Culinary dish strongly associated with a particular country
Frans Snyders, The Pantry
A national dish is a culinary dish that is strongly associated with a particular country.[1] A dish can be considered a national dish for a variety of reasons:
National dishes are part of a nation's identity and self-image.[2] During the age of European empire-building, nations would develop a national cuisine to distinguish themselves from their rivals.[3]
According to Zilkia Janer, a lecturer on Latin American culture at Hofstra University, it is impossible to choose a single national dish, even unofficially, for countries such as Mexico, China or India because of their diverse ethnic populations, cultures, and cuisines.[2] Furthermore, because national dishes are so interwoven into a nation's sense of identity, strong emotions and conflicts can arise when trying to choose a country's national dish.
Latin American dishes
In Latin America, dishes may be claimed or designated as a plato nacional,[4] although in many cases, recipes transcend national borders with only minor variations.[citation needed] Preparations of ceviche are endemic in Peru and Ecuador, while a thin cut of beef known as matambre is considered close to being a national dish in Paraguay.[5] Stews of meat, plantains, and root vegetables are the platos nacionales of several countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean: Colombian ajiaco, as well as the sancocho of the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Panama, are examples of platos nacionales. Janer (2008) observes that this sharing of the same plato nacional by different countries calls into question the idea that every country has a unique national dish that is special to that country; she states that cuisine does not respect national and geopolitical borders.[2]
The identification of Latin American national dishes is stronger among expatriate communities in North America.[2] In Latin American countries, the plato nacional[6] is usually part of the cuisine of rural and peasant communities, and not necessarily part of the everyday cuisine of city dwellers. In expatriate communities, the dish is strongly reclaimed in order to retain the sense of national identity and ties to one's homeland, and is proudly served in homes and restaurants. By this show of national identity, the community can resist social pressures that push for homogenization of many ethnically and culturally diverse communities into a single all-encompassing group identity, such as Latino or Hispanic American.[2]
By country
This is not a definitive list of national dishes, but rather a list of some foods that have been suggested to be national dishes.
A
B
Belgian
frites with mayonnaise
C
- Cambodia: Fish amok,[48][49] num banhchok,[50] samlar kako[51][52]
- Cameroon: Ndolé[53]
- Canada: Poutine,[54][55][56] Kraft Dinner,[57][58][59][dubious – discuss] Nanaimo bar,[60] Butter tarts[61][62]
- Chile: Empanada,[63] Pastel de choclo,[64] marraqueta.[65][66]
- China: Peking duck,[67] crayfish[68][69] Hot pot, dumpling, malaxiangguo, Dim sum,[70] Kaolengmian, Tanghulu
- Colombia: Ajiaco,[71] arepa[72] Bandeja paisa[73]
- Comoros: Langouste a la vanille (Vanilla Lobster)[74]
- Democratic Republic of the Congo: Poulet à la Moambé[75]
- Republic of the Congo: Poulet Moambé[75]
- Costa Rica: Casado, Chifrijo (chicharrón or deep fried seasoned pork pieces) served with beans, usually red or black beans (frijoles in spanish there comes the name Chifrijo; CHI from Chicharrón and FRIJO from frijoles), white rice and pico de gallo. Optionally, it may be served with avocado and/or corn chips, Gallo Pinto,[9] Olla de Carne (stewed beef soup with a variety of vegetables).
- Croatia: Zagorski štrukli[9][76]
- Cuba: Ropa vieja[77][78]
- Cyprus: Souvla,[79] Kleftiko,[80][81] Trachanás[82]
- Czech Republic: Vepřo-knedlo-zelo (Roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut),[83] svíčková[84]
D
E
F
G
- Gabon: Poulet Nyembwe[111]
- The Gambia: Domoda[112]
- Georgia: Khachapuri[113][114][115]
- Germany: Schnitzel, Schweinshaxe, Bratwurst, Sauerbraten,[116] Döner kebab,[117] Currywurst,[118] Eisbein with sauerkraut[119][120][121]
