Types of Cuisine From Around the World With Their Popular Foods

Most countries and regions in the world have their own particular cuisine. Different types of cuisines involve certain cooking practices, local ingredients, and a combination of spices. Some food cultures are a fusion of foods from different countries. From these, delicious foods have developed that provide unique culinary experiences.

There are hundreds of different cuisines in the world. Famous cuisines in the world include French, Thai, Italian, Indian, and Chinese. In large cities, it is also not uncommon to find restaurants serving dishes from Moroccan, Lebanese, Vietnamese, and Hungarian cuisines.

Even in countries that have their own particular kind of cuisine, it is not uncommon to have regional variations. For example, some types of food may be prepared in different ways or include a different variety of ingredients.

In this article, you will learn about some of the top cuisines in the world. You will also find out where some famous dishes originated from.

French Cuisine

Many regard French cuisine as one of the best cuisines in the world. French food involves ingredients such as butter, cream, wine, herbs, chocolate, and vegetables. French pastry dishes, cheese, bread, and wine are famous throughout the world.

Food culture in France also revolves around locally sourced ingredients. On the Mediterranean coast, seafood is very popular. Provencal cuisine uses tarragon and a host of other herbs and spices. Paris itself has over 9,000 restaurants serving French classics and dishes from around the world.

Chinese Cuisine

Chinese cuisine is one of the most diverse food cultures in the world. Traditionally, Chinese food is served with noodles or rice. Also, Chinese dumplings form a large part of the staple diet in many regions of China. There are several main cuisines in Chinese cookery – Cantonese, Sichuan, Fujian, and Hunan cuisines are the most well-known.

Most Chinese dishes contain a mixture of vegetables that are stir-fried and combined with aromatic spices and herbs. For example, ginger is often fried along with garlic and onions to create flavorsome dishes. Also, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and fish sauce are commonly used to create a blend of wonderful flavors.

Chinese cuisine could be regarded as the one of the most important in the world. Chinese cooking styles have influenced other foods from Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Chinese dishes are so popular that most cities in the world have a number of Chinese restaurants. Sweet and sour chicken and chop suey are the most popular Chinese dishes outside of China.

Japanese Food

Japanese dishes have become one of the most important food genres in the world. Boiled rice usually accompanies most dishes with grilled fish, pickled vegetables, or deep-fried vegetables. Tofu also plays an important part in traditional Japanese cuisine.

Of course, sushi is one of the most well-known type of Japanese food. Great care and precision goes into creating delicious rice rolls with raw fish, vegetables, and nori. These are accompanied with pickled ginger and dipping sauces. Japanese food culture is so influential that many countries around the world developed their own type of sushi varieties.

Going into a Japanese restaurant, you often see the chef working in an open kitchen at a Teppanyaki grill.

After your delicious Japanese meal, you can finish off with a cup of refreshing type of tea such as: green tea, oolong tea, or jasmine tea.

Italian Food

Many people regard Italy as the country with the best food in the world. Pasta dishes in Italian cuisine are one of the most popular and favorite types of food in the world. There are very few people in the world who haven’t tried delicious Italian foods like pizza, spaghetti, or delicious Italian ice cream. Many classic Italian dishes also include the regional name in their title. For example, spaghetti Bolognese from Bologna and Parma ham or Parmesan cheese from Parma.

The mainstays of the popular Italian cuisine are pasta, rice, tomatoes, and cheese. Many regional variations include types of meat, seafood, or sausages along with delicious sauces. These can be flavored with herbs such as oregano, basil, or a combination of other fresh herbs.

There is also great variation in food cultures between the various regions of Italy. Abruzzo cuisine from the mountainous and coastal regions has pasta, seafood, lamb, and wild mushrooms. Neapolitan cuisine is famous for foods like pizzas, spaghetti, and mozzarella. Famous Italian dishes such as lasagna, tortellini, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese are from areas around Bologna and Modena.

Greek Food

Greek food culture is one of the oldest in the world. Cuisine from Greece and the Greek islands is heavily influenced by olive oil, vegetables, fish, and various types of meat. In fact, a simple Greek salad may just be fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, a dash of olive oil, a few tasty olives, and a thick slice of feta cheese.

Some popular Greek dishes include moussaka made from eggplant, tzatziki (a type of yogurt dip), or gyro – a type of kebab with lamb, pork, or chicken meat. Due to its long coastline, seafood such as squid, mussels, fish, and lobster are popular food choices.

