Lunchtime Around the World: 5 Global Recipes to Try

Lunch is an integral component of daily life that provides energy, nutrition, and satisfaction. Yet eating the same lunch every day can become dull and unhealthy; why not explore global lunch recipes which are delicious, diverse, and easy to make? In this article we present five delicious international lunch dishes which you can enjoy both at home or work – we include these recipes here for your consideration:

Chinese Samosa

Chinese samosas are crispy pastries filled with minced meat, onion, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and spices; similar to their Indian counterparts but typically featuring thinner crust and unique shapes. Served alongside either sweet-and-sour sauce or spicy vinegar dip, they are popularly enjoyed snacks!

Ingredients

• 1 pound wonton wrappers
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped cabbage
• 1/4 cup chopped carrots
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• Vegetable oil, for frying

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, cabbage, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix well.
2. Place a wonton wrapper on a flat surface. Place a spoonful of the beef mixture in the center of the wrapper. Spread the mixture into a thin layer, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge.
3. Wet the edges of the wrapper with water. Fold the wrapper in half, forming a triangle. Press the edges to seal.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the remaining wonton wrappers and beef mixture.
5. Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry the samosas in batches for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy.
6. Drain the samosas on paper towels and serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.

Bun Thit Nuong

Bun Thit Nuong is a Vietnamese rice noodles dish featuring grilled beef, fresh herbs, peanuts, and sweet-and-sour dressing. The dish can be enjoyed either hot or cold!

Ingredients

• 1 pound beef shoulder, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup chopped mint
• 1/4 cup chopped cucumber
• 1/4 cup chopped carrots
• 1/4 cup chopped radishes
• 1/4 cup chopped jalapeño pepper
• 8 rice vermicelli noodles, cooked according to package directions
• 8 banh mi rolls, split in half

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the beef, soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and turmeric. Mix well and marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight.
2. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until browned and cooked through.
3. To assemble the bowls, place a handful of noodles in each bowl. Top with the beef, peanuts, cilantro, mint, cucumber, carrots, radishes, and jalapeño pepper. Drizzle with the remaining marinade from the beef.
4. Serve immediately with banh mi rolls on the side.

Salpicón de Res

This salad hailing from Central America features shredded beef mixed with onion, tomato, cilantro, lime juice and vinegar for optimal flavour. Ideally served at room temperature or cold, Salpicon de Res is enjoyed best when eaten with tortillas, bread or lettuce leaves as an accompaniment.

Ingredients

• 1 pound flank steak, cooked and shredded
• 1 red onion, finely chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 tomato, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup chopped mint
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the shredded steak, onion, bell pepper, tomato, cilantro, mint, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
2. Serve immediately or chill for later.

Smoked Scotch Eggs

Smoked Scotch Eggs are hard-boiled eggs wrapped with smoked sausage meat and coated in breadcrumbs before being smoked until golden-brown in color, offering a satisfying yet flavorful twist to traditional British deep-fried scotch eggs. Perfect as both snacks or main courses served alongside salad or chips!

Ingredients

• 12 hard-boiled eggs
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• Wood chips, for smoking

Instructions

1. Peel the hard-boiled eggs and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, onion, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
3. Divide the beef mixture into 12 equal portions. Form each portion into a
4. Flatten each beef portion into a disk. Place an egg in the center of each disk and wrap the beef around the egg, forming a ball.
5. Dredge the scotch eggs in the flour, then in the milk, and then in the panko bread crumbs.
6. Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Place the scotch eggs on the smoker grate and smoke for 1 hour, or until the internal temperature of the beef reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.

Sambal Goreng Tempe

This Indonesian dish of fried tempeh covered with spicy tomato and chili sauce is called Sambal Goreng Tempe. Tempeh is a fermented soybean cake high in protein and fiber content that’s perfect for vegetarian and vegan-friendly diets alike, serving both as an entree or side.

Ingredients

• 1 block of tempeh, cut into cubes
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger, minced
• 1/4 cup sambal oelek
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Instructions

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened and translucent.
2. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute more.
3. Add the tempeh and cook until browned on all sides.
4. Add the sambal oelek, soy sauce, brown sugar, and water to the skillet. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
5. Stir in the cilantro and serve immediately with rice.

These are some of the lunch recipes from around the world that you can try for yourself. They are easy to prepare and will make your lunch more exciting and enjoyable. Stay tuned for more articles on lunch recipes from around the world. Bon appétit!