Food to a lot of people (including me) is what basketball is to Kobe Bryant or LeBron James, in short, very important.
The comfort and delightness good food brings to you is unmatchable. It’s like you’re rewarding yourself for being lazy or sad.
Anywho, in simple words, comfort foods are foods that bring you comfort. It brings calmness to your rather anxious mind.
And most importantly, comfort food feels like home no matter where you’re eating it. Honestly, some of the most amazing food recipes come out of your grandma’s kitchen.
Comfort food can be junk food that comforts your stomach. Or, it can be homemade, full of amazing ingredients and flavorful food that comforts your soul.
There are a total of 195 countries in the world that has its own cultures and traditions. And whether one agrees or not, food is also a tradition.
All of these countries have their own food tradition and their own special version of comfort food.
Let’s take a look at some of the most amazing comfort foods around the world.
Mexico: Chilaquiles.
When it comes to food, Mexico never disappoints. The Mexicans use fresh ingredients to produce some of the most amazing dishes one can imagine.
One of those amazing dishes is Chilaquiles. Lightly fried corn tortillas cooked with mole or salsa and topped with Mexican crema, queso fresco, pulled chicken, eggs, and refried beans.
And when you take just one bite of it, it feels like a party inside your mouth. Not only does it satisfies your tastebuds, but it also satisfies your stomach and provides you all the comfort you need.
Poland: Pierogis.
Every country has its own version of dumplings. And in Poland’s case, it’s pierogis.
Pierogis is this amazing dumpling like comfort food where the dough is stuffed with mashed potatoes, onions, ground meat, aged cheese, and sauerkraut.
The dumpling is then oiled and pan-fried to perfection.
France: French Onion Soup.
Soup, in general, is comfort food in many nations around the world. It’s usually what you eat when you’re sick and need the most comfort.
And the French people have surely elevated the level of soup. A rich and amazingly flavorful onion-filled broth topped with melted cheese, combined with buttery croutons is exactly the way to do comfort food.
China: Cha Siu Bao (Barbecue Pork Buns)
China is surely a comfort food heaven as you’ll find some really heart-warming, healthy and delightful food around the country.
And Cha Siu Bao is one of the most consumed comfort foods by the Chinese people.
Cha Siu Bao is actually bbq pork buns where sticky, gooey dough buns are filled with slow-roasted pork and dipped in soy sauce while eating.
America: Varies according to the state.
America is honestly a Mecca of comfort food (it might be an exaggeration but it’s somehow true).
Every state has its own version of comfort food. From New York’s cheesecake, Pennsylvania’s Philly cheese steak, to Chicago’s deep-dish pizza, and Louisiana’s Gumbo, there is so much comfort and soul in American food culture.
Nepal: Momos and “Dal Bhat”
Momos are the Nepali version of dumplings where the dough is filled with minced meat or vegetables, and onions. It is then steamed in a special dumpling steamer, in the bottom of which is a pot filled with broth.
Momos are found everywhere either in big restaurants or small roadside stalls. They are probably the most eaten or preferred food in Nepal after “dal bhat”.
Dal Bhat means rice and lentil soup in Nepali. Nepalese consume it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Traditionally, it comes in a plate along with a side of vegetables, aachar (pickle), meat, salad, and papadum. And you best enjoy it if you eat it with your hands.
Canada: Poutine.
Poutine might look weird at first glance but the real magic begins as you take a big bite out of your plate. It is the ultimate comfort food of all the Canadians.
And only the Canadians are crazy enough to put a whole lot of gravy and cheese curds on French fries.
The craziness doesn’t stop there. They have elevated the dish to a whole new level by topping it off with kimchi or pulled pork.
Italy: Spaghetti A’lla carbonara.
There is nothing that fulfills your soul like a really good pasta dish. And when you eat it at its birthplace, your purpose in life is complete, my friend.
Pasta is an Italian staple. and Spaghetti A’lla carbonara is the heights of comfort food in Italy.
A soft, perfectly cooked spaghetti tossed in a creamy mixture of crispy bacon and fatty egg yolk topped with velvety olive oil and nutty Parmesan is what dreams are made of.
India: Khichdi.
Khichdi is to India what risotto is to Italy. But the difference is the uses of beautiful Indian spices that elevates the dish.
Khichdi is a one-pot recipe that has rice and lentils along with vegetables and spices like turmeric, and cumin. It is then all cooked together in a pot and eaten hot.
Morocco: Shakshuka.
The world is filled with numerous amazing one-pot food recipes. And one of them has to be Moroccan comfort food Shakshuka.
Shakshuka is simplicity at it’s best. It is a stew of poached eggs that are baked in a spicy sauce of tomatoes, onions, and chili peppers. And it is flavored with cumin.
