Foods Around the World

Foods Around the World

Introduction What are your favorite foods? Pizza? French fries? Ice cream? Have you ever thought about what people in other parts of the world enjoy eating? People usually cook foods that are naturally available where they live. As a result, many regions have special foods and snacks you may never have heard of. You might find someone eating crunchy caterpillars in Africa, raw fish in Asia, or honey ants in Australia! Let's take a taste trip to find out about some different foods and recipes found around the world.

Africa: A Mix of Flavors, Foods, and People Africa is home to incredible wildlife, amazing forests, and all kinds of interesting foods. Africa has many different regions, and each one has its own special recipes.

In North Africa, many family meals are cooked in a special clay pot called a tagine pot. With its lid on, it's shaped like a volcano. The bottom of the pot becomes the dinner plate. In West Africa, you can find lots of dishes made with peanuts. Peanuts flavor everything from fragrant chicken-peanut stew to peanut ice cream. You'll also find many rice dishes.

In Central Africa, many local recipes feature yams, squash, sweet potatoes, and honey. A special dish is made with dried caterpillars. The crunchy caterpillars, which are cooked with onions and tomatoes, taste very rich. In Southern Africa, people near the coast eat a variety of fresh fish. They also like wild game, such as antelope. Families often barbecue steaks, chops, and special long sausages on big outdoor grills and invite the whole neighborhood to dinner.

Europe: Beet Soup to Rich Desserts If you head north to Europe, you'll find that every country is known for its special foods. People who live in Russia eat hearty stews with special dark breads like pumpernickel. Russia is also home to a famous cold beet soup. A deep red color, this soup is often served with a drop of sour cream on top.