Noodles are the comfort food of many people across the world. Similarly, the method of making the noodles also differ from place to place around the world. Instant noodles may be easy to make, but the warmth and flavor of homemade noodles cannot be replicated.
In this article, we will read about how noodles are consumed worldwide and the variety that you can imagine!
20 Best Noodle Dishes Around The World
1. Japan- Ramen
One of the most popular noodle dishes worldwide, Ramen gained its popularity through anime and Ghibli movies. Ramen is a light soup-based noodle dish that is balanced with meat and vegetables. It is like a warm hug on a cold, snowy day.
2. South Korea- Bibim Guksu
Bibim Guksu literally translates to ‘vegetable noodles.’ It is a spicy noodle dish that is red in color and has a slight broth. It is topped with cucumber to help calm the heat from the noodle.
3. Thailand- Pad Thai
Thailand’s most popular dish, Pad Thai, is immensely popular, and anyone who has visited Thailand must have tried this dish at least once. Pad Thai is stir-fried noodles with vegetables, meat, and peanuts and is topped with lemon and peanut butter. Due to its popularity, it is often called Thailand’s national dish.
4. Vietnam- Pho
Another soup-based noodle dish, Pho, is popular across the world. To make Pho is a tedious task, but the result is so delicious that it is worth the pain. Pho is made by braising the beef for hours, sometimes even for days. The noodles are made from rice flour and are then steeped in the beef broth. The toppings are customizable, and you can also choose your sauce.
5. China- Chow Mein
Chow Mein, this stir-fried noodle dish from China, is popular across the world and mostly in India. This dish is easy and fast to make and requires little effort. Noodles are stir-fried with vegetables and are topped with spicy sauces.
6. Malaysia- Laksa
Laksa is a soup-based noodle dish. The noodles range from thick wheat noodles to vermicelli noodles. The Laksa paste added to the soup is made from lemongrass, dried chilies, turmeric, a blend of spices, and shrimp paste. The soup base can either be spicy coconut milk or sour tamarind.
7. Taiwan- Beef noodle soup
The process of making Taiwanese beef noodle soup is similar to making Vietnamese Pho, but the flavors are distinctly different. The difference in spices and the quality of beef elevates the flavors and has risen this dish to the level of the national dish of Taiwan.
8. Myanmar- Mohinga
The soup base of Mohinga is made from braising catfish with crushed rice powder, lemongrass, onions, ginger, and more spices. The soup gets its main flavor from the fish. The lemongrass is an essential item as it helps to balance out the fishy taste. The rice vermicelli noodles are cooked separately. The dish is served strictly following the order: placing the pre-cooked noodles first, then putting in the broth, followed by topping it of with the topping of choice.
9. Indonesia- Mee Goreng
Mee Goreng has been gaining popularity recently because of the instant mee Goreng packets becoming more available alongside ramen. It is also a stir-fried dish. The noodles used are thin yellow noodles that are fried along with chicken or prawns, chilies, cabbages, eggs, or any other vegetable of choice. The sauce that is the star item is Kecap Manis is a sweet and sticky soya sauce.
10. Singapore- Hokkien Mee
Hokkien Mee originated in China’s Fujian province. Singapore has a large population who are Chinese immigrants who brought along with them Chinese delicacies. Hokkien mee is one such dish that won over the hearts of the people in Singapore and worldwide. It is made by stir-frying egg noodles in dark sweet sauce. The key ingredient that elevates the flavor is pork fat.
11. Hawaii- Saimin
Hawaii is the melting pot of cuisines, with immigrants coming from China, Japan, Korea, Portugal, Puerto Rico among the prominent ones. With immigrants comes their cuisine. Saimin is similar to Ramen but is Americanized. Soft wheat egg noodles are cooked in Japanese style dashi. It is topped with spam, eggs, and nori strips. Chilli oil may be added as per your own preference.
12. Peru- Tallarines Verdes
It literally translates to ‘green noodles,’ this noodle dish looks similar to Pesto pasta but has a different preparation method. The key ingredient that separates this dish is evaporated milk. Using evaporated milk helps give the spinach and basil-based sauce more creaminess and also adds sweetness to the dish.
13. Italy- Spaghetti
Spaghetti is the second-most popular Italian dish after Pizza around the world. To make Spaghetti, the noodles are first boiled in salty water. The key to a good pasta dish is to make the boiling water as salty as the sea. That way, the pasta absorbs all the salt and adds flavor. The sauce is a tomato-based sauce with a spice level, depending on one’s preference. It is topped with basil leaves and cheese.
14. USA- Cincinnati Chilli
Cincinnati chili is the American version of spaghetti but has its own uniqueness. Boiled spaghetti noodles are topped with minced meat, then topped with chilies from Cincinnati and loads of cheese. Chopped onion may also be added according to preference.
15. Greece- Pastitsio
Pastitsio is the Greek version of the Italian Lasagna. The difference is that instead of the red marinara sauce, a white creamy bechamel sauce is used, and cinnamon is also added.
16. Germany- Spaetzle
Spaetzle is a small dumpling dish made of seasoned dough that is poached in boiling water. It is usually served as a side dish with meat dishes.
17. Egypt- Koshari
Koshari, the national dish of Egypt, is not a standalone noodle dish but has noodles mixed with rice. The dish brings together Indian, Italian, and Middle-eastern flavors. Rice and macaroni are topped with a spicy, garlicky tomato-based sauce and are topped with boiled chickpeas and barista.
18. Hungary- Kaposztá Tészta
Kaposzta Teszta, or simply Cabbage with Noodles, is an easy Hungarian noodle dish. Noodles are fried in butter with cabbage and onions, with a humble flavoring of salt and pepper.
19. Israel- Pot Kugel
Pot Kugel is similar to a Lasagna but differs in the sauce. The sauce is made from eggs, cottage cheese, sour cream, cinnamon, sugar, and lemon juice blended to reach a paste-like consistency. The egg noodles are then combined with the sauce and cooked in a pot or pressure cooker, hence Pot Kugel’s name.
20. Poland- Poppy seed noodles
The preparation of Poppyseed noodles takes several hours, but the dish is worth the hard work and the time. Poppy seeds are boiled in milk and ground twice. It is then combined with boiled noodles, honey, raisins, nuts, and butter.
Isn’t the variety just huge? So, next time you visit any of these countries, make sure to try their version of the noodle as well!
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