Breakfasts

Kahvaltı refers to breakfast in Turkish, and it's an essential and often lavish meal in Turkish culture. The word "kahvaltı" is derived from two words: "kahve" (coffee) and "altı" (under/before), which translates to "before coffee." It's a meal th... READ MORE

This delicacy consists of a traditional flatbread (lepinja) that is cut in half, coated in thick cream (kajmak), and topped with an egg. The combination is shortly baked and should be doused with a mixture of warm meat drippings,... READ MORE

Sfinz is a traditional fried pastry made with a dough consisting of flour, sugar, yeast, salt, and water. The dough is shaped into small balls which are then flattened to form a thin layer of pastry. After it has been fried, sfinz is typically enj... READ MORE

Kaleh pacheh is a traditional Persian dish made from various parts of a sheep’s head and feet, typically enjoyed as a hearty breakfast in Iran and other parts of the Middle East and Central Asia. The dish's name reflects its ingredients, wit... READ MORE

These flaky, golden-colored, crescent-shaped pastries are best made with pure butter and a slightly sweet yeast dough. If made properly, the yellow-white interior should be just the slightest bit elastic when pulled from the center, ready to be co... READ MORE

A favorite breakfast item in China sold by numerous street food vendors early in the morning, jianbing or fried pancake is a thin and savory crêpe-like pancake that is made by spreading batter over a hot, cast-iron slab with a woode... READ MORE

Literally translated to cheese bread, pão de queijo has its origins in the culinary inventions of African slaves, when they started to use the residue of the cassava plant. A fine white powder, or starch, was rolled into balls and ... READ MORE

A type of sweet börek, katmer is a specialty of Gaziantep, or simply Antep – Türkiye's gastronomic capital and a rich melting pot of diverse cultures and cuisines nestled in southeastern Anatolia – an ancient city whose claim... READ MORE

Bougatsa is a traditional, rustic Greek pie consisting of a phyllo pastry layered with a filling of semolina custard, although there are variations with minced meat or cheese. The name of the dish is a derivation of the Ottoman word pogatsaREAD MORE

Roti canai is a traditional pan-fried flatbread made with flour, water, eggs, and fat of Indian origin, but mainly associated with Malaysia, and surrounding countries like Indonesia, Brunei, and Thailand. The dou... READ MORE

Mercimek çorbası is a beloved Turkish soup made with red lentils, chicken stock, onions, and carrots. It is often seasoned with salt, pepper, cumin, or paprika. Easy to prepare, filling, and warming, the soup is consumed for breakfast, lunc... READ MORE

The Bulgarian pie banitsa made with cheese is the main version of this traditional pie. It's made by layering sheets of buttered phyllo pastry with a combination of eggs, yogurt, and cheese such as sirene and feta. There's an optional ingredient i... READ MORE

Chilaquiles are, at their most basic, an assembly of fried tortilla pieces drenched in chili sauce with optional meat and vegetables. The dish is popular both in Mexico and the United States as a great way to use up leftover, stale tortillas. The ... READ MORE

Empanadas argentinas, or Argentinian empanadas, make up a group of traditional Argentinian pastries filled with a variety of ingredients, from meat to cheese and vegetables. Although they are mostly enjoyed in their savory form, there are sweet de... READ MORE

Calentado is a traditional breakfast consisting of last night's leftovers that are simply reheated. It stems from the past, when much of the Colombian population lived in poverty and nothing was wasted. This hearty breakfast usually includes rice,... READ MORE

Fatteh is a Levantine specialty made by combining pieces of fresh, toasted, or stale flatbread with numerous other ingredients. The name of the dish means to tear into small pieces, referring to the process of tearing the flatbread. Fatte... READ MORE

At its core, chole bhature is a combination of two dishes: chole - a spicy chickpea curry, and bhature - a type of fried bread made with maida flour. Popular throughout North India, the dish was invented in Delhi in the 1940s. It... READ MORE

Zelnik is a traditional North Macedonian pie that can be filled with a variety of different ingredients such as cheese, spinach, eggs, meat, leeks, or cabbage. For the best result, zelnik should be brushed with butter and oil before bakin... READ MORE

Kljukuša is a traditional Bosnian dish dating back to the Ottoman Empire. In its basic form, this pie-like dish is made merely with flour, salt, and water, while the filling consists of grated potatoes and eggs, and sometimes also garlic, s... READ MORE

Delicious and fragrant waffles are the most famous Belgian culinary trademark. Made with thick dough or thin batter, the cakes are baked in a specially designed waffle iron which creates an unusual checkered pattern on the top and bottom of each c... READ MORE

American-style cinnamon rolls are characterized by the pillowy, soft dough and their much larger size and softer texture when compared to their European cousins. They are made with yeasted dough that is rolled into a rectangle, spread with butter,... READ MORE

