A Global Feast Part 3

European foods are very diverse and very delicious! Read on to learn more about foods in Europe.

For more information on foods around the world, read my articles A Global Feast Part 1 and A Global Feast Part 2.

Denmark

The favorite mid-day dish in Denmark is the smørrebrød, or open-faced sandwich. Danish chefs are famous for their fresh fish dishes, such as plaice(a type of flatfish) salmon, mackerel, and kogt torsk (boiled cod).

England

People in England love pudding! Over the years, pudding come to include lots of different foods, including custards, flans, porridges, and even meat-based dishes. Early puddings were usually yummy dishes with meat, similar to what we know today as sausage, and boiled in special pudding bags.

Greece

At home, Greeks usually cook one-pot meals combining lamb, zucchini, tomatoes, lemon juice, herbs, and spices. An ancient element of Greek cooking is olive oil, which is used in almost every dish or as a dipping sauce for crusty bread. Greeks also love their vegetables, and they eat a lot of eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes, and onions. On the cheesy side, the most popular Greek cheese is Feta, which is made from goat or sheep's milk. And for dessert, Greeks often eat baklava, a rich, sweet pastry made of layers of phyllo dough, nuts (almonds and walnuts), sugar, cinnamon, and honey.

Italy

Italian culture goes hand in hand with glorious food! From crusty loaves of bread covered in sweet tomatoes and basil to firm noodles covered in tangy pesto and roughly grated cheese, traditional Italian recipes are handed down through generations. They remind people of a simpler time, when a meal was not just nutritional, but also a chance to connect with family and friends.

Norway

Lefse, a flat bread made from flour and potato, milk, or cream, is a national Norwegian dish. In central Norway, tynnlefse (a thin lefse) is rolled up with butter, sugar, and cinnamon and enjoyed as a dessert.

Poland

For centuries, Polish cooks have used whatever could be harvested from forests, fields, lakes, and rivers. In Poland, people often eat fish, cabbage, and potatoes in soup. One of the most popular soups is Barszcz cyzsty, a clear beet soup made with beef. Poland is also known for its pierogis, a tender pasta-like dough pocket filled with potatoes and cheese. During the summer months, pierogis are often stuffed with fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, or cherries.

Russia

Some traditional Russian delicacies include blinchiki, pelmeni, and pirozhki. Blinchiki is a thin wheat crepe (like a think pancake) often covered with sour cream, caviar (fish eggs), or jam. Pelmeni are small Siberian dumplings (like pot stickers) filled with ground-up pork and flavored with garlic, onions, salt, and pepper, and served with sour cream, horseradish, mustard, or vinegar. Pirozhki are small buns stuffed with a variety of fillings and are baked or fried. Russians also eat vegetables such as cabbage, beets, cucumbers, and wild mushrooms. Traditionally, meat dishes come in many forms, such as boiled in a stew or soup, jellied and spiced with vegetables, or baked and served with porridge.

Spain

In Spain, tapas are very popular. Tapas are small snacks that can be made with anything, including olives, ham, cheese, or even fried squid. In fact, Tapas have become so popular around the world that some people eat them for lunch and dinner!

Sweden

Swedish meatballs are one of the best-known Swedish specialties. They taste delicious with lingonberries (also called "cowberries" or "foxberries"), which are similar to cranberries! Swedish people also enjoy smoked herring (a type of fish) and crayfish (an animal similar to a small lobster).