One of the best ways to experience a culture is through its food, and what better way to start than with the most important meal of the day – breakfast?
In some corners of the globe, breakfast is a special meal meant to be shared with family. In others, it simply serves to fuel you for the day ahead. Here are ten traditional breakfast meals from across the world.
United Kingdom
There’s nothing quite like a good old British fry-up of eggs, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, beans, hashbrowns and freshly toasted bread straight out of the toaster. Of course, there are some variations to the full English breakfast, such as the Scottish breakfast, which also includes black pudding and haggis. The Irish version is made with soda bread and white pudding.
And, of course, don’t forget to pop the kettle on and make a freshly brewed cup of tea to accompany this delicious breakfast.
France
As soon as you saw ‘France’, we bet you started thinking about delicious, freshly baked croissants. This buttery pastry is a breakfast staple in this European country. Another popular alternative is a Pain au Chocolat, meaning chocolate bread.
An interesting fact about the croissant – it was actually invented by an Austrian baker in the 13th century. However, the French adapted the recipe to make it the delicious, airy pastry that we enjoy today.
Morocco
Moroccan breakfasts are hearty affairs designed to be served in a sharing style, so you can taste as many dishes and flavours as you like. Some foods you’ll typically be served at breakfast include Addis (stewed lentils), eggs flavoured with cumin, Khlii (preserved meat), B’ssara (bean soup), yoghurts and fresh fruits.
Of course, jams, chutneys, olive oil, ghee and fresh bread come as a standard at any breakfast. Orange juice and mint tea are also the most popular drinks to enjoy during your meal.
Turkey
Possibly one of the best breakfasts from across the globe is a traditional Turkish breakfast – locally called ‘Kahvalti’. Breakfast is seen as one of the most important meals of the day and is accompanied by rituals and customs. Due to the country’s history, you can expect to taste flavours from various cuisines.
‘Kahvalti’ is a breakfast that comprises of several dishes of bite-sized portions. Some items that will almost always be found on the table include preserves, honey, cheeses, olives and breads.
Other Turkish breakfast dishes consisting of scrambled eggs, phyllo pastries, yoghurts and other items may also be included. Tea is always served during a Turkish breakfast, with the meal being topped off with a strong, black coffee known as çay.
Malaysia
Moving over to Southeast Asia, we come to another flavour-packed paradise. Malaysia is well known for its food, and its most recognised dish, Nasi Lemak, falls nothing short of delectable.
Nasi Lemak can be eaten as a breakfast, lunch or dinner, depending on the accompaniments. The base is made with rice cooked in coconut milk, which is also flavoured Pandan. At breakfast, the rice is topped with boiled or fried eggs and garnished with cucumber, roasted peanuts, or anchovies. At other meal times, the egg is swapped out for fried chicken or fish.
India
Choosing a breakfast meal from India is no easy task – the country is incredibly diverse, and so is its cuisine. However, it’s generally agreed that the must-try breakfast in this country is the Dosa.
Dosa is a crepe-like creation made from a batter of fermented rice and lentils. This crepe is then filled with spicy potatoes or other variations such as Masala. To top it all off, it comes with coconut chutney and hot Sambar (a thick lentil stew).
China
A Chinese breakfast can be quite similar to lunch or dinner, as the breakfast of choice is often Dim Sum. This dish originated from Guangzhou in southern China, but today it’s enjoyed across the world and has been adapted to include various fillings. When having breakfast in China, it’s customary to enjoy it with tea.
Costa Rica
When served a traditional Costa Rican breakfast, you can expect to find gallo pinto (rice and beans), scrambled eggs, tortillas or fresh bread, natilla (sour cream) or cheese and plantains on your plate. You’ll also find this dish in Nicaragua, which also claim to have been the original creator of this dish.
Mexico
Dating back to the time of the Aztecs, Mexico’s top breakfast dish is Chilaquiles. The breakfast is made with fried, cut-up tortillas, which are then topped with red or green salsa, fresh cream, onion, a fried egg and queso fresco cheese.
When ordering these in a restaurant, you’ll typically see them listed on the menu as Chilaquiles Verde or Chilaquiles Roja, depending on whether you want green or red salsa.
United States
The American all-you-can-eat breakfast is made of a global fry-up, taking foods from various corners of the globe. With fried eggs, bacon, ham, sausage or steak, hash browns, toast and pancakes, you’re sure in for a feast. Then to wash it all down, there’s black coffee and orange juice.
