Regional Cuisine Recipes

Barbadians make Black Cake for weddings, birthdays and at Christimas time. Indeed, no Christmas holiday is felt to be complete without black Cake. People from many of the islands make a similar cake. This Black Cake derived from the British Plum Pudding which is a must on their Christmas menu.

Steep fresh grated ginger with cinnamon, cloves, and citrus juices to create a spiced concentrate that's refreshing served over ice or mixed with soda water.

A Slovenian and International recipe. Instead of lemon rind Grandma uses lemon juice. Grandma also waits until the dough is ready to slice the apples, that way they don't turn brown. She also uses the slicer on the side of a grater to slice the apples really thin.

Pugach pie - Eastern European filled yeast bread with your choice of cabbage, potato, or sauerkraut filling, sealed and rolled flat, then brushed with browned butter.

Babute is a South African curried beef bake with chopped dried apricots, bay leaves, and a rich egg custard poured over the top. Simple comfort food with exotic spice and fruity sweetness in every bite.

Goreng pisang are crispy fried bananas in a light rice flour batter rolled in brown sugar. A popular Asian street food dessert served with ice cream.

Flaky whole wheat pasties stuffed with spiced vegetables and chickpeas. Portable, filling handheld pies with cumin, coriander, and garlic that bake up golden and crisp.

The Pennsylvania Dutch settlers made these at Thanksgiving and stored them in a stoneware crock until Christmas. The cookies can be made at any time, but allowed to age for 4-6 weeks.

Crispy fried pastries shaped like elephant ears, dusted with cardamom sugar and toasted pistachios. Afghan teatime treats that puff up golden and shatter when you bite in.

Vospapur is a traditional Armenian lentil and spinach soup spiced with cumin, coriander, and paprika, finished with a bright squeeze of lemon. Hearty, healthy, and oil-free.

This quick-easy to make potato salad goes deliciously well with roasted lamb, chicken or simple fish dishes.

Portuguese biscoitos shaped into rings from hand-rolled dough ropes. A simple butter and egg cookie that bakes golden, lightly sweet, and crisp.

When I have abundant seasonal vegetables, I love making this vegetable casserole, and most of the time I just enjoy it with a loaf of good bread. That is all you need for a good meal.

Homemade picante sauce with canned whole tomatoes, fresh jalapenos, onion, apple cider vinegar, and garlic. Simmered 15 minutes and served chilled with chips for a chunky, spicy Texas-style salsa.

Smoky roasted eggplant mashed with fresh tomato, garlic, and a splash of red wine vinegar. This Odessa-style eggplant caviar is a rustic Russian appetizer that's just as good spread on pita as it is on dark rye bread.

Usal is a spiced Indian mung bean curry with cumin, turmeric, coriander, ginger, and garlic simmered in tomato. Vegetarian, high-protein, and ready in 40 minutes. Serve with rice or flatbread.