It's very difficult to find someone who
doesn't enjoy French fries. These crispy potatoes are the perfect side
to anything, really, be it a hamburger or fish! No wonder so many
countries have embraced fries into their cuisines. Interestingly, people
in different countries prefer to serve fries differently and pair them
with a wide variety of toppings and sauces, be it a fried egg, sausage,
or even baked beans.
In this mouthwatering post, we've collected
12 authentic recipes featuring French fries from various corners of the
globe. Enjoy and get inspired!
1. Salchipapas (Peru)
Salchipapas originated in Peru, but they
are now widely available all across Latin America. The two main
ingredients in salchipapas are sliced sausage and potatoes, which are
often topped with hot peppers, ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, and
mayonnaise. Yum!
2. The Gatsby (South Africa)
The Gatsby is a South African sandwich
invented in Cape Town. The sandwich is stuffed with French fries,
sauces, cheese, veggies, and a variety of protein-based fillings, such
as calamari, fish, or chicken. The Gatsby is a rather large sandwich,
enough to share among a group of people.
3. Chorrillana (Chile)
This filling Chilean dish is made by
combining fried eggs, sliced chicken or meat, onions, mushrooms, and
French fries, of course. It's a popular shareable dish served at pubs
and restaurants. Sounds delicious, doesn't it?
4. Garbage Plate (United States)
Have you ever tried a garbage plate? It may
not sound very appetizing, but it is considered a delicacy in
Rochester, New York. The dish was invented at the Nick Tahou Hots
restaurant, and it's a pretty strange combination of ingredients. The
garbage plate features fries, baked beans, macaroni, meat, cheese, and a
spicy sauce.
5. Gyros (Greece)
This Greek street food is made by wrapping
fries, vegetables, and Tzatziki sauce in pita bread. Other condiments
and fillings, such as falafel and meat, are also common. If you need to
catch a quick bite, gyros (also known as gyro) is a no-fail option!
6. Chipsi mayai (Tanzania)
Another street food dish is chipsi mayai.
Essentially, it's an egg and potato omelet (mayai is “eggs” in Swahili).
This hearty omelet is pretty easy to prepare too. Just fry up some
potatoes in a pan and pour eggs whisked together with spices and any
veggies on top. That's it!
7. Masala Chips (Kenya)
Masala chips are a popular food in Kenyan
cuisine. These are essentially French fries covered in masala sauce,
which is a tomato-based sauce with spicy and garlicky notes. After
dipping the fries in the sauce, they are fried again and then served
with a squeeze of lemon juice.
8. Kartofi Sus Sirene (Bulgaria)
In Bulgaria, fries are often served with
grated cheese. Most often, a Bulgarian cheese called sirene is used, as
it has a salty and lemony taste that pairs very well with crispy French
fries.
9. Currywurst (Germany)
You will find currywurst on the corner of
every German city, and especially in Berlin. It's a pretty simple dish -
a side of fries and sliced sausage topped with ketchup and curry
powder. Currywurst was invented by a German housewife named Herta
Heuwer, and it's now a real Berlin staple.
10. Moules-frites (Belgium)
Mussels and fries may sound like a peculiar
combination, but it's actually a Belgian favorite. The mussels are
sauteed in garlic and white wine, and fries are served on the side.
Don't know about you, but we'd love to try this dish one day!
11. Poutine (Canada)
This satisfying dish is considered to be
the national food of Canada! Poutine is a portion of fries with a rich
topping of gravy and Canadian cheese curds. This particular kind of
cheese originated in the Centre-du-Québec region of Canada in the 1950s,
which makes it a quintessentially Canadian dish!
12. Fish and Chips (the UK)
This UK classic needs no introduction. The
combination of fried white fish and chips (this is British for "French
fries") is difficult to mess up, so you should definitely try making it.
Interestingly, though, the origins of this food are still unknown. Both
London and Lancashire consider themselves the birthplace of this
now-iconic British street food.