For the foodies: Culinary trav

Photo: Pexels

For the foodies: Culinary travels in the comfort of your own kitchen

Banish any lockdown blues with these comfort food recipe ideas from around the world.

For the foodies: Culinary trav

Photo: Pexels

If you’re needing some distraction from the realities of the lockdown, why not head into your kitchen and bring the world to you?

We may not be able to catch a flight at the moment, but with the help of some new flavours and potentially adding a new dish to your repertoire, you can travel virtually to pretty much anywhere in the world without leaving your kitchen.

Here’s our top dishes to cook your way around the world:

Coq au vin, France

Translated as “rooster in wine”, this is the ultimate hearty dish to transport you to the French countryside. Chicken pieces, thyme, mushrooms, bacon rashers and an overly healthy helping of red wine make for pretty much the perfect casserole dinner and French-inspired dreams to follow.

Photo: Adobe Stock

Paella, Spain

There’s a reason why this is known as Spain’s national rice dish, tinted with saffron and usually laden with a variety of chicken and seafood.

The name of this originates from the Latin word “patella”, meaning “frying pan” and no matter how big or small the serving, we can guarantee your family will be scraping the pan as you take a virtual trip to the sun-drenched days, Sangria and seafood feasts of Spain’s coast.

Photo: Pexels

Apfelstrudel, Austria

Tart apple perfectly paired with sweet pastry dough – a deadly combo. Austrians love eating it with afternoon coffee and we’re more than happy to follow their lead with this one.

Photo: Pexels

Pho, Vietnam

This Vietnamese soup is the ultimate crowd-pleaser, offered any time of the day and even for breakfast. Consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat, this is street food at its finest.

It may not be quick to make and you’ll need to focus on the broth, which needs to simmer for at least six hours, but it will be worth it.

Photo: Cooking Light

Moussaka, Greece

This dish is the stuff of legend. Moussaka is one of the most popular dishes in Greece, you’ll find it served in almost every tavern and enjoyed in many a traditional household for big family dinners.

To master moussaka, layer portions of juicy beef mince (or lamb) cooked in a tomato-based sauce with eggplants and then top with a creamy béchamel sauce. Repeat this layering until your dish is full to the brim and bake until golden perfection.

Photo: Spruce Eats

Ossobuco alla Milanese, Italy

Ossobuco, said to have originated from Milan, is made with veal shanks braised with vegetables, white wine and broth. As if this doesn’t sound delicious enough, the marrow in the middle of the bone is the prized delicacy and the defining feature of this ultimate Italian dish.

Try it and be instantly transported to Italy’s stylish streets where the promise of your aperitivo is followed by this hearty dish and an Italian varietal of choice.

Photo: Adobe Stock

Gaeng Keow Wan Gai (green chicken curry), Thailand 

One of Thailand’s most loved dishes. This mild, coconut milk-based curry is green in colour, which comes from the green chillies. Generally milder than the other local curries, let your meat, coconut milk, Thai eggplant, green curry paste, palm sugar, fish sauce and basil leaves bubble away to perfection as your tastebuds take a trip to the East.

Photo: Pexels

Pumpkin pie, United States

Northeastern native American tribes grew squash and pumpkins and brought these pumpkins as gifts to the first settlers, teaching them the many uses for pumpkin. Fast-forward a few hundred years, which ultimately led to serving pumpkin pie as the staple dish at the first Thanksgiving in the United States (US).

Both the tradition and recipe hasn’t changed much since all those years ago, crust or no crust, stew the pumpkins with milk, honey and spices and then bake to golden perfection. Adding one to your table will transport you to a very happy place. Thanksgiving or not.

Photo: Pexels