It’s said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but what does it include for our friends around the world? Let’s look at 10 different countries & explore how they experience breakfast! By Alexx J. for The Adventures of Pili
England: The “Full English” aka the “Fry Up”has eggs, bacon, sausage, black pudding (blood sausage), beans, roasted tomatoes & mushrooms, toast and it’s served with coffee or tea. It can be eaten all day, not just in the morning and sometimes replaces lunch. It’s especially popular on weekends and during vacation, or holiday, as it’s called in the UK.
Fun fact: did you know beans are called “bangers” in the UK?
Vietnam: From bread & buns to bowls of noodles & plates of rice, there are many traditional breakfasts here. If you’re up early for work, running off to school or just enjoying a vacation, your meal may vary. The Banh mi (Vietnamese word for bread) is enjoyed as-is with coffee or as a sandwich. The sandwich on baguette is filled with pork sausage, fresh coriander, cucumber, pickled carrot & daikon radish (sometimes paté, mayonnaise, and chili). A filling, easy, on-the-go meal!
Suggested Reading: Vietnamese Food Any Day: Simple Recipes for True, Fresh Flavors
Fun fact: Did you know coriander is another word for cilantro?
Turkey: It’s common for Turks to enjoy a daily, rich breakfast called Kahvalti. It can include:
-fresh tomato & cucumber
-cheeses, such as Feta, Kasseri & Lor
-sesame seed bread (simit) or pide bread
-spreads like olive, tahini, hazelnut & molasses
-jams of sour cherry, apricot, bergamot, fig
…and of course, Turkish black tea. It can be served with eggs that have dried beef sausage or vegetables, and it’s not uncommon for the meal to include options for both meat lovers and vegetarians.
Suggested Reading: Istanbul and Beyond: Exploring the Diverse Cuisines of Turkey
Zimbabwe: Being that corn (maize) is a very common ingredient here, breakfast may consist of Sadza or Bota. Sadza is a stiff, cornmeal porridge that can be eaten with meat or stew (pumpkin leaf Muboora is a favorite!). Bota is also a type of porridge but is often flavored with peanut butter, milk, jam or butter.
Suggested Reading: South African Cuisine: Recipes of Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe
Guatemala: Desayuno Chapín (slang for breakfast of champions) consists of eggs, sweet plantains, black bean purée, crema, tortillas and sometimes sweet bread/rolls, bacon, seasonal fresh fruit & avocado – always with coffee. It’s served from early in the morning so people heading to work can still enjoy a hearty meal!
Suggested Reading: Amalia’s Guatemalan Kitchen
Photo by StockSnap–894430
Portugal: Do you love baked goods? This may be the breakfast for you! Toasted pieces of bread with butter or croissants with ham & cheese are common – and orange juice on the side. There are many delicious slices of bread and pastries in Portugal, but the most important part is Portuguese coffee. Enjoyed throughout the day, and at breakfast, it may be served creamy with milk.
Venezuela: Common breakfast here includes arepas (corn cakes) sometimes filled with cheese or meats, served with black beans, avocado, queso fresco, and fresh fruit juices. Perico, a dish of scrambled eggs with tomato, onion & cilantro is also normal. At street vendors, you’ll find Cachapa, corn pancakes filled with fresh cheese, or pork. Or Mandoca – sweet fried dough rings served hot with cheese & butter on the side. And coffee!
The Food and Cooking of Colombia & Venezuela: Traditions, ingredients, tastes, techniques,
Haiti: Some easy staples include scrambled eggs with peppers and boiled plantain, porridges of corn, but the one that may be the biggest surprise is spaghetti! Yes, spaghetti for breakfast! Espaghetti in Creole, which is made with pork sausage (like a spicy hot dog) based sauce. A common breakfast drink, consumed more frequently for breakfast than coffee, is Akasan. It’s a sweet corn flour shake with cinnamon & star anise and it can be served with lightly toasted buttered bread.
Suggested Reading: A Taste of Haiti
Canada: Similar to American breakfast, Canadiens enjoy eggs, sausage/ham/bacon, toast or pancakes/waffles/french toast with plenty of butter and REAL maple syrup. You may also find cereal, hot oatmeal & home-fried potatoes. Orange juice and coffee are common accompaniments.
Suggested Reading: Canadian Living: The Ultimate Cookbook
Norway: Breakfast here is usually a light meal consisting of rye bread, cheese, jam & butter and meats such as salami and ham. Sometimes smoked salmon or pickled herring is offered but coffee is a must-have! Due to climate, many foods in Norway are preserved and it’s not uncommon to have these types of fish for your first meal.
Suggested Reading: Scandinavian Comfort Food: Embracing the Art of Hygge
Now that you know what Breakfast looks like in many different places, are there any that you would like to try and make at home? Tell your family about it; maybe you can create your own special kind of breakfast using these ideas & ingredients from your own country!
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By: Alexx J. for The Adventures of Pili. This is the latest post in the Pili´s Explorers Cookbook conceived Kike Calvo and the team of The Adventures of Pili, which profiles interesting information, research and thoughts on nutrition and food around the world for families and kids. Click here to read the previous article.
Cited sources: wikepedia.com, theculturetrip.com, foodandwine.com, worldtravelguide.net, thelatimes.com/food, beportugal.com, tasteatlas.com, spoonuniversity.com, thecanadaguide.com, huffpost.com
Banner Photo by Alexy Almond