- Greece: Horiatiki,[122] Moussaka,[123] Fasolada[124][123] Souvlaki,[123] Gyros,[123] Magiritsa,[123] Kokoretsi[123]
- Grenada: Oil down[125]
- Guatemala: Pepián[126]
- Guyana: Pepperpot and Chicken curry[127]
H
I
- Iceland: Lamb,[128][129][130] Hákarl[131][130][9]
- India: Due to its diverse culture and cuisine, India does not have a specific national dish. Rather, individual regions of India have their typical regional dishes. There were rumours that the government of India was planning on designating khichdi as a national dish but it was later denied by the government.[132][133]
- Indonesia: Nasi goreng,[134][135] Tumpeng,[136] Satay,[134][135] Soto,[134][137] Rendang,[134] Gado gado[134]
- Iran: Abgoosht,[9] Chelo kabab,[138] Ghormeh sabzi[139] Fesenjan
- Iraq: Masgouf,[140] Dolma, Iraqi Kebab, Quzi
- Ireland: Breakfast roll,[141] Irish stew[142][143]
- Israel: Falafel (served in pita),[144][145][146][147][148] Israeli salad,[149][150] Shakshouka, Meorav Yerushalmi[151]
- Italy: Pasta,[152][37] pizza,[153][154] risotto
- Ivory Coast: Atcheke[155]
J
K
- Kazakhstan: Beshbarmak[164]
- Kenya: Ugali with sukuma wiki,[165] Githeri,[165] chapati,[165][166] Nyama choma[167]
- Korea, North: Raengmyŏn,[168] kimchi[169]
- Korea, South: Kimchi,[170] Bulgogi,[171] Bibimbap,[172] Jajangmyeon,[173][174] Bingsu[175]
- Kosovo: Flia[176]
- Kyrgyzstan: Beshbarmak[177]
L
M
N
O
P
- Pakistan: Biryani, Nihari,[219] Gulab jamun[220]
- Palestine: Maqluba,[221] Musakhan,[222] falafel[223][224]
- Panama: Sancocho[9]
- Peru: Ceviche[225]
- Philippines: Adobo,[226][227][228][229] Sinigang,[226][228] Sisig,[226][230] Pancit,[226][231] Halo-halo[227]
- Poland: Bigos,[9] Pierogi,[232] Kotlet schabowy,[233] Barszcz, Rosół
- Portugal: Bacalhau,[234] Caldo verde,[235] cozido à portuguesa,[9][236][237] Pastel de Belem, Sardinha Assada (Grilled Sardines)[238]
Q
R
- Romania: Mămăligă,[240] Sarmale,[241] Mici[242]
- Russia: Borscht,[243] Shchi,[244] Kasha,[244] Pelmeni,[9] Pirozhki,[245][246] Bliny, Oladyi, Sour cabbage, Bublik, Baranki, Karavai, Vareniki, Rassolnik, Pryanik
S
- Saudi Arabia: Kabsa,[9] Saleeg[247]
- Senegal: Thieboudienne[9]
- Serbia: Ćevapčići,[248][249][250] Pljeskavica,[251] Gibanica (pastry),[252] Karađorđeva steak,[253] Sarma[254]
- Singapore: Chilli crab,[255] Hainanese chicken rice,[256] Hokkien mee[257]
- Slovakia: Bryndzové halušky[258]
- Slovenia: Buckwheat dumplings[259][260] (particularly štruklji),[261] Idrijski žlikrofi[262]
- Somalia: Bariis Iskukaris
- South Africa: Bobotie[263]
- Spain: Tortilla de patatas[264]
- Sri Lanka: Rice and curry,[269] Kottu[37]
- Suriname: Pom[270]
- Sweden: Köttbullar,[271][9] Kräftskiva,[271][272] Surströmming,[273][274] Ostkaka[275]
- Switzerland: Fondue, Muesli, Raclette, Rösti (core national dishes).[276] Other dishes: Cervelat (national sausage),[277][9] Zürcher Geschnetzeltes[278]
- Syria: Kibbeh[25]
T
- Taiwan: Beef noodle soup,[279] Minced pork rice[280]
- Tajikistan: Osh Palov,[281] Qurutob[281][282]
- Tanzania: Chipsi mayai[283]
- Thailand: Pad Thai, Tom yum,[284] Som tam[285]
- Trinidad and Tobago: Callaloo,[127] Doubles,[286] Pelau,[287] Bake and shark,[288] Roti wrap[289]
- Tobago: Curry Crab and Dumplings[290]
- Tunisia: Couscous,[9] Brik/Bric[291]
- Turkey: Kuru fasulye with pilaf/pilau,[292][293] Kebap,[294] Baklava,[295][296] Simit[297]
U
V
- Vanuatu: Laplap[328]
- Venezuela: Pabellón criollo
- Vietnam: Phở, Hủ tiếu, Bún bò Huế, Bún riêu, Bún chả, Bún thịt nướng, Mì Quảng, Cơm tấm, Bánh chưng, Bánh giầy, Bánh mì, Bánh cuốn, Bánh xèo, Gỏi cuốn, Chả giò
Y
Z
Drink
National drinks
A national drink is a distinct beverage that is strongly associated with a particular country, and can be part of their national identity and self-image. National drinks fall into two categories, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. An alcoholic national drink is sometimes a national liquor drank straight/neat (as in the case of whiskey in Ireland), but is most often a mixed drink (e.g., caipirinhas in Brazil and pisco sours in Peru and Chile), or beer or wine. Examples of non-alcoholic national drinks include tea for China, Coca-Cola for the US, lassis for India, mate for Uruguay, and kompot for East European nations.