30 Global Comfort Foods You Must Try

A comprehensive guide highlights 30 comfort foods from around the world, ranging from French onion soup to spaghetti carbonara. The list includes national dishes and regional favorites such as Austria's Wiener schnitzel, Canada's poutine, and the Philippines' Kare-kare.

The article details the origins and ingredients of these dishes, noting that beef bourguignon was popularized in the US by chef Julia Child. It also covers popular items like ramen, which sees over 100 billion servings consumed globally each year, and Swedish meatballs, with IKEA selling around 1 billion meatballs globally each year.

Other featured foods include Mexican chilaquiles, Japanese ramen, and American grilled cheese sandwiches. The collection spans multiple continents, offering a culinary tour of dishes that provide warmth and satisfaction.

European cuisine offers a variety of hearty dishes that have become global staples. French onion soup is a popular comfort food in France, best enjoyed with a slice of crusty bread. While onion soups date back to ancient times, the beloved dish known today began in Parisian cafes in the 18th century.

Another warming French classic is beef bourguignon, a beef stew made with carrots, onions, garlic, pearl onions, and bacon, all cooked down in red wine. It is often paired with crusty bread, making for the perfect winter meal. Chef Julia Child popularized this dish in the US after learning to cook in France.

In Italy, spaghetti alla carbonara originates from the region of Lazio, around Rome. This decadent spaghetti is a creamy mix of guanciale, velvety olive oil, fatty egg yolk, and nutty Parmesan cheese. Wiener schnitzel is the national dish of Austria, consisting of boneless, mallet-thinned meat, usually veal, that is breaded and deep-fried until crisp.

The United Kingdom enjoys fish and chips as a primary comfort food. A standard "full English" breakfast, also called a fry-up, includes roasted tomatoes, fried eggs, sausage, and baked beans. Bratwurst is Germany's most widely valued culinary contribution, frequently paired with stewed sauerkraut and beer.

Other European highlights include:

• Pierogies (Poland): Boiled dumplings filled with potatoes and cheese curds.
• Goulash (Hungary): A hearty, paprika-flavored stew with cubes of seared beef and vegetables.
• Borscht (Ukraine): A sour soup with a vibrant red color derived from beets.
• Moussaka (Greece): A baked dish featuring layers of fried eggplant, potatoes, ground meat, and béchamel sauce.

North America features distinct dishes that range from simple sandwiches to complex pizzas. Grilled cheese sandwiches are the epitome of American comfort food, often served with a side of tomato soup for dunking. Another American favorite is Chicago deep-dish pizza, a spin on the Italian favorite that is more pie-like with a hearty serving of sauce and a stuffed crust.

Poutine is a popular comfort food from Canada, specifically Montreal. The iconic dish consists of crispy, golden fries topped with cheese curds and drenched in gravy. It is sometimes referred to by the informal nickname "Canadian salad."

In Mexico, chilaquiles are a delicious dish consisting of crisp tortilla triangles tossed in a pan with salsa, then piled with crumbled cheese and crema. They are often enjoyed for breakfast. Picadillo is the comfort food of Cuba, a Cuban-style hash that routinely features a base of ground beef and tomatoes, though renditions vary by region.

Mofongo is a plantain dish served in Puerto Rico. It is a ball-shaped dish of pickled, fried, and smashed plantains flavored with garlic, salt, and oil, usually served alongside a hearty stew or broth.

Asian cuisine provides a wide array of comforting textures and flavors. Ramen is a comfort food in both Japan and the United States, ranging from instant packs to award-winning restaurants in Tokyo. Globally, over 100 billion servings of ramen are consumed each year.

In China, congee is a beloved comfort food. This soothing type of rice porridge is so extensively cooked that the grains coalesce into an almost homogeneous base. It is popular in many East Asian countries and often fortified with various garnishes.

India offers several staples, including Khichuri (also called Khichdi), an ancient comfort dish made from rice and lentils prepared in one pot. Butter chicken, or murgh makhani, is made with chicken in a creamy tomato and butter sauce. Naan, a soft, pillowy bread baked in a hot tandoori clay oven, is perfect for dipping.

The Middle East and surrounding regions feature:

• Shakshuka (Morocco): A stew of eggs poached in a spicy sauce of tomatoes, chiles, and onions.
• Ash Reshteh (Iran): A noodle soup full of beans, herbs, and yogurt.
• Kare-kare (Philippines): A nutty and sweet stew that gets its signature flavor from a thick, savory peanut sauce.

The list extends to other regions with unique culinary contributions. Paella is one of Spain's most delicious foods. Valencians take this rice dish topped with seafood seriously, considering it Spain's best-known culinary export.

In the Caribbean, ackee and saltfish is Jamaica's national dish. The island's national fruit, the ackee, is the star of this salty and savory sautée, often served with fried plantains and rice.

Other notable mentions include Swedish meatballs, served at most holidays and special events in Sweden. They are commonly made with a mixture of ground beef and pork, swimming in a delicious gravy. IKEA, founded in Sweden, famously sells its own, moving around 1 billion meatballs globally each year.

Finally, Matzo ball soup is a popular comfort food from Israel. Matzo balls are made from matzo meal and eggs and are doughy, rich soup dumplings that soak up the flavors of the broth.