12 dishes from around the world you can make at home

Satisfy your travel appetite with one of these 12 dishes from around the world you can make at home.

While hunkering down at home means we can’t swirl our fork around a plateful of linguine with pesto in the Cinque Terre, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we can’t enjoy some freshly made pesto in our homes. Here are ten dishes from around the world that you can make at home.

1. Dhal

One of the most appealing aspects of Indian cuisine is that there are myriad vegetarian options—even the most carnivorous eaters will find themselves not missing meat. So is the case with dhal, an aromatic stew coupling red lentils with sharp spices, accompanied by basmati rice and (should you have it at your disposal) naan. A must-eat when in India, and a must-cook when at home. Recipe https://umamigirl.com/plenty-yotam-ottolenghi-spiced-red-lentils-recipe/

2. Pierogies

These cheese-and-mashed-potato-filled dumplings are synonymous with Poland as well as some of its Eastern European neighbors, and they’re a delight—especially when accompanied with sauteed onions and topped with a dollop (or two) of sour cream. Try your hand—they’re relatively easy to make, though time consuming when it comes to the dough. Recipe

3. Empanadas

These baked turnovers come in many incarnations, some of the most popular hailing from in Latin America, Argentina more specifically. Recipes vary, though they’re almost always stuffed with beef, onions, spices, olives, and hard-boiled eggs. Recipe

4. Tacos

Tacos, how we love thee. We’d count the ways, but there are just too many. Mexico’s most emblematic street food, tacos are both fun and versatile—you can keep them simple or stuff ‘em to the brim. Mix and match them—there’s one for every taste and fancy. Recipe

5. Hummus

For something so simple, hummus is surprisingly easy to get wrong. This chickpea spread with tahini, lemon and garlic is a staple of the Middle Eastern table. Sure, you can dip raw vegetables in it, but it’s at its most delightful when scooped up with pita or slathered onto a flatbread. Recipe

6. Drunken Noodles

From pad Thai to pad see ew, Thailand serves some of the world’s most tantalizing noodle dishes. The Drunken noodles, or pad kee mao, are exquisitely spicy, stir-fried broad rice noodles flavored with vegetables and sauces—each bite is livelier than the next. Recipe

7. Spanakopita

This Greek specialty, also known as spinach pie, is phyllo pastry stuffed with cheese and greens—crispy, delicate, and an all-around crowd-pleaser. Recipe

8. Pesto

The simple aroma of this muddled fusion of basil, garlic, pine nuts, and cheese can easily transport you to the Italian Rivieria. While it’s most certainly the ultimate summer pasta sauce, pesto is dandy all year-round. Enjoy it with pasta (boil some green beans and potatoes with the pasta to serve it the traditional way), atop focaccia, drizzled over minestrone soup, and more. Recipe

9. Poutine

What’s the ultimate comfort food to some is a staple to others, as is the case with Quebec’s poutine, a serving of French fries topped with melted cheese and brown gravy. The perfect snack, the perfect meal, the perfect everything. Recipe

10. Mejadra

This rice and lentils preparation topped with fried onions is a beloved Middle Eastern comfort food, found in all the Arab countries. The spices add extra layers of oomph and flavor depth, making Mejadra one of the most satisfying dishes you’ll ever taste. Recipe

11. Madeleines

Madeleines are just as integral to France as they are to Proust. While the Paris pastry scene is teeming with innovation and reinvention, there’s just something about Madeleines that feel so French. Have one of these shell-shaped cakes at breakfast, with your afternoon tea, or whenever you want. While there are of course several flavorful iterations, there’s something about the standard that’s just so oh là là Recipe

12. Lamington

Australia’s national cake, the Lamington is a cube-shaped chocolate-covered sponge cake topped with coconut shavings—the occasional fruit filling is often nestled in for good measure. Recipe