Nations are battling it out at this year’s Olympic games in Paris trying to move to the top of the overall medal count. USA is in the lead with overall medals, followed by France, China, Great Britain, Australia, Japan, Italy, and Korea in that order. What better way to celebrate this global event than to host a dinner party featuring a dish by each of these nations? While you can (and should) explore dishes from smaller countries or countries whose food you want to learn more about, this collection is a great place to start! Let’s cook!
USA: Brew Burgers
The USA is in the lead with 31 medals at the time of this writing. With so many different cultures spread out across the US, it’s hard to choose just one meal to represent the country, but nothing screams American like burgers and beer – and we’re here for it! This recipe from Food.com combines both of these American loves into brilliant brew burgers. The brew sauce is a mix of Heinz 57 and good ol’ fashioned American beer drizzled across beef burgers with thick sliced grilled Vidalia onions, Swiss cheese, crisp lettuce, and fresh tomatoes. A burger never looked so good!
FRANCE: Coq Au Vin
We know this dish sounds fancy, but if you translate it from French, it means “rooster in wine,” which is far less intimidating. This classic French dish is so much simpler to make than it sounds. It’s a one-pot meal with rich layers of flavor that just might make you want to sing the French national anthem! This recipe from The Modern Proper uses red wine, which is traditional for this dish. A French wine from the Burgundy region is recommended or try a pinot noir or other light-bodied red. You can also use a white wine for a fun variation. Ooh la la!
CHINA: Scallion Pancakes with Dim Sum Dipper
Head to the far east for a taste of China with these scallion pancakes from Food Network. They’re served with a deliciously delightful dim sum dipping sauce. Scallion pancakes, also called cong you bing, are a favorite dim sum delight and served in street food stalls across China. These savory Chinese flatbreads are a great pre-meal snack or appetizer – but they’ll work great as a side for just about any meal you serve up!
GREAT BRITAIN: English Rhubarb Crumble
You could certainly whip up some fish and chips to represent Great Britain in a respectable way, but for something sweet, try this decadent English rhubarb crumble for an easy, delicious dessert! This recipe from Taste of Home calls for rhubarb, strawberries and apples, which is an excellent fruit combo, but you can omit the strawberries and apples and just stick with rhubarb if you prefer. Frozen rhubarb works just as well as fresh rhubarb in this recipe.
ITALY: Creamy Tagliatelle and Mushrooms
Pasta with creamy mushroom sauce is one of the greatest gifts Italy gave the world. This tagliatelle and mushroom masterpiece from Erren’s Kitchen is an explosion of flavors with earthy cremini mushrooms, fresh flat-leaf parsley, white wine, garlic, and butter – and it only takes 25 minutes to make! This dish is great as is, but you can add grilled chicken or steak for a heartier option. Adding veggies like spinach or zucchini will boost the nutrition and flavor profile. You’ll love this one!
AUSTRALIA: Lamington
Every citizen of Australia knows what a lamington is – it’s THE cake to eat down under. This coconut-covered confection from RecipeTin Eats is a great introduction to this famous Australian cake. A lamington is a moist butter cake dipped in chocolate and then coated – and we mean coated – in coconut. You’re going to get coconut all over yourself and your kitchen, but that’s all part of this truly Aussie experience, it seems. It’ll take a little extra effort to make these classic Aussie cakes, but boy, are they worth it!
JAPAN: Hibachi-Fried Rice
Hibachi-fried rice, or Japanese style fried rice, is a quick and easy meal you can stir up on a busy weeknight, but it makes a great dish for any meal (even school lunches)! This versatile rice stir fry from Whisk Affair is sauteed in a wok (or a large skillet) with butter, soy sauce, and other ingredients. LOTS of butter is used so you know it’s going to be good! It’s a great way to use leftover rice too!
South Korea: Korean Beef Bulgogi
If you haven’t tried beef bulgogi yet, now is the time. This classic dish from Korea is as good as it gets. This recipe from Beyond Kimchee is a great place to get your feet wet with Korean cooking. It’s easy, super flavorful, and whips up in no time. You’ll use super thin slices of beef from sirloin or ribeye and marinate them for four hours with soy sauce, grated fruits, and other flavor bombs. This sweet and savory, smoky bulgogi will taste like heaven on a plate!
Leave a Reply