Want to make dinner exciting? Try throwing an Around the World dinner party! It’s a great way to explore new flavours and learn more about other countries. Here are six ideas to help you start exploring the world through food.
1. Celebrate the whole world by cooking a dish from each of the continents. Use a globe or map to teach your children about the five continents.
2. Deep dive into a single country. Create a three-course meal featuring an appetizer, main dish and dessert. Play music from that country, find it on a map and learn a few fun facts.
3. Why not celebrate a different country every month? It’s a great way to build family connections through a fun and delicious routine.
4. Discuss the similarities and differences between various cuisines. Many cultures have bread, noodles, dumplings and salads. How are they different and how are they the same?
5. Visit ethnic grocery stores to find new foods to add to your meal.
6. Get your kids involved. Let them help plan and cook the menu!
Here are four easy snacks and appetizers from around the world. They are simple enough that even young children can help prepare them. Older children can likely make them on their own!
BRAZIL: Tapioca Cheese Puff (Pão De Queijo)
Prep Time: 10 minutes, Bake Time: 25 minutes
These Brazilian cheese puffs are a favourite with pretty much everyone. They are best eaten hot and fresh from the oven. However, the dough can be made in advance. Simply stick it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake.
1⁄2 cup milk
1⁄4 cup oil
1⁄2 tsp salt
1 cup tapioca starch
1 egg
1 cup grated cheese
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Heat the milk, salt and oil on the stove. Make sure it’s hot but not scalding.
Remove from heat. Stir in the tapioca starch. Mix until a dough forms. Allow it to cool slightly before mixing in the egg. Make sure it is well mixed. Fold in the cheese.
Grease a rimmed baking sheet. Using two spoons, form balls with about 2 Tbsp of dough.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the puffs are cooked through and starting to brown.
AFRICA: Oven-Baked Plantain Chips
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Plantain chips are typically deep fried. But oven baked chips are a whole lot easier and just as tasty.
1 green plantain
1 Tbsp of oil
1⁄4 tsp salt
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Remove plantain peel with a knife. Slice as thinly as possible. If you have a box grater, you can use the slicing side to make nice even slices.
Toss the plantain slices with oil. Lay them out in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle it with the salt.
Bake for 8 minutes. Turn the slices then bake for another 2 to 8 minutes. The baking time will depend on how thick the plantain slices are. They are ready as soon as they start to crisp.
Plantain chips taste best when fresh and hot, so serve immediately.
JAPAN: Miso Soup
Prep Time: 5 minutes, Cook Time: 10 minutes
8 cups water or kombu dashi
1 block of tofu
2 tsp dried wakame
6 Tbsp miso paste
4 spring onions
Cut the tofu into small cubes. Dice the spring onions.
Bring the water (or dashi) to a boil. Add in the tofu, spring onions and dried wakame and turn off the heat.
Remove 1 cup of liquid from the pot. Mix the miso paste into the liquid until it’s fully dissolved.
Stir the miso into the cooling soup and serve.
INDIA: Mango Lassi
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Feel free to skip the sugar in this mango lassi. It’s only necessary for tart mangos. Most mangos have plenty of natural sweetness.
1 large ripe mango, or 2 small mangoes (about 1 lbs worth)
2 cups of yogurt
2 tsp sugar
Peel the mango and cut the flesh off the pit.
Place the mango flesh and yogurt in a blender. Blend until smooth. Taste and add sugar if it needs a bit more sweetness.
Serve right away.
