Tacos, sushi, and pizza may be the first foods that spring to mind when we think about international cuisine. Beyond the beloved favorites, however, there is a wealth of underappreciated cuisine just waiting to be found. These undiscovered treasures offer distinctive flavors that merit a spot on your plate while telling tales of ingenuity and tradition.
Laing is a dish that isn’t given nearly enough attention in the Philippines. In this dish made with coconut milk, taro leaves are slow-cooked along with shrimp paste, garlic, and chiles. The end product is a dish that wonderfully embodies the tropical flavors of Filipino cooking—it’s creamy, spicy, and quite soothing.
Georgia (the country, not the US) is the origin of lobio, a hearty but simple bean stew that is a staple in Georgian families. Red kidney beans, fresh herbs, and a blend of spices are used to make this dish, which is typically served with pickle platters or mchadi (cornbread). Despite its simplicity, the dish is really flavorful and excellent.
Peru is home to the aesthetically beautiful and delectable tiered potato dish known as causa rellena. Lime and chile-flavored mashed yellow potatoes are topped with fillings like avocado, chicken, or tuna. It’s the perfect example of how Peruvians transform simple ingredients into culinary masterpieces.
Pytt i panna is a dish that may appear simple, but it’s a comforting treat in Sweden. Diced potatoes, onions, and leftover meat are all fried together and then topped with a fried egg to create this hash-like dish. This dish is the epitome of comfort food, particularly on chilly days.
Not to be overlooked is the Brazilian street food staple known as akarajé, which is part of the Bahia Afro-Brazilian culture. Stuffed with a mixture of onions and peppers and spicy shrimp sauce, these crispy black-eyed pea fritters have strong, memorable flavors.
Despite not being well-known, these under appreciated recipes are packed with heart, taste, and history. Look for these hidden gems the next time you want to sample international food; you could find a new favorite.