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National dish facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Frans SNYDERS, The Pantry
This painting shows a pantry full of food. Many countries have special dishes they are known for.

A national dish is a special food strongly linked to a certain country. Think of it as a country's food symbol! A dish can become a national dish for a few reasons:

  • It's a staple food, meaning it's made from ingredients found locally. People prepare it in a unique way. For example, fruits de mer (seafood platters) are popular along the French coast.
  • It uses a special ingredient grown only in that country. An example is paprika from the European Pyrenees mountains.
  • It's part of a festive tradition or cultural heritage. This could be barbecues at summer camp or fondue at dinner parties. It can also be part of a religious practice, like Korban Pesach or Iftar meals.
  • The country itself has promoted it as a national dish. For instance, fondue was promoted as Switzerland's national dish by the Swiss Cheese Union in the 1930s.

National dishes are a big part of a country's identity. In the past, countries would create their own special foods to show how they were different from other nations.

According to Zilkia Janer, a teacher from Hofstra University, it's hard to pick just one national dish for countries like Mexico, China, or India. This is because they have many different groups of people, cultures, and foods. Also, because national dishes are so important to a country's identity, choosing one can sometimes cause strong feelings or even disagreements!

Latin American National Dishes

In Latin America, many dishes are called "plato nacional" (national dish). But often, the same recipes are found in different countries with only small changes. For example, ceviche is popular in Peru and Ecuador. A thin cut of beef called matambre is almost a national dish in Paraguay.

Stews made with meat, plantains, and root vegetables are national dishes in several countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Colombia has ajiaco. The sancocho is popular in the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Panama.

Janer (2008) points out that many countries sharing the same "national dish" makes us wonder if every country truly has a unique one. She says that food traditions often cross country borders.

People from Latin American countries who live in North America often feel a stronger connection to their "plato nacional." In their home countries, these dishes are usually eaten by people in rural areas, not always by city dwellers. But for those living abroad, these dishes help them keep their national identity and feel connected to their homeland. They proudly serve these foods at home and in restaurants. By celebrating their national dish, these communities can resist pressure to blend into one big group, like "Latino" or "Hispanic American."

A Taste of National Dishes Around the World

This is not a complete list of all national dishes. It shows some foods that are often thought of as national dishes.

A

Empanadas argentinas fritas
Argentine empanadas are tasty pastries with fillings.
Wiener-Schnitzel02
Wiener schnitzel is a thin, fried cutlet.

B

Frites, fricandelle, mayo
Belgian frites are often served with mayonnaise.

C

Amok trey khmer
Fish amok is a creamy, flavorful dish from Cambodia.
Peking Duck 1
Peking duck is a famous dish from China.

D

Smørrebrød at Kastrup IMG 8275 C
Danish smørrebrød are open-faced sandwiches.

E

F

19-07-09-Karjalanpaisti-IMG 20190709 180453
Finnish Karjalanpaisti is a slow-cooked meat stew.
Pot-au-feu SAM 2724
Pot-au-feu is a classic French beef and vegetable stew.

G

H

Goulash in Prague
Gulyás is a hearty Hungarian stew.

I

Tumpeng Kompas 1
Tumpeng is a cone of yellow rice with many Indonesian dishes around it.

J

Sushi (1441234074)
Sushi is a famous Japanese dish.

K

Korean.cuisine-Kimchi-Jeotgal-01
Korean Kimchi is a spicy fermented vegetable dish.

L

Flickr - cyclonebill - Tabbouleh
Tabbouleh is a fresh salad from Lebanon.

M

Nasi Lemak, Mamak, Sydney
Nasi lemak is a popular Malaysian dish with coconut rice.

N

Dalbath
Dal bhat is a common meal in Nepal.

O

P

Pork adobo with shallots
Philippine adobo is a popular dish in the Philippines.

Q

R

S

Kräftskiva-2
Swedish crayfish parties are a popular summer tradition.

T

Tom yam kung maenam
Tom yum is a spicy and sour Thai soup.

U

Traditional.Sunday.Roast-01
A Sunday roast is a classic meal in the UK.

V

Y

Z

Images for kids

National Drinks

Main article: List of national drinks

Just like food, many countries have a special drink that is strongly linked to them. This "national drink" is also part of their identity. National drinks can be alcoholic or non-alcoholic.

An alcoholic national drink might be a specific type of alcohol, like whiskey in Ireland. More often, it's a mixed drink (like caipirinhas in Brazil) or a beer or wine. Non-alcoholic national drinks include tea for China, Coca-Cola for the US, lassis for India, mate for Uruguay, and kompot for Eastern European nations.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Plato nacional para niños

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