Recipes from Around the World – a Melting Pot of Flavor

Culinary adventurers unite! The United States is a fusion of flavors, blending traditional “American” flare with influences from a variety of global cuisines. The growing trend of “flavor mashups” uses two classic foods, culinary genres, or flavor profiles to create innovative and often surprising new foods. And it just so happens that garlic is used in most global cuisines as a flavorful and aromatic addition. Here’s how Spice World Garlic can help you create a world of flavor in your kitchen!

Flavor Mashups

Korean Chicken Tacos

Combining Korean flavors with a Mexican flair, these street-food inspired Korean Chicken Tacos are a great recipe to involve family members in the kitchen. Fun fact: Incorporating more fermented foods like kimchi in your diet may even help to improve digestion and reduce inflammation.

Ingredients

3 Tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp lime juice
2 tsp packed brown sugar
1 ½ ts Spice World Squeezable Minced Ginger
2 tsp Spice World Ready-to-Use Minced Garlic
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp Asian chili-garlic sauce
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 ½ lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size strips
1 ¼ cup kimchi
8, 5-6” white corn tortillas, heated according to package directions
⅓ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Korean barbecue sauce (optional)

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, Spice World Squeezable Minced Ginger, Spice World Ready-to-Use Minced Garlic, cornstarch, and chili-garlic sauce; set aside.
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken; cook and stir for 8 to 10 minutes or until no longer pink. Stir in soy mixture; add to chicken in skillet. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.
Divide chicken mixture and kimchi among warm tortillas. Top with cilantro and, if desired, serve with Korean barbecue sauce.

Craving another flavor mashup with a Mexican influence? This Mexican Pizza recipe comes close to that popular fast-food favorite.

Authentic Recipes

Traditional and authentic global cuisine continues to gain popularity as well, due in large part to the many chefs who share their heritage and ancestral recipes through their restaurant kitchens. A great way to learn more about the countries and cultures behind the food you eat is by supporting small businesses in your hometown and getting a feel for the flavors of the places you visit. For one, you may be searching for a hard-to-find ingredient. Sounds like the perfect excuse to visit your local farmer’s market or international market and geta taste for other cultures.

Try these recipes in your home kitchen:

Asian Garlic Noodles

This quick and easy garlic noodle recipe delivers rich umami flavor in each bite. Serve as a side dish for your favorite Asian chicken or shrimp dish, or top with sauteed vegetables for a vegetarian entree.

Ingredients

12 oz thin spaghetti (or substitute with dried Chinese noodles or fresh egg noodles)
Salt (to taste, for cooking the noodles)
4 Tbsp unsalted butter
8 cloves Spice World Fresh Garlic or Spice World Peeled Garlic, thinly sliced
1/8 tsp turmeric (optional)
1 Tbsp oyster sauce (or vegetarian oyster sauce)
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1-2 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp sesame oil
1-2 whole scallions, chopped
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the noodles according to package instructions. If using fresh noodles, you may simply need to blanch them. Reserve some of the pasta cooking water, as you may need it in the sauce later.
Meanwhile, heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat and add the Spice World Fresh Garlic or Spice World Peeled Garlic. Cook for 5 minutes, until lightly caramelized, and stir in the turmeric (if using), oyster sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, and sesame oil. Stir for 1 minute and add the scallions.
After 30 seconds (to let the scallions wilt) toss in the cooked noodles and Parmesan cheese. If the sauce is too thick, add a few tablespoons of the cooking water.
Serve and enjoy!

African Jollof Rice with Fried Plantains

Jollof rice is a flavorful, one-pot rice dish popular in many West African countries, including Nigeria. In this version, fried plantains add a note of sweetness. Save prep time by using Spice World Squeezable Minced Ginger, Spice World Squeezable Minced Garlic, and Spice World Ready-to-Use Chopped Easy Onion.

Sharing a meal is a simple and profound way to share culture and traditions among friends and family and expand your horizons by experimenting with new flavors and cuisines. Create a playlist of music from that country or continent to listen to while you cook and make mealtime fun! Discover more recipes from around the world at Spice World Inc.