25 Global Street Foods You Can Make at Home
Craving adventure? Your taste buds are! Skip the pricey plane ticket and bring the world’s most delicious street food straight to your kitchen. From savory snacks to sweet sensations, we’ve rounded up 25 mouthwatering recipes that are surprisingly easy to recreate at home. Get ready to embark on a global culinary journey without ever leaving your comfy pants!
Forget scrolling endlessly through travel photos – get ready to *eat* your way around the world. These recipes are simplified for the home cook, so you can enjoy authentic flavors without hours in the kitchen. Let’s get cooking!
Arepas Recipe
Hailing from Venezuela and Colombia, arepas are grilled corn cakes that are endlessly customizable. Stuff them with cheese, shredded meat, beans, or avocado for a satisfying and flavorful meal. Think of them as handheld pockets of happiness! They are also naturally gluten free.
Banh Mi Recipe
This Vietnamese sandwich is a symphony of textures and tastes. Crispy baguette, savory pate, pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, and your choice of protein (grilled pork, tofu, or chicken are popular) – it’s a flavor explosion in every bite.
Tacos al Pastor Recipe
Imagine thinly sliced, marinated pork slowly roasting on a vertical spit. That’s Tacos al Pastor! While you might not have a spit at home, you can achieve a similar flavor by marinating and pan-frying or baking thinly sliced pork. Serve with pineapple, onions, and cilantro on warm tortillas.
Pad Thai Recipe
Thailand’s most famous noodle dish is surprisingly easy to make at home. Rice noodles tossed in a tangy tamarind sauce with shrimp, tofu, peanuts, bean sprouts, and egg – it’s a perfectly balanced and addictive combination.
Shawarma Recipe
This Middle Eastern delight features thinly sliced, marinated meat (usually lamb, chicken, or beef) roasted on a rotating spit. Serve it in a pita with hummus, tahini, and fresh vegetables for a satisfying and flavorful meal.
Okonomiyaki Recipe
Often described as a Japanese savory pancake, Okonomiyaki is a delightful mix of shredded cabbage, flour, eggs, and your choice of ingredients (pork, shrimp, or vegetables). Topped with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, and bonito flakes, it’s a fun and flavorful dish to experiment with.
Churros Recipe
These crispy, fried dough pastries are a beloved treat in Spain and Latin America. Dredged in cinnamon sugar and dipped in chocolate sauce, they’re the perfect sweet ending to any meal (or a delicious afternoon snack!).
Poutine Recipe
This Canadian classic is the ultimate comfort food. Crispy french fries topped with cheese curds and smothered in rich gravy – it’s a hearty and satisfying dish that’s perfect for a cold day.
Empanadas Recipe
These savory pastries are popular throughout Latin America and Spain. Filled with meat, cheese, vegetables, or a combination thereof, they’re baked or fried until golden brown and delicious. Perfect for a quick lunch or snack.
Falafel Recipe
These crispy, deep-fried chickpea patties are a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine. Served in a pita with hummus, tahini, and fresh vegetables, they’re a healthy and flavorful vegetarian option.
Pierogi Recipe
These Eastern European dumplings are traditionally filled with potatoes, cheese, sauerkraut, or meat. Boiled and then pan-fried with butter and onions, they’re a hearty and satisfying dish that’s perfect for a cold evening.
Bubble Tea Recipe
Originating in Taiwan, Bubble Tea is a tea-based drink mixed with milk or fruit flavors, and often containing tapioca pearls (boba). A sweet and refreshing treat!
Kimbap Recipe
Korean seaweed rice rolls filled with various ingredients like seasoned vegetables, eggs, meat, and pickles. A portable and delicious meal.
Aloo Tikki Recipe
Popular Indian street food made of spiced mashed potatoes formed into patties and fried until golden brown. Served with chutneys and yogurt.
Feijoada Recipe
A hearty Brazilian black bean stew with various cuts of pork, sausage, and beef. Traditionally served with rice, farofa, and orange slices.
Crêpes Recipe
Thin pancakes from France, can be served sweet (with Nutella, fruit, etc.) or savory (with ham, cheese, etc.).
Arancini Recipe
Italian stuffed rice balls coated with breadcrumbs and deep-fried. Often filled with ragu, mozzarella, and peas.
Kulfi Recipe
A traditional Indian ice cream, denser and creamier than Western ice cream, often flavored with cardamom, mango, or pistachio.
Pastel de Nata Recipe
Portuguese egg custard tarts with a flaky pastry crust, dusted with cinnamon.
Souvlaki Recipe
Greek grilled meat skewers (often pork or chicken), typically served in a pita with tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki sauce.
Mango Sticky Rice Recipe
Thai dessert consisting of sweet sticky rice cooked with coconut milk and served with fresh mango slices.
Dango Recipe
Japanese sweet dumplings made from rice flour, often served on a skewer and topped with sweet soy sauce or other flavors.
Bao Buns Recipe
Steamed, fluffy buns filled with savory ingredients like pork belly, pickled vegetables, and hoisin sauce.
Pupusas Recipe
Thick flatbread from El Salvador, typically filled with cheese, beans, and pork. Served with curtido (cabbage slaw) and salsa.
Bun Cha Recipe
Vietnamese grilled pork served with rice noodles, fresh herbs, and a flavorful dipping sauce (nuoc cham).