One way to experience a country’s culture is to sample its traditional foods. Some of which may have an interesting background or history. If you love sampling new foods, each time that you set off on an international adventure, continue reading to discover 7 amazing foods that start with A. Each of which can be found in a different part of the world.
Foods that Start with A
- Ashlyam Fu
- Arepas
- Ahi Poke
- Aloo Gobi
- Apple Strudel
- Alexandertorte
- Anzac Biscuits.
1. Ashlyam Fu, Kyrgyzstan
The first dish in foods that start with a, is Ashlyam Fu. Ashlyam Fu is a cold, spicy soup, which is commonly served in Kyrgyzstan. If you’re a fan of spicy and sour foods, you’ll love Ashlyam Fu. Trust me, you’ll want a second bowl of Ashlyam Fu. I had so many when visiting Karakol and Bisjkek in Kyrgyzstan.
What’s in Ashlyam Fu? An average bowl of Ashlyam Fu will feature freshly made noodles, tomatoes, eggs, cucumbers, carrots, onions, peppers, ginger, and chili pepper. Although most families in Kyrgyzstan will have their own Ashlyam Fu receipts, which are passed down from one generation to the next.
I highly recommend eating Ashlyam Fu for the first time, with a side of hot, fried bread. Which you’ll be able to dip into your Ashlyam Fu. As fried bread is a staple in Kyrgyzstan and is unbelievably tasty.
What’s so special about Ashlyam Fu? In Kyrgyzstan, it’s a common belief that eating a bowl of Ashlyam Fu can successfully cure a hangover. Unfortunately, I was sober when I tried Ashlyam Fu, so I can’t confirm or deny whether there’s any truth to the old wive’s tale, that Ashlyam Fu can cure a bad hangover.
2. Arepas, Venezuela and Colombia
The second dish in foods that start with A, is Arepas. Arepas are a type of cornmeal patty, which is served in Venezuela and Colombia. Arepas are often served instead of bread. As an example, in Venezuela, you can purchase sandwiches which consist of two Arepas which are filled with meat and vegetables.
Alternatively, if you visit a local eatery in Colombia or Venezuela you’ll be able to purchase Arepas which are stuffed full of fillings. Some popular fillings include eggs, shrimp, salad and cheese. My personal favorite is Arepas which has been stuffed full of freshly caught seafood. Which I purchased from a local street market.
Arepas have been a staple in both Venezuela and Colombia for hundreds of years and are eaten by the working class, the middle class and the wealthy. You may also be interested to learn that archeologists have discovered that Arepas were cooked on clay slabs, hundreds of years ago.
3. Ahi Poke, Hawaii
The third dish in foods that start with a, is Ahi Poke. After a fun-filled day of swimming and surfing around the Hawaiian islands, it’s well worth ordering a dish of Ahi Poke. What is Ahi Poke? Ahi Poke is a traditional Hawaiian dish that contains fresh tuna, soy sauce, sesame oil, seaweed, and chili pepper. Poke was originally invented as a way for local fishermen to use their cut-offs from their daily catchers.
As Ahi Poke is a flavor-packed dish, you may want to order a side of white rice, to eat with your Ahi Poke. Poke bowls are also popular in Hawaii and feature freshly sliced vegetables such as cucumber, horseradish, and peppers. I had a lot of Ahi Poke and Poke bowls when visiting Oahu, Big Island, and Maui. It’s one of my favorite things to eat.
4. Aloo Gobi, India
The fourth dish in foods that start with a, is Aloo Gobi. Aloo Gobi is a delicious Indian curry that is prepared using cauliflower and potatoes which have been sauteed with masala and turmeric. Some chefs also add flavor-packed curry leaves to their Aloo Gobi. Aloo Gobi is traditionally prepared in northern India and Pakistan.
While Aloo Gobi is a vegetarian dish, if you’re a meat-eater like me, you’ll still feel satisfied after eating a plate full of Aloo Gobi. As it’s a hearty, flavorsome dish.
If visiting India is on your bucket list, you won’t have any trouble finding a restaurant that serves Aloo Gobi. As it’s one of the most popular dishes in India. One of the reasons why Aloo Gobi is such a popular dish is that a lot of Indians are Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim and as a result choose to consume vegetarian diets.
5. Apple Strudel, Austria and Northern Italy
the fifth dish in foods that start with a, is Apple Strudel. If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll love getting your teeth into a freshly baked apple strudel. Which you’ll find in Austria and Northern Italy.
Traditional Austrian apple strudels feature sweet pastry which contains an apple and cinnamon filling. Some apple strudels are also topped off with lightly toasted breadcrumbs. If you’re feeling indulgent you may want to serve your apple strudel with vanilla ice cream, custard or fresh cream.
What is the history behind one of Austria’s favorite pastries? The oldest apple strudel recipe dates back to 1697 and is thought to have been inspired by the Ottoman empire’s baklava, which was introduced to Austria in the 18th century.
6. Alexandertorte, Latvia
The sixth dish in foods that start with a, is the Alexandertorte. Alexandertorte is a sweet slice that contains raspberry jam, cinnamon, vanilla essence, and lemon juice. If you enjoy citrus slices, it’s well worth trying out a slice of Alexandertore in Latvia.
Alexandertore has an interesting history and was originally produced to celebrate the Russian Tsar, Alexander III’s trip to Riga. Which is now the capital city of Latvia.
You may be interested to know that in Lativa locals usually eat Alexandertorte following lunch or dinner. Instead of eating Alexandertorte for morning tea or afternoon tea. The best place to buy a slice of Alexandertorte is at a cafe as Austria is home to some of the oldest cafes in the world.
7. Anzac Biscuits, Australia and New Zealand
The seventh dish in foods that start with a, is Anzac biscuits. While Anzac biscuits are eaten all year round, they are especially popular in April. As they were originally baked to celebrate Anzac day, which takes place on the 25th of April each year. Anzac day is a national holiday in both Australia and New Zealand and commemorates all the servicemen and women who served the Australian and New Zealand military branches. Particularly those who lost their lives in WWI and WII.
What do Anzac biscuits taste like? Anzac biscuits are quite sweet thanks to the golden syrup which is used to bake traditional Anzac biscuits. Anzac biscuits also feature rolled oats, flour, sugar, baking soda, and coconut.
Final Thoughts
So if you’re feeling hungry after reading about all of the tasty international dishes which are listed above, it’s well worth planning your next overseas trip, so that you’ll be able to try one of the foods that start with a, as listed above.
If you’re interested, you can read about foods that start with b by clicking here
More Reads:
https://www.mapthememories.com/7-amazing-foods-that-start-with-b/
https://www.mapthememories.com/7-amazing-foods-that-start-with-c/
https://www.mapthememories.com/7-amazing-foods-that-start-with-d/
https://www.mapthememories.com/10-amazing-foods-that-start-with-e/
