Many seasoned home chefs enjoy whipping up out-of-the-box meals that include iconic seasonings and dishes from all over the world. Read on to understand local delicacies and their often-surprising land of origin.

Delectably Scottish – Chicken Tikka Masala

While Chicken Tikka Masala intuitively appears to be from the Indian subcontinent, Glasgow has been laying claim to the dish for a while now. There has even been talk of giving Glasgow the
EU Protected Designation of Origin status for its role in the creation of Britain’s favorite curry.

Belgian Wonder – French Fries

Contrary to what the name of this fried indulgence suggests, French fries may not even be French. It is said to have originated in Belgium and is part of the nation’s popculture – from art to music
and advertising.

Mexican Magic – Caesar Salad

Here is a surprise— Caesar salad has little or nothing to do with the Roman emperor and namesake ‘Julius Caesar’. According to contemporary gastronomic lore, the salad was originally concocted in Mexico by an Italian immigrant – Caesar Cardini.

American – Spaghetti and Meatballs

While meatballs are decidedly Italian, the meatball and spaghetti combination was invented in the US. In fact, the US even celebrates National Meatball Day, every 9th of March.

Simply South East Asian – Sushi

For years, a version of sushi has been a staple across South East Asia – Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its earliest form is a dish that is today known as ‘narezushi’.

Greek Gastronomy – Cheesecake

It may be hard to believe, but the cheesecake did not originate in New York City. It was said to have been created by the Greeks and served to athletes during the first Olympic Games in in 776 B.C.

Austrian Baked Goodness – Croissant

Here is yet another seemingly French delicacy, which is said to have its roots in Austria. Versions of these crescent-shaped breads have been prepared in Austria since the Renaissance period.

Iranian Sugar-Rush – Jalebi

“What? That’s unbelievable!” you say. “The sweet swirls of Jalebi are not from India?” Yet, it’s true. Jalebis or ‘zalibiya’ (as it’s called in Persian) was originally brought to India by Iranians
during an invasion.

Innately Indian – Koshary

When you hear ‘Koshary’, you automatically think ‘Egypt’. Though it’s staple Egyptian street-food, many believe that Koshary is derived from “khichri”, which refers to an Indian one-pot meal of lentils and rice.

(CREDIT: Wego provides award-winning travel search websites and top ranked mobile apps for travellers living in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions.)