These 7 Hidden Countries Serve Up Surprisingly Delicious Cuisine

Sure, we all know the staple cuisines of many of the most recognizable countries in the world. Spain has its paella, India has its curry, and the United Kingdom has its fish ‘n chips and bangers ‘n mash!

However, what about the food from some of the world’s lesser-known countries? How and what tantalizing treats do these folks eat? Here, we check in with seven such countries and discover what delicious dishes they cook up.

1. Serbia

In Serbia, they serve a dish called pljeskavica. Resembling a hamburger patty, it’s is made from a lovely mixture of grilled lamb and beef. It’s served hot with onions, kajmak (a milk cream), relish (locally called ajvar) and a spicy cheese salad known as urnebes. Lepinja, a type of flatbread, accompanies this hearty and satisfying meal.

2. Jordan

Mansaf is a Jordanian favorite, composed of lamb, rice and a dried yogurt called jameed. It’s made by boiling sheep or goat’s milk. The boiled milk is left to dry and ferment. Then it is stored in cheesecloth to render a nice and thick yogurt. Once ready, it is salted and rolled into balls. The city of Al-Karak is renowned for making the best jameed in the country.

3. Slovakia

In Slovakia, bryndzove halusky is the revered dish. Halusky is the Slovak interpretation of dumplings. They’re made from a potato-based dough, much like Italian gnocchi. Bryndza is a kind of sheep cheese. To finish it off, this wonderfully tasty dish is all covered with delicious fried bits of bacon. Even Slovakia knows that nothing can’t be improved with a little bit of bacon on top!

4. Georgia

Many people are surprised to learn that there is a country named Georgia, vastly different from the state of Georgia in the US. In the country of Georgia, you’ll find khachapuri. Essentially, it’s a leavened bread that is shaped in a variety of ways once it begins to rise. It’s filled with cheese and eggs, typically though there are other variations of it. Sometimes the cheese is fresh and other times, the cheese used is aged. Regardless, we believe that anything with bread and cheese is a winner.

5. Ethiopia

Ethiopian cuisine is rich, flavorful and intensely satisfying. One dish to try is doro wat. It’s a red stew made with chicken, vegetables that vary on the season, spice mixtures like berbere, and a clarified butter called niter kibbeh.

6. Kazakhstan

If you’ve only heard of Kazakhstan from the Olympics, then you’ve probably never heard of its signature dish, besh barmak. It’s usually made with boiled horse or mutton, small bits of pastry and a sprinkling of parsley and coriander to accentuate the broth.

7. Nepal

Momo dumplings over in Nepal are filled with a mouth-watering combination of minced chicken or pork meat with onions, garlic and cilantro.