101+ Traditional Foods From Around The World: Recipes for Best Dishes

Welcome to The Storied Recipe, a community that harnesses the power of food to tell stories, preserve cultural heritage, and remember those that loved us through their cooking.

Authentic Recipes Cherished by My Podcast Guests

Every recipe came from a podcast guest. These traditional recipes carry reminders of large celebrations, the fresh seasonal ingredients of home, and family legacies of love and resilience. If you're looking for the most delicious and culturally diverse dishes from around the world, you've come to the right place.

Africa

Dessert from South Africa, a popular street food (made at home) from Ghana, the national dish of Nigeria (and its cousin from the Ivory Coast) and more.

My guests used authentic dishes to educate us on their own local foods (like tiny Kabalagala bananas!) and both the traditional way and more modern way of preparing them. In the podcast episodes related to these recipes, we also discussed the cultural influences that altered the flavors of these dishes and their meaning to religious ceremonies.  

Appalachia (United States)

British

From a simple dish of Irish Stew featuring cheap and plentiful root vegetables to classic sweet and savory puddings, this category represents some of the very best traditional food from the United Kingdom. (But no Black Pudding recipe, sorry! If you want to share one, get in touch with me about being a guest on The Storied Recipe Podcast.)  

Caribbean

Food systems and pathways around the world intersect in the Caribbean. Home to some of the hottest chili peppers in the world and citizens with roots in Africa, India, and Asia, in addition to indigenous peoples, there are dishes in the Caribbean you'll also find in surprising parts of the globe, though often under different names. Try the fried chicken famous through Puerto Rico, the *most* delicious chickpea dish in the world that, according to my guest, "unites all Trini people across every race and class" and the national dish of Haiti, and many other treats under this heading. 

Central and South American

Return to traditional Mexican cuisine with Diana's authentic mole sauce and enjoy the two most popular of all Venezuelan dishes - or enjoy a stew made with incredibly simple ingredients found at any grocery store. This category is packed with fresh flavors and healthy options.  

East Asian

On a personal note, one of my favorite recipes from any guests ever is in this category! Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken, a popular choice in the night markets all across Taiwan.  

Eastern European

From famous dishes like Pierogis piled with sour cream and dill to a sweet, eggy, fruity popular breakfast item from Poland, to dishes famous among Ashkenazi Jews for celebrating high holidays, to revelatory ways to cook with eggplant, don't skip the Eastern European contributions to the culinary arts! 

Mediterranean

Ah, the Mediterranean diet - whole grains, citrus fruits, fresh produce everywhere, fish and lean proteins, salty cheeses - its no wonder most consider the Mediterranean one of the best places in the world to eat!! Try these authentic and traditional recipes from my podcast guests and find how simple it is to eat this fresh and healthy diet at home!

Middle Eastern

The Middle East is often grossly mischaracterized as a desert, when in fact, parts of it contain some of the most fertile and temperate places on the planet. This category boasts some of the healthiest high-protein, high-fiber dishes on the site by maximizing legumes like lentils and chickpeas. Try the golden savory dish from Palestine, Musalwa'a which is smothered in caramelized onions or warm Syrian Yogurt-Hummus casserole. If you don't mind a little meat, try a worldwide favorite: Safiha, Lebanese meat pies. 

Northern European/Scandinavian

From Norwegian Rice Pudding famously eaten at Christmastime to cardamom flavored Semla rolls eaten just once a year on Fat Tuesday, this category is bursting with celebratory flavors. 

Persian

Can Persian Cuisine, dating back millenia, be the most delicious cuisine in the entire world? When you try my guest's Iranian Chicken and Walnut Stew or the most *perfect* Lamb Biryani from another guest, you just may conclude it is! Tune in to episodes to discover how Couscous is harvested and learn about Persian meatballs so large the encase an entire chicken!

South Asian

If you want to improve as an intuitive cook and learn a little bit more about working with spices, this is the category for you!! There is simply no food scene like the Indian food scene! Start simple with the Chai Masala blend, then work your way up to the complicated - but OH, so delicious - Stuffed Eggplant Curry. For a different Flavour, try this Fish Curry in Mustard Sauce, one of the most shockingly delicious recipes we've been gifted by my guests.

Southeast Asian - Oceania

You really have to try Mie Goreng, a great recipe showcasing Kecap Manis, the Indonesian soy sauce with a different flavor than you may have tried before, lots of healthy greens and perfectly cooked, flavor-packed proteins - a meal in one pan.  And if you love white rice balls, try this super simple spicy Laos dipping sauce with just 5 ingredients.  

Southern Cooking (U.S.)

What is "American food"? I don't think anyone can quite say - but most can agree on a special subcategory, Southern Cooking! Known for its combination of fresh produce and rich ingredients plus an unabashed love of all things sweet, there is most definitely something for everyone in this category!!!! Try Old Fashioned Lemon Icebox Pie, a old time alternative to Key Lime Pie, while you listen to the Soul Food Scholar educate us on the definition, history, and future of Soul Food - including it's legacy in the White House!

Western European

Which is the more popular food scene: French or Italian Cuisine? Whichever you argue, you'll have to agree that with BOTH included in this category, you simply cannot go wrong!! 

World's Best Dishes for Any Meal

This page curates all the traditional foods, stories, and the heritage that my guests have shared with us. 

In this curated selection of recipes, you'll find elegant, traditional dishes for holidays like Eid, Purim, Diwali, or Christmas.

You can also find simple breakfast recipes, packable lunches, and flavorful weeknight suppers. 

Celebrate Regional, Fresh Ingredients

One thing all the best foods in the world have in common is a deep respect for fresh, local produce. Try new ingredients and an array of herbs and spices from the vibrant cultures that have given birth to these recipes.

Widsom From Street Food Hawkers to Grandmother's Kitchens

From the street food found in bustling markets to the elaborate delicacies, traditional food is homecooked food.  

As you try these recipes representative of worldwide cuisine, you'll not only explore new flavors but new techniques as well.