Golden-brown in color, flaky and layered, paratha is a type of Indian bread that is typically consumed for breakfast. The name comes from a combination of words parat and atta (flour), referring to the cooked, layered dough. It c... READ MORE

Sfiha, or lahm bil ajĩn (lit. meat on dough) is an Arabic specialty that dates back to the 15th century, when it first appeared in today's Eastern Lebanon. The traditional open-faced meat pie is popular throughout the Arab region, its mai... READ MORE

Burek consists of layers of phyllo dough stuffed with various savory fillings. Despite its Turkish origins, this dish has evolved into a proud gem of Bosnian national cuisine. Although most locals claim that only burek with ground beef can be call... READ MORE

Syrniki is a dessert consisting of fried cottage cheese pancakes that are usually garnished with honey, fruit jam, sour cream, or applesauce. It is part of the Russian (where it's sometimes also called tvorozhniki), Belarusian, Ukrainian,... READ MORE

Bò kho is a popular Vietnamese beef stew that can be consumed on its own or accompanied by a baguette on the side. It can also be served over noodles, and it is customary to serve a variety fresh herbs on the side. The dish includes ingredi... READ MORE

Bulz is a traditional dish created with cooked polenta that is shaped into balls and filled with a creamy stuffing. Subsequently, polenta balls are grilled, pan-fried, or baked until a crunchy, slightly charred crust forms on the outside. The most... READ MORE

Bubur ayam is the Indonesian version of chicken congee, a thick rice porridge topped with shredded chicken and various savory condiments. This breakfast staple probably originates from the Chinese rice porridge, but it employs regionally ... READ MORE

A staple breakfast dish in Turkey, bal kaymak is a delicious combination of kaymak - a traditional dairy product produced from water buffalo milk, very similar to clotted cream - that is generously doused with honey. The dish is served as a spread... READ MORE

Nan-e barbari is an Iranian wheat-based, leavened flatbread. It is usually formed into a long oval shape that is traditionally brushed with roomal, a flour glaze which gives it a light golden crust, but keeps it light and airy on the insi... READ MORE

Misal is a specialty dish of the Indian state of Maharashtra, its name literally translated to a mixture of everything, so the ingredients vary from cook to cook. However, a combination of these ingredients is the most common in a typical... READ MORE

Burek sa sirom is a phyllo pastry that is round or coil-shaped and filled with a mixture of cheese and eggs. The dough is made with flour, salt, and water (and perhaps a bit of oil) and stretched into translucent sheets. The sheets of phyllo dough... READ MORE

Shrikhand is a popular Indian yogurt-based dessert, combined with sugar and nuts in order to develop a rich, creamy texture and sweet flavor. In North India, it is usually served for breakfast, while in South India, it is commonly served as a dess... READ MORE

Halwa poori is a traditional and Indian breakfast that features semolina pudding or halwa and a soft fried dough called poori. Halwa is typically made with a mixture of fried semolina and sugar syrup, which is then combined with nuts such as pista... READ MORE

This traditional Hungarian dish is a savory version of the popular French toast. It can be prepared with various types of sliced bread that are coated in lightly beaten eggs, then shortly pan-fried until crispy. The dish is typically enjo... READ MORE

Brioche con gelato is a traditional dessert hailing from Sicily. This dessert sandwich consists of a soft, buttery brioche bun that's stuffed with a generous amount of gelato. It's especially popular during the hot summer months, and it's sometime... READ MORE

Sirnica is a savory Bosnian pie consisting of phyllo dough that is filled with a combination of fresh cow cheese, sour cream, and eggs. Thin sheets of dough, locally known as jufka, are spread with the cheese mixture and the whole pie is ... READ MORE

Staka me ayga is a simple Cretan dish consisting of poached or fried eggs and local staka (a type of buttery cream mixed with flour). The combination is usually seasoned with salt and pepper, and it is typically enjoyed warm for breakfast... READ MORE

This popular Greek dish, which goes under the name strapatsada or kagianas, consists of diced, sautéed tomatoes that are seasoned with fresh herbs, then combined with lightly beaten eggs and topped with crumbled feta cheese. With i... READ MORE

Mekitsa is a popular Bulgarian dish that is traditionally served for breakfast. It is a flatbread made with kneaded dough that is then deep-fried in hot oil. The dough usually consists of flour, water, salt, oil, eggs, yogurt, and a leavening agen... READ MORE

This traditional Italian savory treat is prepared with various fillings that are enclosed between two layers of puff pastry. Typically round in shape, rustico is usually filled with a combination of béchamel sauce, tomatoes, and mozzarella ... READ MORE

Bambalouni are traditional Tunisian doughnuts that are especially popular in the village of Sidi Bou Said. They are made with flour, hot water, yeast, and salt. After the dough has been prepared, it is fried in hot oil until golden brown, and the ... READ MORE