Shaheer Ahmed
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Believe me when I say it can decide how your day will go. A delicious, traditional breakfast can brighten up the entire day for you. On the topic of breakfasts, have you ever wondered what other people around the globe prefer to eat for first meal of the day?
Here’s a list of deliciously diverse breakfasts from around the globe:
- Iran:
A staple of a traditional Iranian breakfast is varieties of flatbreads (such as barbari, noon-e sangak, lavash, or noon-e tâftoon), served with butter, fruit jams, honey, heavy cream, feta cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, and walnuts. However, other breakfasts, which require more preparation, are omelettes, kaleh pâcheh (a stew of lamb’s head and hoof), haleem (thick wheatmeal porridge with meat), and adasi (lentil soup). This is accompanied with tea, and much like Italians who have cappuccino just with breakfast, Iranians have chai shirin, tea with granulated sugar, only at breakfast. (Throughout the day, other sweeteners like sugar cubes, dates, or raisins, are used).
- United Kingdom:
The famous British fry-up, popularly known as a full English breakfast usually includes eggs, sausage, thick-cut bacon, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, hash browns, and toast. Regional varieties include the Scottish breakfast with has added black pudding and haggis and the Irish breakfast which has white pudding and soda bread. Whatever version, it is often accompanied by a cup of tea.
- United Stated:
Much like the full English breakfast, American breakfasts usually include eggs, crispy bacon, hash browns and toast. This can be accompanied with thick, fluffy, pancakes and maple syrup. There are any number of variations and combinations of these dishes, though they are often accompanied by orange juice.
- Japan:
Traditional Japanese breakfasts (known as wafuu breakfast) are made up of many little dishes. These include rice, miso soup, sticky soybeans, nori seaweed, pickled vegetables, and fish or omelettes.
- China:
Breakfast in China is a lot like lunch or dinner. It can consist of noodles, rice, sticky chicken, fried veggies, dim sums, steamed buns, and hot soups like congee. However, one common feature is fried dough sticks (called you tiao), which are meant to be dipped in warm soy milk.
- Turkey:
In Turkey, breakfast consists of bread, cheeses, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, spicy Turkish sausages, honey, jams, omelette, and fruit. This is accompanied by baked dishes like börek (filled phyllo pastry) and served with delicious Turkish tea or coffee.
- Iran:
A staple of a traditional Iranian breakfast is varieties of flatbreads (such as barbari, noon-e sangak, lavash, or noon-e tâftoon), served with butter, fruit jams, honey, heavy cream, feta cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, and walnuts. However, other breakfasts, which require more preparation, are omelettes, kaleh pâcheh (a stew of lamb’s head and hoof), haleem (thick wheatmeal porridge with meat), and adasi (lentil soup). This is accompanied with tea, and much like Italians who have cappuccino just with breakfast, Iranians have chai shirin, tea with granulated sugar, only at breakfast. (Throughout the day, other sweeteners like sugar cubes, dates, or raisins, are used).
- Lebanon:
Lebanese breakfasts often consist of a combination of various staples. These include flatbreads (manakish) covered in zata’ar, creamy labne, cheese, tomatoes, olives, eggs, foul mudammas, shakshuka, tea, and savoury pastries called mouajanet.
- India:
Breakfast cuisine in India varies hugely depending on the region but South Indian breakfasts commonly consist of idlis (fermented rice and lentils steamed to form a soft cake) or dosas (similar to crepes or pancakes but made with fermented batter usually with rice or black gram) with sambar (a vegetable stew) and chutney. Other common breakfast items are poha (flattened rice) and upma (a savoury dish made from semolina). In North India, breakfasts may include various parathas, aloo-puri, and other dishes.
- Pakistan:
Our common Pakistani breakfast is stuffed parathas (flatbread stuffed with various vegetables, usually potatoes and cooked) eaten with butter, yoghurt, and pickle. Another popular dish is aloo-poori (potato curry with fried dough), or halwa-poori (poori with a sweet mixture). Nihari (a spicy meat curry) served with naan is also eaten. They are served with coffee or tea.
- Spain:
A popular Spanish breakfast is the Pan a la Catalana, or Pan con Tomate. Originating in the Catalan region they consist of bread rubbed with garlic and tomato drizzled with olive oil. This can be topped with cheese, ham, or sausages if required, and is served with café con leche.
- Mexico:
Breakfast in Mexico is a hearty meal which consists of dishes like chilaquiles (fried tortillas topped with green or red salsa, refried beans, and shredded chicken, or even leftovers). Huevos rancheros (traditional Mexican eggs) is another popular choice.
- Russia:
A popular Russian breakfast is small girdle cakes. They come in many varieties like the cheese-stuffed syrniki, the crepe-like blini (made with kefir), and the fluffy oladi. These are often served with soured cream, honey, jam or fresh berries.
Which breakfast option excites you the most?
