FoodFindsAsia | 3 Brunch Dishes from Around the World (and Where You Can Try Them) | Brunch: the most important meal of the day (or was that breakfast?).
There are endless iterations of this morning meal worldwide, all just waiting for you to taste them! Here are three of the yummiest brunch meals you need to try this year.
Alt-text: Ceviche, with cubed fish and shrimp, onions, and other vegetables, is served on a white plate.
South American ceviche
This is a refreshing breakfast (or brunch) dish that garnered international fame from its humble roots in the South American country, Peru.
Specifically, the seafood meal emerged from a city called Lima but spread to numerous coastal areas nearby, including Ecuador and Chile.
Many variations exist worldwide; however, in its purest form, ceviche (also known as “cebiche”) contains:
- Raw fish
- Fresh lime juice
- Chili or hot peppers
Even if the core ingredients aren’t too heavily altered, the dish can change drastically based on preparation techniques.
No matter what, this meal will always grace your palate with notes of citrus and the light sweetness of seafood.
Of course, coastal restaurants are the best brunch locations to get your hands on a ceviche meal. You can choose either coast you like; however, some of the best locations are in Louisiana.
Here, you can find authentic Peruvian cuisine, including ceviche, at Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco, found in New Orleans, LA.
Reserve a spot for their Sunday Brunch service for nine or more people between 10:30 AM and 3 PM to get a taste of their incomparable South American menu.
Alt-text: Shakshuka in a skillet on a surface covered in white tablecloth. Eggshells, green garnish, and tomatoes sit on the skillet’s left with silverware and glasses.
Israeli shakshuka
Shakshuka — pronounced Shahk-SHOO-kah — is an incredibly flavorful meal hailing from the Middle East. It’s become a mealtime staple in Israel, but has been popularized across the region, all the way up into North Africa.
(The reason I say “mealtime” is because this can be served at any point in the day, whenever you’re craving it! However, the combination of eggs and veggies makes this ideal for a brunch plate.)
The best thing about this meal is that it achieves a stunning world of flavor without the need for meat or fish! So, even your vegetarian friends can get a taste of this delectable plate.
In its traditional form, this meal consists of only a handful of ingredients (impressive, given how immensely flavorful it is!):
- Poached eggs (cooked in a simmering sauce containing the ingredients below)
- Tomatoes
- Bell peppers
- Onions
- Garlic
It’s often served alongside a type of bread, such as pita, naan, or challah.
If you’re looking for the perfect place to serve you a tasty shakshuka dish, one of the best places in the country to visit is the Aladdin Café in St. Louis, MO.
The spot has been open since 1999 and serves authentic, healthy dishes drawn directly from traditional Mediterranean culture and cuisine.
If you want to host your own shindig (not at the restaurant), Aladdin Café can cater for your social gathering. The team will even offer their expertise on Mediterranean traditions, customs, and etiquette to ensure you’re observing the culture correctly.
Or, you can stop by the restaurant with your group to experience the café’s atmosphere first-hand or visit www.rubalkhali.com.
Alt-text: A stack of parathas sits on a cooling rack beside a metal ramekin filled with white sauce.
Indian parathas
Parathas is one of India’s most popular, beloved dishes. It’s essentially stuffed bread, perfect for starting the day with a rich, mouth-watering meal. (When I say rich, I mean rich. You’d better have a big appetite for the morning because this buttery dish will fill you up quickly!)
Paratha originally came from Peshawar and was rapidly adopted by communities throughout the Indian subcontinent. It’s often served alongside lassi — a yummy beverage made from dahi, derived from cow’s, buffalo’s, or goat’s milk — and is originally associated with Punjabi cuisine.
As mentioned earlier, paratha is a type of bread. Typically, it’s made of whole-wheat flour, then pan-fried in oil or ghee. You can have it in various styles — either on its own or as a main part of the entreé.
Most of the time, though, it’s served stuffed with vegetables, including boiled potatoes, radish, cauliflower, and an Indian cheese known as “paneer.”
You can find this incredible meal at Paratha Junction in Jersey City, NJ. People across the country have raved about this amazing brunch location for years — and rightfully so! It’s home to seemingly endless options for experiencing authentic Indian eating, right here in the U.S.
If you’re unsure of whether you’ll like the variation of parathas described above, they’ve got a few different options to offer when you visit.
Travel the world with your palate during brunchtime
Brunch is a special time of day when people can come together and relax after a long week of work or convene before the hustle starts again. One of the best things about brunch meals is that they are highly flexible, and can be as savory or sweet as you wish.
The best way to explore the spectrum of flavor is to sample morning dishes from around the world. Fortunately, you can “travel the world” without ever having to get a passport!
Try the plates described above at the suggested locations, or find your preferred meal at another brunch location for your next international brunch experience.
