traditional Recipes
501 delicious traditional recipes from around the world
Full English Breakfast
Britain's legendary fry-up, a hearty and satisfying breakfast featuring a medley of classic components: crispy bacon, juicy sausages, perfectly fried eggs, warm baked beans, sautéed mushrooms and tomatoes, rich black pudding, and golden toast.
Gâteau Breton
A dense, rich, and incredibly buttery cake originating from Brittany, France. This Gâteau Breton is a true testament to the region's love for high-quality butter, resulting in a cake that is both rustic and elegant.
Giouvarlakia (Greek Meatball Soup)
Giouvarlakia are tender, rice-filled meatballs simmered in a rich, lemony egg-and-rice broth (avgolemono). This is a classic Greek comfort food, perfect for a chilly day.
Gravlax (Traditional Cure)
Sugar and salt-cured salmon, an ancient Nordic preservation method now a celebrated delicacy. This recipe includes instructions for the classic hovmästarsås (sweet mustard sauce).
Grochówka (Polish Pea Soup)
A deeply satisfying and hearty Polish pea soup, often considered a military classic due to its robust flavor and filling nature. This recipe yields a thick, comforting soup perfect for cold days.
Grüne Soße (Frankfurt Green Sauce)
A classic Frankfurt specialty, this vibrant green sauce is made from a blend of seven fresh herbs, creamy sour cream, and yogurt. Traditionally served with boiled potatoes and hard-boiled eggs, it's a refreshing and flavorful accompaniment to many dishes. Legend has it, it was Goethe's favorite sauce.
Grünkohl mit Pinkel (German Kale with Smoked Sausage)
A hearty and traditional Northern German winter dish featuring tender kale stewed with smoked sausages (Pinkel and Kasseler) and enriched with oats. Best enjoyed on a cold day.
Handkäse mit Musik
A traditional Hessian specialty from Frankfurt, Handkäse mit Musik features a firm, sour milk cheese marinated in a tangy raw onion vinaigrette. The 'Musik' in the name humorously refers to the digestive sounds that may follow, a common and accepted part of enjoying this dish, often paired with local apple wine (Apfelwein).
Herring Under Fur Coat (Selyodka Pod Shuboy)
A classic Russian layered salad featuring savory herring beneath a 'fur coat' of colorful, grated vegetables, bound together with creamy mayonnaise. This visually striking dish is a traditional centerpiece for celebrations, especially New Year's Eve.
Hilopites me Kota (Greek Chicken with Egg Noodles)
A comforting and homestyle Greek dish featuring tender chicken simmered in a rich tomato sauce with aromatic spices, served over square egg noodles (hilopites). Perfect for a Sunday family meal.
Himmel und Erde (Heaven and Earth)
A hearty and traditional Rhineland dish, Himmel und Erde translates to 'Heaven and Earth,' representing the sweetness of apples (heaven) and the earthiness of potatoes, served with savory blood sausage and caramelized onions. It's a delightful balance of sweet, savory, and rich flavors.
Holodets (Russian Meat Jelly)
A traditional Russian winter celebration dish, Holodets is a savory meat jelly made from slow-cooked pork and beef, infused with aromatics, and set into a firm, flavorful aspic. It's a testament to slow cooking and the natural gelatin released from the bones and connective tissues.
Inlagd Sill (Swedish Pickled Herring)
A foundational Swedish delicacy, Inlagd Sill (pickled herring) is a versatile and essential component of traditional Swedish cuisine, particularly during holidays and celebrations like Midsummer. This recipe provides a basic pickling brine that can be adapted for numerous variations.
Irish Stew
Ireland's soul-warming national dish - tender lamb simmered with potatoes, onions, and carrots in a simple, savory broth. This hearty stew is perfect for a chilly evening.
Isterband
Isterband is a traditional Swedish fermented sausage, particularly popular in the Småland region. It's characterized by its slightly sour, tangy flavor and firm texture, achieved through a fermentation process. This recipe details how to make it from scratch.
Jam Roly-Poly
A classic British steamed pudding, affectionately known as 'dead man's arm' due to its appearance. This comforting dessert features a suet pastry rolled around a generous layer of jam, traditionally served with hot custard.
Jellied Eels
A classic East End London delicacy, jellied eels are a traditional dish featuring tender eel pieces suspended in a savory, naturally gelatinous aspic. Often served with traditional pie and mash.
Julskinka (Swedish Christmas Ham)
A traditional Swedish Christmas ham, this Julskinka features a succulent, slow-cooked ham coated in a flavorful mustard and breadcrumb crust, baked to golden perfection. It's a stunning centerpiece for any holiday feast.
Kapuśniak (Polish Sauerkraut Soup)
A hearty and traditional Polish sauerkraut soup, perfect for a cold winter day. This soup features tender pork, smoky kielbasa, tangy sauerkraut, and wholesome vegetables, simmered to perfection. It's a comforting dish with centuries of history.
Karp Smażony (Polish Fried Carp)
A classic Polish dish, Karp Smażony, or fried carp, is a quintessential part of Wigilia (Christmas Eve) celebrations. This recipe focuses on achieving a crispy, golden-brown exterior while keeping the fish moist and tender inside. The traditional marination in milk helps to reduce the earthy flavor often associated with carp.
Karp w Galarecie (Carp in Aspic)
A traditional Polish Christmas Eve (Wigilia) delicacy, this dish features tender carp poached and set in a crystal-clear, flavorful aspic, often garnished with decorative elements.
Karpatka (Polish Mountain Cake)
Karpatka, meaning 'Carpathian Mountain Cake', is a beloved Polish dessert featuring two layers of light and airy choux pastry filled with a rich, luscious vanilla pastry cream. It's often dusted with powdered sugar, resembling a snow-capped mountain range.
Kartoffelsalat (Warm German Potato Salad)
A classic warm German potato salad, featuring tender potatoes, crispy bacon, and a tangy vinegar dressing. This version is a traditional Southern German style, served warm without mayonnaise.
Kaszanka (Polish Blood Sausage with Buckwheat)
A traditional and hearty Polish blood sausage, featuring the earthy flavor of buckwheat groats and savory pork fat, encased and gently cooked. This recipe requires careful preparation and is best served pan-fried.