Global comfort food are some must try dishes especially when travelling. Here are some yummy and delectable comfort food from all around the world to try and savour.
Global Comfort Food: Ramen, Japan
Ramen, the comfort food of the Japanese, has just become an international sensation due to its robust and savoury broth, along with all kinds of possible toppings. Commonly, it includes Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a rich meat, fish, or vegetable-based broth. It may be seasoned with soy sauce, miso, or salt for flavour — each gives it a different taste that complements the noodles.
Traditionally, ramen is garnished with ingredients such as sliced pork, soft-boiled eggs, bamboo shoots, nori seaweed, and green onions, all of which add texture and flavour with each bite. For many Japanese, it’s more than a comforting meal — it’s a dish to warm one up and give satisfaction, mostly eaten during colder months or after a long day. Different types of ramen throughout Japan reflect regional preferences and unique local ingredients, from Kyushu’s tonkotsu ramen, with a rich, creamy pork bone broth, to the lighter, shoyu-based ramen that’s popular in Tokyo.
Specialising in their own secret recipes passed down for generations, ramen shops are synonymous with Japanese culture. With its perfect balance of savoury, umami-rich flavours and comforting texture, ramen has captured hearts worldwide, becoming a symbol of Japanese cuisine’s global influence. Whether it is served in a cozy Japanese restaurant or experimented with at home, ramen is irreconcilably a comfort food to try, which unites people and offers satisfaction with every delicious taste.
Global Comfort Food: Khichdi, India
Khichdi is considered the ultimate comfort food in India — simple, warm, and intimate enough for all who partake of it. A meal or dish made primarily of rice and a kind of lentil, the blend is cooked until such time as the content is soft enough to form porridge. Simple as it is, spicy and seasoning varieties-like cumin, turmeric, and ginger add to this warm depth of taste.
The basic recipe still remains simple, but the dish can be personalised with vegetables, ghee, and even fried onions to enhance the taste. Khichdi is known to be soothing, and thus it is considered the go-to food when one is sick or has had a long day. It is easily digestible and hence popular for children and aged people alike — it is more often served with a number of accompaniments like yogurt, pickles, or papadam to balance the flavours.
Khichdi holds a special place in Indian culture, mostly eaten during festivals or on special occasions, but the real essence of khichdi is that it provides comfort during day-to-day life. It’s a meal that unites families and gives people a feeling of home-cooked food. Beyond its physical nourishment, Khichdi symbolises simplicity and love; therefore, it would be an excellent comfort food for any person wanting to try a meal that is wholesome and satisfying. Whether in India or abroad, it’s a dish that crosses borders, giving the taste of home to all who taste it.
Global Comfort Food: Kimchi Jjigae, Korea
Kimchi Jjigae is a rich and flavour-full stew made from kimchi, which is a fermented cabbage dish combined with tofu, pork, and other various seasonings-one of Korea’s comfort foods. It is favoured in South Korea due to the depth of spicy and tangy flavours that it produces, offering both warmth and familiarity.
Kimchi Jjigae is considered comfort food because it balances bold flavours with rich broth, which makes for a satisfying meal on cold days or after a long day at work. The key ingredient, kimchi, gives a sour and spicy taste to this stew, which becomes more prominent with ingredients like gochujang and garlic. Stews usually would also be served along with rice. This would typically make a perfect and complete meal.
Kimchi Jjigae is pretty popular across every region in Korea — households to restaurants, even within school cafeterias. What’s more, it’s diverse enough to offer vegetarian, beef-containing, tuna kimchi jjigae, even mushroom kimchi jjigae. It’s a dish that offers more than just sustenance — it’s a link to Korean culture, tradition, and the importance of fermented foods in daily life.
Whether enjoyed alone or shared with friends and family, Kimchi Jjigae is the perfect example of comfort food being a nourishing blend of flavours, warmth, and heritage. This is a must-have dish for any person trying Korean food, and each spoon promises to please.
Global Comfort Food: Schnitzel, Germany
Schnitzel is a comfort food from Germany that is a cutlet, crispy and breaded, satisfyingly delicious. This typically will be made of either pork or veal, first tenderised, then seasoned and coated in breadcrumbs to fry until golden brown. A simple yet flavour-filled dish for centuries, comfort food in German cuisine brings together a comfortable balance of textures — the crunch outside and juicy, tender meat inside.
Traditionally, it is accompanied by different types of sides – creamy potato salad, spätzle, or sauerkraut. Thus, schnitzel represents a whole meal with the warmth of home and tradition. Not limited to Germany, this dish has traveled to different countries. Many have created their versions: Austria offers the most famous type of Wiener Schnitzel, while Hungary has pörkölt schnitzel. And the beauty of the schnitzel is that it’s versatile — from lemon-squirted to creamily mushroom-sauced, topped even with a fried egg-the so-called “Jägerschnitzel” in Germany.
It is a dish that brings people together, be it shared among family or at the local biergarten, evoking warmth and comfort akin to homemade meals. This universal appeal makes it an excellent introduction to German comfort food and is highly recommended for those who are looking forward to exploring hearty, flavourful dishes from around the world.
Global Comfort Food: Lasagna, Italy
Lasagna is an Italian favourite, one of the most universally recognised comfort foods. Originating from Italy, this rich, layered dish consists of wide pasta sheets, alternating with layers of savoury meat sauce, creamy béchamel sauce, and generous amounts of melted cheese, typically mozzarella and Parmesan.
But what really makes lasagna stand out is the flavour combination in one single bite, where the richness of a beef or pork ragu sauce merges with the creaminess of the white sauce and the stringy, melted cheese. Baked to golden perfection, it provides a satisfying textural contrast between crispy edges and a tender middle. Traditionally, this is made with meat, but in regions other than Italy, the variations abound — vegetarian lasagna, seafood versions, or even their take on lasagna with different pasta or cheese types.
Lasagna is something more than a simple dish — it’s a concept of hospitality typical of Italy as it is the must-have during family reunions, festive Sunday lunches, or special occasions. Of course, the best comfort food is one that can be prepared days in advance and only warmed up when needed; thus, lasagna is sure to evoke all those feelings associated with warmth, tradition, and togetherness.
As it has spread throughout the world, lasagna has become a universal comfort food, appreciated not only for its mouthwatering taste but for the joy it brings to people, whether they are having it in an Italian kitchen or right in their homes halfway around the world. For anyone seeking a hearty, flavourful meal, lasagna is a must-try dish that embodies the essence of comfort food.
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