Popular World Cuisines

Apr 28, 2016 | Divyesh Amipara
In every culture around the world, food has played a major role.  It is involved in ceremonies, rites of passage, and rituals of daily life.  Influenced heavily by plants and animals locally available, many countries have distinct styles for which they are known.  

In times past, the only way to experience the authentic flavor of a region was to travel there.  With modern international commerce and a greater understanding of how to grow things outside of the traditional region, popular dishes from around the world can now be enjoyed in the comfort of your home!

If you are looking for hearty dishes, you might like to try American, British, French, or Greek foods.  These dishes have a wide variety of preparations, but tend to be fairly forward with meat and sauce.  They are not shy about liberally applying herbs and spices, but usually shy away from kicking up the heat.  These tend to be well rounded meals with protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates all present in many dishes.  Root vegetables tend to dominate the scene.

Spicing things up is easy with Mexican, Indian, Thai, and Caribbean flavors.  Rice is a more prevalent carbohydrate in these styles, but there are many varieties from which to choose and each pairs well with different dishes.  The rice definitely helps tame the astronomical heat some recipes can achieve.  Mushrooms and peppers are often used as vegetables, but you’ll find leafy greens and root veggies, too.  Many amazing vegetarian dishes are available in these styles.

These days we hear a lot about fusion cuisine, for good reason.  Taking a blend of different regions has actually been going on for quite some time and informed some of the most famous cuisines in the world.  If you are looking for regional dishes that seem to blend a wide array of flavors and techniques, try Chinese, Italian, or Moroccan foods.  These regions were all greatly influenced by trade route and cultural centers of power in the past, so they would bring recipes and spices together long before anyone else had the opportunity.  Chinese and Italian foods do amazing things with pastas.  Nobody treats legumes with the reverence of Moroccan food.  All of them blend flavors and can be mild to incredibly spicy.

Of course, these are just generalizations.  Sometimes dishes can be specific to a single town or small region and fall well outside the norms mentioned above.  Next time you’re feeling adventurous, try something new from a place you’ve never heard of before.  There are some great suggestions available near you through Caternow!