There are all kinds of things people eat for breakfast in America, but have you ever wondered what people eat in other parts of the world? We thought it would be fun to take a look at international breakfasts popular around the globe and get a glimpse into what’s on the breakfast table in other countries. When you want to try something a little different for the morning meal at your house, why not take some new breakfast ideas from another culture?
In the Japanese culture, one popular dish for breakfast is Chawanmushi, a savory egg custard dish steamed in a cup or tea bowl. This is one of the few Japanese dishes eaten with a spoon, since egg custard can’t be picked up using traditional chopsticks. This unique dish can be eaten either hot or cool. The egg mixture is flavored using soy sauce, dashi (a soup and cooking stock used in Japanese cuisine), and mirin (rice wine). Other items such as shiitake mushrooms, gingko, boiled shrimp, and kamaboko (a processed seafood product popular in Japan) make the dish complete.
If you’re ever in Scotland, you might find haggis being served up for breakfast. This hearty Scottish delicacy is basically a crumbly meat pudding made with minced liver, heart, and lungs combined with onions, suet, oatmeal, and various seasoning and spices cooked in a natural or synthetic casing. It can be cooked in a pot of boiling water, a covered casserole dish, or in the microwave. Traditional side dishes include mashed potatoes and turnips. This savory meat dish has been around for hundreds of years and doesn’t show any signs of waning in popularity.
People in China and Thailand love rice porridge for breakfast. In China it’s known as Congee, in Thailand it’s called Jok. This breakfast porridge is made by boiling white rice until it becomes saturated with water and the grains begin to break down. Once you have your porridge, seasonings and toppings can be of your own choice. Some of the most popular choices include pork, fish, duck, seafood, fried or poached egg, shallots, onion, ginger, soy sauce, white or black pepper, peanuts, and avocado. This dish is very versatile, and since rice is gluten-free it has become even more popular in recent years.
If you’ve ever spent a winter in Sweden, you know it can be extremely cold and harsh. The Swedish people had to learn to adapt their diet to accommodate these conditions, and one way they did so was by incorporating soured milk and cultured dairy food products into their breakfast menu. Filmjolk is a favorite traditional Scandinavian cultured dairy food that can be found on many Swedish breakfast tables. This thick, tangy yogurt is a go-to breakfast staple year-round in Sweden, not just in winter.
Recipes for many international breakfasts can be found online if you’re feeling adventurous and ready to try out some new breakfast ideas in your own kitchen. When you’re looking for a great traditional American breakfast in the Denver area, come by and see us for a delicious homemade meal at one of our two convenient Original Pancake House locations in the Denver Tech Center and Cherry Hills. We’ve got good old bacon and egg dishes along with a few of our own international breakfast favorites like our super popular Dutch Baby Pancakes, our savory Bacon Belgian Waffles, and our mouthwatering Cherry Kijafa Crepes, and our authentic Swedish Lacy Pancakes. Stop by any day of the week from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm and share a meal with our other happy customers. We look forward to welcoming you soon!