Want to make a unique dish that has a taste in the likeness of a particular region or country but without searching for a specific recipe? Below are different veggies, foods, fruits and spices used commonly in different cultural cooking to put you in the right direction!
Middle Eastern Cuisine
- Chickpeas
- Cumin
- Mint
- Black Limes
- Rose Petals
- Dill
- Saffron
- Mahleb
- Za’atar
- Sesame Seeds
Thai Cuisine
- Sweet Tamarind
- Guava
- Green Papaya
- Dragon Fruit
- Custard Apple
- Rambutan
- Young Coconut
- Mangosteen
- Peanut Oil
- Rice Vinegar
Mexican Cuisine
- Black Beans
- Pinto Beans
- Chipotles in Adobo
- Achiote Paste
- Hominy
- Canela
- Epazote
- Dried Jamaica Flowers
- Piloncillo
Cuban Cuisine
- Plantains
- Black Beans
- Yellow Rice (bijol)
- Annatto Seeds
- Pork (chorizo)
- Chicken
- Flan
- Condensed Milk
- Sugar
Japanese Cuisine / Types of Sushi
- Chirashi
- Temaki
- Inari
- Uramaki
- Musubi
- Futomaki
- Hosomaki
- Nigiri
- Gunkan
- Oshi
Asian Cuisine / Asian Dumplings
- Shui Jiao
- Gyoza
- Wu Gok
- Har Gow
- Wontons
- Shu Mai
- Kanom Gui Chai
- Tibetan Momos
- Banin Bot Loe
Preserved Fish (used in many different countries and cultures)
- Sardines
- Maskerel
- Sablefish
- Smoked Trout
- Gravlax
- Anchovies
- Pickled Herring
- Salt Cod
- Cold Smoked Salmon
- Hot Smoked Salmon
Goat Cheeses (used mainly in western European countries but all around the world)
- Goat Gouda
- Bucheron
- Majorero
- Ibores
- Clochette
- Mothais-sur-feuille
- Valencay
- Fleur Verte
- Ekte Gjetost
- Sainte-Maure de Touraine
Seed Spices (used often in many dishes around the world)
- Cumin
- Nutmeg
- Coriander
- Celery
- Yellow Mustard
- Annatto
- Green Cardamon
- Fenugreek
- Star Anise
- Fennel
- Caraway
