This traditional Thai dish is something we can’t resist. It’s known as a green papaya salad that comes with spicy shredded unripe papaya. What makes it so delicious is that it combines all four tastes – sour, chili, sweet, and salty.
There are different variations that include those made with crab and fermented fish sauce, but none of them can match the flavor and simple beauty of the original.
Oscypek, Poland
As we segue over to Poland, we find an intricately decorated cheese called Oscypek. It's made from sheep's milk and has been around since the 15th century. Crafted from freshly smoked cheese and set in carved wooden molds with elaborate designs, resulting in a golden brown outside with a creamy white interior.
The cheese often has notes of toasted chestnuts and is exclusively only found in the Tatra Mountains region of Poland.
Bunny chow, South Africa
Imagine a plain white loaf of bread, now slice it in half and take out the soft bready middle, then fill it with curry. This is Bunny chow, a dish that started in Indian restaurants in Durban the coastal city of South Africa in the 1940's. It's hearty comfort food that was first created to replace containers or plates so they didn't have to be returned.
A lot may have changed in South Africa since the 1940s, but the dish still remains favorite.
Chicken Rice, Singapore
This recipe is often called the 'national dish' of Singapore. It's so widespread in Singapore so it can be found everywhere, from street stalls, franchised outlets to eateries and it's surprisingly simple. Served with fragrant rice and sliced cucumber, the steamed chicken goes well with dipping sauces to give it a little extra oomph.
Whether you're eating in Singapore or somewhere else, this dish excels because of its simplicity.
Cacio e Pepe, Italy
There are many sublime Italian pasta recipes, but this one is genius in its simplicity. "Cacio e Pepe" translates as "cheese and pepper", the dish, as its name suggests, the ingredients of the dish are very simple and uses a handful of basic ingredients: black pepper, cheese, pasta, and butter.
This minimalist recipe also has versions made with either spaghetti or pici, which is a shorter and thicker pasta, and there are also two types of cheeses you can use – either Parmesan or pecorino romano.