One of the great things about traveling is that you get to understand different cultures while also enjoying food that your taste buds might have yet to meet. That is why most travelers who go abroad shun fancy (and sometimes expensive) restaurants for local street food. Here are some of those iconic street dishes.
The Humble Meat Pie
It might be known online for its large insects that can scare the bejesus out of anyone, but you cannot deny the fact that Australia is a country that you should try to visit at least once in your life. It boasts of several things, including the fact that it has one of the cleanest air in the world (at least in Tasmania). This country is where you can find the Great Barrier Reef, which stretches halfway around the eastern coast. It is also the home of the humble meat pie. The Australian meat pie is typically topped with warm or chilled tomato sauce, depending on your preference. Each year, Australians consume about a million meat pies, so expect to find it in the menu of each coffee shop you would be heading to.
The Canadian Poutine
Because it is so close to the U.S., you would assume that the most popular food in Canada is the burger. While the country does have a burger restaurant every two corners or so, nothing can top its poutine. Poutine is made of gravy, fries and cheese curds. It has about a hundred different variations, depending on which part of Canada you would be buying it from. Poutine is said to have originated from Quebec, so you might want to start there if you are looking for the most authentic one.
The Hamburger
It could be argued that the melting pot nature of the U.S. means that its favourite food comes from different countries (pizza from Italy, hot dogs from Germany, and so on). However, the burger is one dish that any American-themed restaurant abroad must have on the menu. The oldest burger chain in the country, White Castle, opened its doors in 1921, and the world’s love affair with this sandwich has since then grown to the point where you could have a burger restaurant in Singapore, Turkey, or India. Its highly-customizable nature makes it ideal for adaptation to the local market. Whether it’s a beef, chicken, or vegetarian patty, as long as it’s between burger buns and accompanies by other ingredients, it’s still a burger.
The Murtabak of Singapore
What’s good about Murtabak is the fact that it can be a complete meal on its own. It can be eaten as lunch, but you can also have it as part of your breakfast. It is because a Murtabak is an omelet that is folded. This dish can be quite spicy (as with most food in Singapore!) and typically comes with vegetable bits and some minced meat. It is generally served with a bowl of curry that can be used to coat the folded omelet before you start to eat.
Sweet Macarons
The French can be quite picky in what they eat, so it comes as no surprise that their macarons are to-die-for. Macarons can be quite a challenge to prepare. Although there are some variations on how it is made, some common ingredients will still include egg white, icing sugar, food coloring, and granulated sugar. Keep in mind, though, that the French macaron is quite different from the coconut macaroons.
Goulash
The goulash has a very humble beginning. It’s a meaty stew that was prepared by Hungarian herdsmen when the conditions on the field are quite harsh. It was only in the 16th century, however, that the goulash got its red color via the introduction of paprika. You have the invading Turks to thank for that! Goulash is considered to be the national dish of Hungary and has long been seen as its symbol.
With dishes like this in the countries you can visit, it’s no wonder that you can be enticed to visit more places to learn more about other traditions and cultures.