42 delicious lunch recipes from around the world
A rustic Italian open-faced omelet, perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a light dinner. This versatile dish features eggs baked with your choice of vegetables or leftover pasta, and is finished with savory Pecorino cheese and fresh herbs.
Authentic Thai fried rice featuring fragrant jasmine rice wok-fried with scrambled eggs, your choice of protein, crisp vegetables, and seasoned with savory fish sauce and a bright squeeze of lime. This dish is a staple of Thai street food.
A classic and incredibly simple Portuguese steak sandwich, featuring tender, garlicky steak nestled in a soft bread roll. Perfect for a quick lunch or light dinner.
Samgak Kimbap, often found in Korean convenience stores, is a delightful and portable rice ball shaped into a triangle, similar to Japanese onigiri, but with distinctly Korean flavors. This version features a classic tuna mayo filling.
A beloved Portuguese street food classic, the Bifana features thinly sliced pork marinated in a flavorful blend of white wine, garlic, and paprika, then quickly cooked and served in a crusty roll, often with a generous smear of mustard. The bread is typically dipped in the flavorful pan juices for an extra burst of taste.
A quintessential Montreal deli experience, this sandwich is built with generous layers of thinly sliced, brined, and smoked beef brisket, served on hearty rye bread with a smear of classic yellow mustard. The key is the quality of the smoked meat and a gentle warming to release its full aromatic potential.
A vibrant and flavorful dish of eggs poached in a rich, spiced tomato and pepper sauce. This Algerian variation often includes a blend of aromatic spices, making it a hearty and satisfying meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
The original French savory tart from Lorraine - a silky egg custard with crispy lardons baked in a buttery, flaky pastry. Simple perfection.
A quintessential triple-decker sandwich featuring layers of tender turkey, crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, and juicy tomato, all nestled between perfectly toasted bread and slathered with creamy mayonnaise. Originally invented at the Saratoga Club.
Smørrebrød are a beloved Danish classic, featuring thick slices of dense rye bread generously buttered and elaborately topped with a variety of ingredients. These open-faced sandwiches are not just a meal but a work of art, typically enjoyed with a knife and fork.
A classic French grilled ham and cheese sandwich, elevated with a rich béchamel sauce and topped with melted Gruyère. For a Croque Madame, simply add a fried egg on top.
A classic Breton savory crêpe made from buckwheat flour, traditionally filled with ham, Gruyère cheese, and a perfectly cooked egg. This rustic dish is a staple of Brittany and a delightful, hearty meal.
A hearty and flavorful Ethiopian dish featuring dried spiced beef (quanta) rehydrated and tossed with torn injera bread and a fragrant spiced butter (niter kibbeh). Traditionally a traveler's meal, it's now enjoyed widely.
A popular Danish open-faced sandwich featuring a hearty frikadelle (meatball patty) served on a rye bread bun with classic toppings like remoulade, pickled red cabbage, and crispy onions. It's a beloved fast-food item and a common lunch option.
Mee Kolok is a popular noodle dish in Brunei, characterized by its springy egg noodles tossed in a savory sauce, often topped with minced meat, char siu (Chinese BBQ pork), and fresh garnishes. It's a comforting and flavorful meal, commonly enjoyed for breakfast or lunch.
Sincronizadas are a popular Mexican street food, essentially a 'synchronized' grilled quesadilla. Two flour tortillas are layered with ham and melty Oaxaca cheese, then griddled until golden brown and the cheese is perfectly gooey. It's the ultimate Mexican grilled cheese, perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.
A beloved Chinese-Thai staple, Khao Moo Daeng features succulent, tender pork shoulder marinated in a sweet and savory red sauce, then roasted to a beautiful char. It's typically served sliced over steamed rice, accompanied by Chinese sausage, a hard-boiled egg, and a generous drizzle of the rich, sweet gravy.
A popular Panamanian street food, hojaldre is a light and airy fried dough, similar to a puffy pancake. When served 'relleno' (filled), it's typically split open and stuffed with a savory seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken filling.
A traditional Cornish pasty, a hearty and portable meal consisting of a rich shortcrust pastry filled with tender beef, potato, swede (rutabaga), and onion, crimped along the side. Originally a miner's lunch.
Venezuela's staple - griddled corn cakes split open and stuffed with endless combinations of savory fillings. These arepas are naturally gluten-free and a versatile base for any meal.
A hearty and flavorful one-pot meal featuring rehydrated salt cod simmered with aromatic vegetables and herbs, served alongside soft, fluffy boiled dumplings. It's a comforting and traditional dish often enjoyed for breakfast or lunch.
A comforting and hearty lentil stew (dal) served with a side of freshly baked Afghan bread (nan). This dish is a staple in many Afghan households, often enjoyed for breakfast or a light lunch.
A classic Turkish street food, this Dürüm Döner features thinly shaved, flavorful döner meat, fresh vegetables, and optional sauces, all wrapped tightly in a soft lavash bread. It's a quick, satisfying, and delicious meal.
A traditional Bedfordshire dish, the clanger is a suet pastry encased in two distinct sections: one savory and one sweet. Historically, it was a complete meal for farm laborers, providing both a main course and dessert in a single, portable package.
