main dish Recipes
15 delicious main dish recipes from around the world
Briam
Briam is a rustic and flavorful Greek dish of mixed summer vegetables baked in olive oil and tomato. It's a staple of Greek home cooking, celebrated for its simplicity and delicious, tender results.
Prasopita (Greek Leek Pie)
A savory and comforting Greek leek pie featuring tender leeks and salty feta cheese encased in layers of crisp phyllo dough. Perfect as a main dish or appetizer, and delicious served at room temperature.
Rakott Krumpli (Hungarian Layered Potatoes)
A hearty and comforting Hungarian classic, Rakott Krumpli features thinly sliced potatoes layered with hard-boiled eggs and flavorful Hungarian sausage, all bound together with a creamy sour cream sauce and baked until golden brown and bubbly.
Bánh Bao (Vietnamese Steamed Pork Buns)
Fluffy, cloud-like steamed buns filled with a savory mixture of seasoned ground pork, Chinese sausage, wood ear mushrooms, and a whole hard-boiled quail egg. A beloved Vietnamese street food with Chinese culinary influences.
Filipino Embutido
A classic Filipino festive meat roll, typically enjoyed during Christmas. This steamed pork loaf is studded with hard-boiled eggs, sweet pickles, and cheese, creating a colorful and flavorful cross-section when sliced. It is traditionally served cold.
Haemul Pajeon (Korean Seafood Pancake)
A savory and crispy Korean pancake generously filled with fresh seafood (shrimp, squid, mussels) and vibrant green scallions. Perfect as an appetizer or a light meal, especially on a rainy day.
Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken)
Authentic Japanese Karaage, featuring tender chicken thigh pieces marinated in a savory blend of soy sauce, sake, ginger, and garlic, then coated in potato starch and double-fried to achieve an incredibly crispy exterior and juicy interior. A beloved izakaya (Japanese pub) staple.
Lumpia Semarang
Authentic Lumpia Semarang, a savory Indonesian spring roll filled with stir-fried bamboo shoots, shrimp, and chicken, served with a sweet soy sauce dip. A delicacy from Central Java.
Pajeon (Korean Scallion Pancake)
A savory and crispy Korean pancake loaded with fresh scallions and optional seafood. Perfect as an appetizer or a light meal, especially on a rainy day.
Yu Xiang Qie Zi (Sichuan Fish-Fragrant Eggplant)
A classic Sichuan dish featuring tender, silky Chinese eggplants coated in a vibrant, complex sauce that balances spicy, sour, and sweet flavors. Despite its name, 'fish-fragrant' refers to a traditional flavor profile used in Sichuan cuisine, not the presence of fish.
Chicharrón (Colombian Crispy Pork Belly)
Authentic Colombian Chicharrón features skin-on pork belly, slow-cooked until tender, then fried to achieve a shatteringly crispy, puffed skin. It's a quintessential element of the iconic Bandeja Paisa and a beloved snack on its own.
Chunchullos (Colombian Grilled Intestines)
A popular Colombian street food, chunchullos are beef intestines meticulously cleaned, then grilled until perfectly crispy and golden brown. Typically served with boiled salted potatoes (papas saladas) and a spicy ají sauce.
Empanadas Venezolanas
Authentic Venezuelan empanadas, featuring a crispy fried corn dough shell filled with savory black beans and cheese. These are typically larger than their Colombian counterparts and are a beloved street food.
Pionono
A popular Colombian appetizer featuring sweet, ripe plantain slices wrapped around a savory ground beef and tomato filling, then topped with cheese and baked until golden and bubbly.
Tacos Dorados (Golden Fried Tacos)
Crispy, golden-fried rolled tacos, a delightful crunchier cousin to flautas. These are typically filled with mashed potatoes and served with fresh toppings.