After feasting on Greek delicacies, you may have room for some common Greek desserts. A delicious filo pastry with layers of nuts and honey called baklava is one of the most favorite Greek sweet foods.

Spanish Food

Similar to many countries around the Mediterranean Sea, Spanish cuisine is heavily influenced by seafood. A combination of mussels, cuttlefish, shrimps, and lobster together with paprika, saffron and rich broth create the classic seafood paella.

Spanish food culture isn’t limited just to seafood. This popular cuisine also includes foods like cured meats such as Serrano or Iberico ham. Chorizo sausage, mushrooms, and cooked meat are used in Spanish appetizers – tapas.

Different regions of Spain also have culinary variations. For example, La Rioja is famous for its red wine, cured pork, and lamb dishes. Seafood, thyme soup, and bean omelets are popular in Catalan cuisine. Andalusia is famous for hot soups, fish stews, and cold soups such as gazpacho.

Mediterranean Cuisine

It can be difficult to define what exactly Mediterranean cuisine is as there is great variety of dishes in it. The key ingredients of Mediterranean cuisine are basic foods such as olive oil, fresh vegetables, wheat (such as bread and pasta), and grape (such as wine).

Mediterranean food styles include culinary delicacies from countries such as Morocco, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East.

Mediterranean food culture is also the basis of the Mediterranean diet. This kind of diet contains olive oil, fresh vegetables and fruits, seafood, and nuts.

Lebanese Cuisine

Lebanese food culture comprises cuisines from other Mediterranean countries. Poultry, seafood, lamb, or goat meat are prepared with olive oil, garlic, and other spices. These are usually consumed with pitta bread and fresh or grilled vegetables.

Chickpeas also form a staple part of Lebanese cuisine. These are cooked and blended with olive oil, tahini, and lemon juice to create a delicious nutty hummus dip.

As well as classic Mediterranean desserts such as baklava or halva, fresh or dried types of dates are also widely used in Lebanese sweet dishes.

Moroccan Cuisine

Moroccan dishes are a great example of when different cuisines fuse to form a new type of food genre. Moroccan cuisine uses a goat, lamb, poultry, beef, and seafood as its basis. These meats are spiced and cooked along with lemons, dried fruits, and olive oil.

One of the most famous foods in the popular Moroccan cuisine is couscous. This common wheat-based food is combined with various spices, herbs, and vegetables to create a versatile and delicious side dish. Another favorite Moroccan classic dish is a tagine. This is an earthenware dish used to cook meat along with vegetables or dried fruits.

As with many dishes in North Africa, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean, Moroccan cuisine uses flatbread as a meal accompaniment.

Turkish Cuisine

Turkish food is another example of a fusion of various food cultures from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Eggplant, stuffed dolmas, lamb kebabs, and delicious vegetable stews are just some of the culinary delights you can experience with Turkish food. Nuts such as hazelnuts, walnuts, and chestnuts are common food ingredients in savory and sweet dishes.

One important part of Turkish cuisine is yogurt. In fact, the name ‘yogurt’ is a Turkish word. Yogurt and types of spiced yogurt are an accompaniment to many vegetable and meat dishes in Turkey. Cheese made from sheep’s milk is another important dairy product in Turkish cuisine.

Popular beverages in Turkey include strong Turkish coffee, hot black tea, and Ayran – a type of yogurt drink.

Thai Cuisine

Thai cuisine is all about strong spicy flavors that incorporate sweet, sour, and hot elements. Some of the world’s most popular dishes are from Thailand. Pad Thai, green curry, and tom yum goong are just some examples of the best dishes from Thailand.

Thai food is traditionally served with rice or noodles. Even spicy Thai soups or broths usually contain basic rice noodles.

One of the unique features of Thai cuisine is its wide use of spices, herbs, and sauces. For example, fresh basil, lemongrass, kaffir lime, chilies, and coconut milk are some of the ingredients in Thai green curry. Also, cloves, ginger, cilantro, mint, and turmeric are common ingredients.

Trying many of the different dishes in Thailand is usually a culinary experience that few people forget.

Indian Cuisine

When it comes to spicy, aromatic dishes, Indian cuisine usually tops the list. The amazing range of spices, chilies, and herbs combine to make some of the spiciest foods you can eat.

In India, the range of different cuisines is also impressive. Each region in India has its own ethnic foods and dishes. These can include vegetable pastry morsels such as samosas, vegetarian curries, beans with fermented fish, and vegetable pakoras.

