List of snack foods by country facts for kids

Snack foods are small portions of food that people often eat between their main meals. Think of them as mini-meals to keep you going! Snacks come in many forms. Some are packaged and ready to eat, like chips or cookies. Others are made fresh at home using different ingredients. This article explores some popular snacks from various countries in Asia and South America.

Snacks from Asia

Indonesian Snacks

Indonesia has a fantastic variety of snacks, often made with rice flour, coconut, and local spices.

• Dodol is a sweet, chewy treat made from rice flour and coconut sugar. It's often molded into small shapes and can have fruity flavors like durian.
  

  Dodol sweets.
• Emping are crispy crackers. They are made from the flattened seeds of the Gnemon or Belinjo tree.
  

  Emping crackers.
• Gorengan means "fried foods" in Indonesian. These are different kinds of fritters, like fried tofu, tempeh, or vegetables, often sold by street vendors.
  

  Indonesian fritters called Bakwan.
• Klepon are fun, green, bouncy rice cakes. They are boiled, filled with liquid coconut sugar, and then rolled in fresh grated coconut. They get their green color and flavor from pandan leaves.
  

  Klepon, a sweet rice cake.
• Kripik are traditional chips or crisps. They are bite-sized and can be either savory or sweet, made from various ingredients like fruit or vegetables.
  

  Kripik sanjay.
• Krupuk are deep-fried crisps, usually made from tapioca flour. They often have added flavors like prawn, fish, or garlic. They come in many shapes and colors!
  

  White Krupuk.
• Lemper is a savory rice cake. It's made from sticky glutinous rice and usually filled with tasty shredded chicken.
  

  Lemper, a glutinous rice snack.
• Otak-otak is a grilled fish cake. It's typically made from fish paste, spiced, wrapped in banana leaves, and then grilled. It's often served with a peanut sauce.
  

  Otak-Otak from Makassar.
• Perkedel jagung is the Indonesian version of a corn fritter. It's a popular savory snack or side dish.
  

  Perkedel Jagung, Indonesian corn fritter.
• Pisang goreng means "fried banana." It's a popular snack where bananas or plantains are battered and deep-fried until golden and crispy.
  

  Pisang goreng in a basket.

Japanese Snacks

Malaysian and Singaporean Snacks

Malaysia and Singapore share many delicious snacks, often influenced by their diverse cultures.

• Apam balik is a sweet turnover pancake. It's a popular dessert or snack across Southeast Asia, often filled with peanuts, sugar, and corn.
  

  A giant Apam Balik.
• Curry puff is a type of savory pastry. It's usually filled with a delicious mix of chicken and potato with a dry curry spice inside.
  

  Curry puff.
• Keropok lekor is a type of fish cracker. It's made from fish paste and often shaped into long, chewy sticks before being fried.
  

  Keropok lekor in Terengganu, Malaysia.
• Roti John is a popular Malay sandwich. It's made with an omelet and minced meat cooked on a baguette, then topped with sauces.
  

  Roti John served.

Maldivian Snacks

The Maldives, an island nation, has unique snacks often featuring tuna and coconut.

• Gulha are small, savory, ball-shaped dumplings. They are stuffed with a tasty mixture of tuna, onion, coconut, curry leaves, and chili, then deep-fried until golden.
  

  Maldivian Gulha.

Taiwanese Snacks

Taiwan is famous for its vibrant street food scene and unique desserts.

• Aiyu jelly is a refreshing jelly. It's made from the seeds of a special fig plant found in Taiwan and is often served with lemon and honey.
  

  Aiyu jelly.
• Pineapple cake is a sweet, traditional Taiwanese pastry. It has a buttery, crumbly crust and is filled with delicious pineapple jam or slices.
  

  Pineapple Pastry.
• Suncake is a popular Taiwanese dessert. It originally comes from the city of Taichung and often has a sweet maltose filling.
• Taro ball is a traditional Taiwanese dessert. It's made from taro, a starchy root vegetable, and often served in sweet soups or with shaved ice.
  

  Taro Balls at Jiufen.

Thai Snacks

Indian Snacks

Snacks from South America

Peruvian Snacks

Peru offers a variety of delicious snacks, often using local ingredients like plantains.

• Chifle is a fried plantain snack. It's popular in both Peru and Ecuador, similar to potato chips but made from plantains.
  

  Homemade Chifle.

Brazilian Snacks

Brazil is known for its flavorful and diverse snack foods, from savory to sweet.

• Coxinha is a popular Brazilian snack. It's made with chopped or shredded chicken meat, covered in dough, shaped like a chicken leg, then battered and fried.
  

  Coxinha.
• Paçoca is a sweet Brazilian candy. It's made from ground peanuts, sugar, and a pinch of salt, creating a crumbly, delicious treat.
  

  Paçoca.
• Pastel is a thin-crust fried pastry. It can be half-circle or rectangle-shaped and comes with various fillings, both savory and sweet.
  

  Brazilian Pastel.

See also

• List of brand name snack foods
• List of Indian snacks
• List of Indonesian snacks
• List of Japanese snacks
• List of snack foods