tobago
Dish : Pelau
Notes : Lightly caramelised chicken, cooked with rice, beans and coconut milk for a tasty meal.
Recipe : Cooking with Ria
Tunisia
Dish : Tunisian CousCous
Notes : Herbs and spices elevate this simple vegetable dish to a wonderfully warming meal.
Recipe : The Gutsy Gourmet
Turkey
Dish : Kofte
Notes : Like meatballs on skewers made with lamb, herbs, spices and breadcrumbs.
Recipe : Turkish Food Travel
Turkmenistan
Dish : Shurpa Soup
Notes : Meat, potatoes and paprika make a delicious soup. Best served with crusty bread.
Recipe : Moms Dish
Tuvalu
Dish : Tuvalu Tuna
Notes : A fish stew. Lovely light and fresh ingredients with just a subtle hint of spice.
Recipe : Global Table Adventure
'U' Countries
Uganda
Dish : Kikomando
Notes : Quick and easy. Kidney beans and tomatoes cooked and blended then served with sour cream and herbs in a chipati.
Recipe : Nourish Vegan Kitchen
Ukraine
Dish : Borscht
Notes : An amazingly colourful dish! Deep, earthy, purple soup made with beetroot served with sour cream and fresh dill.
Recipe : iFoodReal
United Arab Emirates
Dish : Dejaj Salona
Notes : Chicken stew with rich spices. I forgot to take a picture before I tucked in, which is why it looks a bit messy!
Recipe : But First Chai
United Kingdom
Dish : Chicken Tikka Masala
Notes : Cooking the national dish for my home country! Not a roast dinner, or fish and chips, but our adopted version of this Indian inspired classic.
Recipe : Great British Chefs
United States
Dish : Hamburger
Notes : Juicy, meaty and made from scratch, the iconic American hamburger. Really impressed with how this turned out.
Recipe : Taste of home
Uruguay
Dish : Chivito
Notes : A heck of a sandwich! Multiple fillings including steak, ham, bacon, mozarella, and fried egg. Really mouthwateringly brilliant, but not to be eaten too often!
Recipe : The Spruce Eats
Uzbekistan
Dish : Dimlama
Notes : A farm fresh one pot concotion. Lamb is cooked first, then the vegetables are layered on top, with the cabbage going on last.
Recipe : Global Table Adventure
'V' Countries
Vanuatu
Dish : Lap Lap
Notes : A type of casserole with warming spices and cooling coconut milk. I used chicken in mine.
Recipe : National Foods
Vatican City
Dish : Fettuccine alla Papalina
Notes : A rich and creamy pasta dish similar to carbonara. I was impressed with how this turned out.
Recipe : Riverbank and Badger
Venezuela
Dish : Pabellón Criollo
Notes : Shredded meat, rich beans and plantains, served in the design of the flag – sort of!
Recipe : National Foods
Vietnam
Dish : Pho
Notes : A light broth with noodles and pork and plenty of light spices and herbs for a salty and savoury bowlful.
Recipe : The Woks Of Life
'Y' Countries
Yemen
Dish : Mandi
Notes : Incredibly aromatic and crispy chicken served with lightly spiced rice, herbs and almonds.
Recipe : Munaty Cooking
'Z' Countries
Zambia
Dish : Ifisashi and Nshima
Notes : A vegetarian dish with lots of spinach and peanuts, served with a dumpling on the side.
Recipe : 196 Flavours
Zimbabwe
Dish : Nyama
Notes : A hearty curried beef stew with vegetables and served with white rice.
Recipe : 196 Flavours
What will you cook?
I hope you’re feeling inspired to try cooking some new things. Please do let me know if you give any of the dishes a go, I’d love to hear from you!
What a brilliant idea. Very inspiring. Makes me think, Ellie and I should be doing something similar, too.
Thank you Stefan. It is a brilliant challenge, and there’s so much more you can do with it! You and Ellie should definitely give it a go!
Sally :o)
What an amazing project. You did so well, I’d love to try every meal! Were there any that you’ll make again? I’ve added this post to my weekly link-up, hope that’s OK.
Thanks Gail!
It was really good fun to do. There are quite a few dishes that have made it into regular rotation, (adobo from the Philippines, Curry Rice from Japan, Ropa Vieja from Cuba), Doro Wat from Ethiopia, and some that I do when I’m trying to impress (Beef Bourgignon from France, Sesswa from Botswana, Piri Piri Chicken from Mozambique), I’d definitely make a majority of them again!
Thank you so much for adding it to the link-up too.
Sally
What a fantastic challenge – and very tasty too! I’ve really enjoyed exploring all the culinary delicacies from around the world with you!
Thank you so much! An absolute pleasure to have you join me! It’s added many new dishes into my meal planning rotation now too. :o)
Oh wow. I wasn’t expecting to see a list of all the dishes with links to their recipes as well. That’s quite an ingenious way to get everyone’s mouth watering. I’m not a great cook myself. Bar one or two dishes, most things come out bland when I cook. But I’ll shoot the link over to my partner who’s much better at cooking
Thank you so much! I should have put a warning at the start that reading it might make people feel hungry.
I hope your partner has a go at some of the dishes, and that you enjoy trying them too. :o)
What an awesome challenge! I had to check right away what you had cooked from the Republic of Georgia. We have a lot of Georgian friends and we have visited the country 3 times and the food is amazing!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thank you so much! Ah wow! It’s definitely a country on my to-visit list, so that’s great to hear the food is so good! Hope my creation looked like it did the dish justice! :o)
Oh wow that’s amazing you cooked a dish from every country! It does seem like a great way to learn about new cooking techniques and also what foods are popular around the world. I’m definitely interested in trying the vegetarian dishes!
There were a lot more vegetarian dishes than I’d anticipated, and I think a majority of them can easily be adapted. Maybe that’s a challenge for another year?! I hope you do give them a go. :o)