Look to cuisines from other countries to take basic dishes like chicken, noodles and salad from ordinary to outstanding. Depending on how adventurous you feel, use one or more of the following ingredients to add some international flair to your cooking. And to help, we have even given you a few recipes.
Asian
Common Asian ingredients include soy sauce, lemongrass, curry paste, ginger, water chestnuts, peanuts, hot peppers, coconut milk and lime. You can find some of these ingredients in these Asian-inspired recipes:
Chinese Chicken Salad
Seafood Coconut Laksa
Shrimp Pad Thai
Caribbean
For a taste that will bring you to the tropics, try jerk seasoning, ginger, curry powder, green peppers, diced salt pork, seafood and tropical fruits. Here are a few Caribbean-inspired dishes to try:
Tropical Fruit Caramel Coconut Shortcake
Ginger Sesame Shrimp & Tropical Fruit Salad
Sesame Crusted Tuna With Ginger Sesame Sauce
French
Ooh la la! Incorporate French-cooking into your repertoire with Dijon mustard, white and red wines, parsley, herbs de Provence and mushrooms. Start off with one of these recipes:
French Onion Gratin Pots
Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms
French Niçoise Salad
Latin American
Take your meals south of the border with chili peppers, oregano, cumin, cilantro, corn, dulce de leche, queso fresco and tortillas. Here are some delicious Latin American recipes to try:
Rice, Bean, & Beef Tostadas
Southwest Chicken Quesadilla
Grilled Baja Fish Tacos
Mediterranean
Mediterranean-inspired meals often include ingredients such as tomatoes, olives, capers, garlic, fennel, oregano, marjoram, Parmesan cheese and feta cheese. Try these recipes for a taste of the Mediterranean:
Fattoush Salad
Shrimp Orzo Salad
Beef or Lamb Kebabs
Polish
Some typical Polish ingredients include hard-boiled eggs, dill pickles, horseradish and sour cream. You’ll find those ingredients in recipes like these:
Old World Deviled Eggs
Stroganoff Meatballs
Of course, each region’s cuisine is unique, and the above ingredients and recipes are just ideas to get you started. Once you find some ingredients that tickle your palate, experiment away.
