What does comfort taste like somewhere else in the world?
We all have our own comfort foods, the dishes we reach for on a cold evening or a tired day. But every country has its own versions too, each one somebody’s idea of home in a bowl.
This week, why not take 15 minutes for a little hygge moment and try a comfort food recipe from a country you have never visited? A little adventure, without leaving your kitchen.
Cosy has many accents.
Make it cosy
Cooking something new is more fun when the kitchen feels relaxed.
Before you begin, set the scene:
- Some music from the country you are cooking from
- Your ingredients laid out and ready
- A warm drink or a glass of something to sip
- Soft lighting and a candle on the side
- Plenty of time, and no pressure to get it perfect
Comfort food ideas from around the world
Choose something simple and warming. You might try:
- Japanese miso soup or oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl)
- Hungarian goulash with paprika
- Indian dal with rice or flatbread
- Mexican sopa de fideo, a cosy tomato noodle soup
- Swedish kanelbullar, the cinnamon buns behind fika
Your 15 minutes of cooking
Curious, unhurried and open-minded.
- Pick a country. Somewhere you have always wanted to go, or simply somewhere new.
- Find a simple recipe. Look for a dish that locals describe as comfort food.
- Read it through slowly. Notice the spices and ingredients that are new to you.
- Start the prep. Chop, measure and smell each ingredient as you go.
- Let it simmer. Sit back with your drink while the kitchen fills with new smells.
Slow it right down
You might worry about getting it wrong or not having the exact ingredients. That is completely normal. Every home cook adapts recipes to what they have.
As you cook, try to notice:
- The unfamiliar scents of new spices
- The colours in the pan
- The sounds of sizzling and simmering
- That first curious taste
Finish gently
When it is ready, serve it in your favourite bowl and eat it slowly. Imagine the people who make this dish at home, and the kitchens it comes from.
You could also:
- Pick a new country each month
- Cook it with a friend and share the results
- Write the recipe in a little notebook of world comfort foods
- Pair it with a small homemade bake for afterwards
Your 15-minute challenge
This week, give yourself 15 minutes.
Choose a country. Find a recipe. Put on some music.
Then cook a comfort food from somewhere you have never been.
It does not have to be authentic. It does not have to be perfect.
It just has to be warm and a little bit new.
Because comfort is something the whole world shares.
Travel by the spoonful.
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