Street food is also part of the food culture in India. Tandoori chicken served with basic naan bread, spicy Indian snacks, and sweet dishes such as Gulab jamun are all popular.

Indian cuisine has also been exported to many countries throughout the world. In countries like the United Kingdom, the US, Australia, and Singapore, Indian cuisine has been adapted to local culture.

Cajun Food

Cajun food is an important part of American cuisine and is another example of ‘fusion cuisine.’ French cuisine combined with local ingredients in Louisiana has created many of the scrumptious dishes in Cajun cooking.

Most Cajun dishes are prepared in pots. Seafood, crawfish, shrimps, vegetables, and steamed rice are the most common ingredients. Celery, bell peppers, citrus fruits, and okra are some of the fruits and vegetables common in Cajun food.

Cajun cuisine is closely related to Creole cuisine. Gumbo is probably the signature dish of both cuisines.

Mexican Cuisine

Another of the most popular types of cuisines in the world is Mexican food. Tacos, enchiladas, tortillas, nachos, and quesadillas are now common dishes in many countries around the world. Mexican food is also a popular street food as it’s easy to wrap delicious spicy meat, salsas, and vegetables in tortas or tortillas.

Visiting an authentic Mexican restaurant provides an amazing choice of delicious dishes. Ethnic Mexican food can include grilled goat, meat with eggs, exotic fruits, and hot spicy dishes. Authentic Mexican avocado guacamole is absolutely delicious.

Traditional Mexican cuisine is much different from the ‘Tex-Mex’ type of Mexican food that is popular in many countries.

Caribbean Cuisine

Traditional Caribbean dishes are a combination of African, European, Cajun, and Middle Eastern cuisines. Fusing cooking styles from these countries along with local ingredients has created a unique food culture.

Rice is the staple ingredient in most Caribbean dishes. Local ingredients such as coconuts, plantains, beans, tomatoes, and chickpeas are used to create tasty meals. The addition of fiery chilies such as Scotch bonnet peppers gives many Caribbean dishes a powerful kick.

The most famous food in the Caribbean cuisine is oven-baked Jerk Chicken. This is a spicy dish combining chicken, habanero peppers, ginger, garlic, herbs, and spices.

Although Caribbean cuisine defines many dishes from the islands, each island has its own food culture.

German Food

German cuisine is famous for its sausages called Wurst in German. There are an estimated over 1,500 different types of German sausage. However, German food isn’t all about bratwurst. There are many flavorful dishes in German cuisine.

German specialties include German fries, sauerkraut, rye bread, Spätzle (a type of noodle), and dumplings. Popular German desserts include donuts (without a hole), Black Forest cake, and Rote Grütze (a delicious berry fruit pudding).

Of course, Germany is also well-known for its beer such as pilsner and wheat beer.

Russian Cuisine

Russia has a wide and varied food culture due to many culinary influences from its different regions. Due to the harsh climate, soups and stews play an important role in Russian cuisine. Thick spicy meat broths, noodle soups, and cabbage soups are very popular. A popular type of Russian soup is borscht that contains beets, cabbage, beef, and eaten with sour cream.

Grains are another important part of Russian food. For example, buckwheat, barley and millet are all used as accompaniments to main meals. Beef Stroganoff, meatballs, and a type of Shish kebab are popular meat dishes.

Even though it has become more expensive, caviar still enjoyed by many people in Russia.

Hungarian Cuisine

Similar to Russian food, Hungarian cuisine is a mixture of soups and stews. Maybe the most famous Hungarian dish is goulash made with meat and spicy paprika. This classic Hungarian meal can be served as a soup or a stew.

Similar to many countries in Europe, Hungarian cuisine has been influenced by surrounding countries. Therefore, crepes, sweet dumplings, stuffed cabbage rolls, and sausages are all found on traditional Hungarian menus.

American Food

American cuisine has absorbed the cultures of many who came to the United States in the 1800s. A fusion of cooking styles, cuisines, and ethnic foods combined to create a new type of cuisine. Many chefs took traditional dishes from their home countries and put their own twist on them.

For example, pizza is traditional Italian food. But ‘Chicago’ pizza has a thicker and taller crust, whereas ‘New York Slice’ is thinner. A ‘New York Strip Steak’ is known in other countries as sirloin or contre-filet steak.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, ‘French fries,’ fried chicken, and deep-pan pizzas are new takes on traditional foods from other countries. However, they are all part of the list of foods belonging to American cuisine.

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