International Brunch Dishes To Add To Your Weekly Rotation
Elevate Your Sunday Brunches With These Exotic Dishes
Are you a brunch lover who's tired of the same old offerings? Brunch is so much more than pancakes and eggs benedict. Every culture in the world has a distinct way of doing it from Chinese dim sum to Colombian breakfast soup. Let's kick Sunday brunch up a notch with these international dishes that'll knock your socks off.
1. Shakshuka
This Israeli dish of eggs poached in a flavorful tomato sauce is hearty, healthy, and simple to make. Serve with some toasted challah or sourdough bread for the ultimate experience.
2. Chilaquiles
Chilaquiles is a Mexican dish of tortillas swimming in a rich salsa with scrambled or fried eggs topped with cheese, chicken, or veggies. It's as Mexican as it gets, dating all the way back to the early Aztecs.
3. Quiche
Quiche is probably the fanciest way to serve eggs. It's also versatile with almost any ingredient permissible but the classic is the Lorraine: bacon or ham and Swiss cheese in a savory, rich, and buttery pastry.
4. Okonomiyaki
Leave it to Japan to take an American classic and make it way better. Okonomiyaki or Japanese pancakes are irresistibly fluffy, tall, and airy like a soufflé. Serve them with fruit, powerdered sugar, and berries to satisfy that morning sweet tooth
5. Fūl
This Egyptian brunch food is a hearty stew of fava beans, oil, and cumin with the optional addition of vegetables, herbs, lemon, tahini, and spices. It's best served with some fresh pita for dipping.
6. Nasi Goreng
Nasi Goreng is an Indonesian fried rice commonly served with a fried egg for breakfast. Chicken is cooked in a sweet soy sauce then added to the rice with chili pepper, onion, garlic, and other seasonings.
7. Huevos Divorciados
Huevos divorciados (divorced eggs) are an easy and delicious Mexican breakfast dish made up of two different types of salsas and fried eggs, usually served with tortillas and refried beans. The secret to this dish is the sauces which are best homemade.
8. Torta
This Spanish egg dish is similar to an omelette, usually containing thinly-sliced potatoes and onions, although whether it should contain onions or not is a hotly disputed topic in Spain. It's typically cut into bite-sized pieces and served as a tapa.
9. Hoppel Poppel
This German breakfast dish is essentially eggs scrambled with any and all leftovers you have in the fridge, but classically meat and potatoes. Each time you make a hoppel poppel it's bound to be different from the last. It's a delicious way to clear out your fridge for the coming week.
10. Munavoi
This super simple Finnish breakfast dish just has two ingredients: hard-boiled eggs and butter. The two items are mixed together until they are a spreadable consistency, then generously smeared over toast.
11. Crêpes
If you're looking for something similar to pancakes that aren't pancakes, the French crêpe is a great option. They are simple to make with only a few ingredients you likely already have like flour, milk, and eggs. They can be served sweet or savory.
12. Smørrebrød
Smørrebrød is a Danish open-faced sandwich. It can be topped with anything but the classic is smoked fish like herring or salmon on a dense piece of rye bread. It's one of the most quintessential Danish dishes.
13. Arepas
Arepas are Venezuelan flat breads made from corn. They're filled with cheese, meat, egg, and avocado for the ultimate breakfast sandwich that also happens to be gluten-free.
14. Dim Sum
Who said dim sum had to be reserved for lunch or dinner? In China, dim sum is traditionally a brunch food. A variety of dishes including dumplings, congee, and steam buns make up the Chinese tapas-like spread.
15. Ackee and Saltfish
Jamaica's national dish, ackee and saltfish, is a popular breakfast or brunch food. Saltfish (cured cod) and ackee (a savory fruit) are combined in a pan with different spices and seasonings to create a tantalizing balance of flavors that'll surely wake up your taste buds.
16. Açaí Bowl
Açaí bowls are a Brazilian breakfast or snack food made from the pulp of açaí berries and other fruits and topped with granola, nuts, and fresh fruit. In addition to being delicious, it's extremely healthy, with açaí berries touted as a superfood, chock full of antioxidants.
17. Menemen
Menemen is a popular Turkish breakfast food. It's eggs scrambled with green and red peppers, tomatoes, and spices like black pepper or aleppo pepper, typically served with bread.
18. Idli
Idlis are savory Indian steamed rice cakes similar in texture to British crumpets. They're made from a batter of fermented rice and lentils and typically served with chutney.
19. Changua
Changua is the supreme breakfast soup. The Colombian dish is made from milk, eggs, scallions, and bread. The comforting concoction is the perfect way to enjoy eggs on a chilly morning.
20. Syrniki
Farmer's cheese, eggs, and flour are combined in a batter and pan-fried to achieve this deliciously addictive pancake-like dish. Syrniki are typically served with a dollop of sour cream, honey, syrup, or jam.