by Kaitlyn Chow
Tired of eating the same foods every day?! Try out some different cuisines’ foods that can be found here!
Such recipes included are some of my personal favorites, including some recipes that I have created myself! Enjoy!
Italian food (Keomany, 2017).
American Cuisine
Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza
Banana bread is one of the most common baked goods found in American kitchens. It’s loved by people of all ages, and various toppings are often added to the batter, including chocolate chips and different types of nuts, such as walnuts. Banana bread does not require too many ingredients and is typically quite easy to make! Check out this recipe from Food. if you want to try making this yourself (I follow this recipe every single time I make banana bread)!
Chicken Noodle Soup
When you think of American soup, the soup that you would have probably thought of first was chicken noodle soup! Chicken noodle soup is considered one of America’s comfort foods, as the savory broth along with the shredded chicken and noodles bring along a comforting sensation. Although such flavors may seem hard to create, chicken noodle soup is actually much simpler to make than you may think! Check out this recipe from Kim’s Cravings if you want to try making this yourself!
Hong Kong (Cantonese) Cuisine
Hong Kong-style French Toast
Every time I visited Hong Kong, my family and I would enjoy Hong Kong-style French toast in Hong Kong cafes almost every day. This dish includes slices of thick toast submerged in an egg mixture with layers of creamy peanut butter and sweetened condensed milk between two pieces of toast. This savory dish is a comfort food of mine, and check out my recipe below if you want to try making this yourself!
Ingredients:
3 eggs, whisked
4 slices thick bread (Texas toast/Brioche)
Peanut butter
Condensed milk
Spread some peanut butter on one slice of bread, followed by a layer of condensed milk.
Place another slice of bread on top of the slice with peanut butter and condensed milk. Repeat for other slices.
Heat a pan to low-medium heat and add about 1-2 tablespoons of cooking oil.
Soak the sandwiched slices of bread in the egg mixture for about 15 seconds each side.
Once the pan is hot, place the toast on the pan, frying each side for 1-2 minutes, until golden brown.
Enjoy!
Pineapple buns are probably one of the most popular types of buns/bread found in Hong Kong and Hong Kong supermarkets. Unlike its name, these buns actually don’t include any sort of pineapple or pineapple extract; its name merely comes from how it looks! On top of a bun, there is a butter and flaky yellow crust that is designed to resemble the outside of a pineapple. Check out this recipe from Yi Reservation if you want to try making this yourself!
Hong Kong-style Egg Waffle
Hong Kong-style egg waffles are one of my favorite childhood snacks. They’re not too sweet nor bland, and the texture and shape of these waffles just create the perfect snack. I remember eating these in Hong Kong every single time I was on my way back to the hotel, as there was a snack stand in a building leading to the hotel. Check out this recipe from Tasty if you want to try making this yourself!
Korean Cuisine
Traditional-style Spicy Braised Chicken
This traditional-style spicy braised chicken is probably one of my favorite dishes! It’s spicy and savory and quite easy to make! The chicken becomes soaked with the spicy marinade while it’s braised, and the potatoes and other vegetables included in the pot create the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and spicy! Check out this recipe from Maagnchi if you want to try making this yourself!
Steamed Egg
Whenever I don’t know what to cook or if there isn’t enough food on the table for a meal, I would make this Korean steamed egg that is often served at Korean restaurants! It’s really simple yet delicious, so check out my recipe below if you want to try making this yourself!
Ingredients:
3 eggs, whisked
2 tsp fish sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 cup chicken broth (or water, if preferred)
Instructions:
Boil the chicken broth in a Korean stone pot.
Meanwhile, whisk the fish sauce and sesame oil with the eggs.
Lower the heat to low once chicken broth boils, and quickly stir in the egg mixture while quickly stirring with a fork for about 5 seconds. Quickly cover with a lid and allow it to cook for 7-8 minutes.
Enjoy!
Spicy rice cakes are one of the most popular street foods in South Korea. Cylindrically shaped rice cakes are cooked in a spicy broth and are often served with fish cake sheets and hard-boiled eggs. Check out my recipe below if you want to try making this yourself!
Ingredients:
1 lb. Korean cylindrical rice cakes
3 pieces Korean fish cake sheets
2 cups water
3” x 6” dried kelp
8 large anchovies (heads and guts removed)
⅓ cup Korean spicy chili paste (gochujang)
¼ cup Korean chili flakes (gochugaru)
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp soy sauce
Instructions:
Soak rice cakes in some water for around 15 minutes (if frozen).
Boil the water along with the kelp and anchovies for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix together the chili paste, chili flakes, sugar, and soy sauce.
After 15 minutes, remove the kelp and anchovies from the broth. Place the rice cakes in the pot and stir well.
Cut the fish cake sheets into triangles (or preferred shape).
Add the mixture into the pot and mix well.
Allow the rice cakes to simmer for around 5 minutes until the liquid thickens.
Add the sliced fish cakes to the pot and stir well.
Enjoy!
Japanese Cuisine
Dorayaki
Dorayaki is a sweet Japanese snack that includes two pancake-like pieces of bread with, typically, a red bean filling inside. I remember eating this quite often in elementary school, as this snack really satisfied my child-like taste buds. Check out this recipe from The Spruce Eats if you want to try making this yourself!
Matcha Swiss Roll
Japanese Swiss rolls are one of the most popular Japanese desserts! This dessert is a Swiss roll, which some may refer to as a “log cake,” and because this is a Japanese dessert, it is not too sweet unlike some desserts found in other cuisines’ desserts. It’s a simple dessert that includes a matcha cake layer spread with some matcha whip cream, which is then rolled into a log shape and cut into pieces. Check out this recipe from Just One Cookbook if you want to try making this yourself!
One of Japan’s most popular foods is udon, a thick and chewy type of noodle made from wheat flour. Beef udon includes thin pieces of marinated beef in a savory broth, often along other toppings such as green onions and fish cake. Check out this recipe from Just One Cookbook if you want to try making this yourself!
Thai Cuisine
Red Curry
Many cuisines have various types of curries, and one of them includes Thai red curry! Thai red curry is often made using a red curry paste (but can be made using various spices), coconut milk, and meats of choice, such as chicken and beef. Many vegetables, such as baby corn, bell peppers, and onions, are also often incorporated into the curry, too. Check out this recipe from Taste of Home if you want to try making this yourself!
Pad Thai is a classic Thai dish that includes rice noodles, vegetables, and a savory sauce. The noodles are stir-fried with tofu, bean sprouts, eggs, and shrimp, among other endless ingredients; the dish is often served with some lime and chopped peanuts to enhance the flavors found in the dish. Check out this recipe from Food Network if you want to try making this yourself!
Another classic dish found in Thailand is Tom Yum, a savory soup made from shrimp, lemongrass, lime leaves, and other ingredients. Tom Yum is considered a comfort food in Thailand because of its savory soup broth combined with rich flavors. Check out this recipe from A Spicy Perspective if you want to try making this yourself!
Sources
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Mauro, J. (n.d.). True Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza. Food Network. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/jeff-mauro/true-chicago-style-deep-dish-pizza-5612273.
Collins, E. (2021). Meaningful Eats. https://meaningfuleats.com/the-best-gluten-free-banana-bread/.
Lee, K. (2020, March 14). Easy Chicken Noodle Soup. Kim's Cravings. https://www.kimscravings.com/copycat-panera-bread-chicken-noodle-soup/.
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Hong Kong Style Pineapple Bun Recipe 港式菠蘿包. My Authentic Chinese Kitchen and Beyond. (2015). http://yireservation.com/recipes/hong-kong-pineapple-apple-bun-recipe/#comments.
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