The New Year is underway and it’s a time for exploring new tastes and healthy eating options. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up great flavors from around the world. A common dish in many cultures is a one-dish meal. Many traditional dishes share similar features, but each region has ingredients that set it apart. Here are some examples from Europe:
What’s stewing in Ireland?
Traditional Irish cuisine created its “bowl meal” from its own staples. Among the obvious ingredients in many Irish recipes is the potato. This tasty tuber was introduced to the Emerald Isle in the 1600s from the Americas and eventually became the staple of Ireland’s working class. Today potatoes are a key ingredient in many traditional Irish dishes.
And what’s more Irish that Irish stew? Slow braising is used to create tender meat, while potatoes help thicken the stew. In some variations of this national dish, other root crops, such as turnips and carrots, and barley, are included when they are available.
Tracing roots to Scandinavia
Scandinavian cuisine also relies heavily on root crops. But the time-honored dishes of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Denmark (all bordering northern seas) call on both fish and meat to serve as key ingredients. Throughout long winters, Scandinavians have had to rely heavily on foods that could be preserved easily. Smoking and pickling were oft-used techniques to preserve meat and fish. Except for root vegetables that keep through the winter, fresh vegetables aren’t common in most traditional recipes. When they’re in season, many berries, such as lingonberries and blueberries, flavor delicious sauces, relishes, and desserts. Some berries are preserved for cold-weather cooking.
Lapskaus, or Norwegian beef stew, is a good example of traditional Scandinavian cuisine. In addition to beef, its hearty flavor comes from a variety of root vegetables, including carrots, rutabagas, potatoes, leeks and celery root. And not all fish had to be enjoyed lutefisk style. Kalamojakka, a Finnish fish stew, blends the delicate flavors of fish with potatoes, onion, milk, butter, allspice and dill. Dill is a widely used herb, offering distinctive flavor to many Scandinavian dishes.
Central Europe spices things up
Moving south, the countries of central and eastern Europe tend to rely heavily on meat and potatoes, too. Their spices – caraway, cardamom, paprika, and others—make many of their regional dishes more flavorful. As in any part of the world, traditional dishes have been adapted and personalized from region to region, town to town, and family to family. A good example is a regional favorite: goulash!
Goulash takes its name from the Hungarian word gulyás, which means “herd of cattle.” That’s appropriate, as a key ingredient in this hearty stew is beef. Equally important is paprika powder, liberally used in any true goulash. Add water, onion, capsicum (another name for peppers), and perhaps other vegetables, and voilá: goulash. Goulash also can be found in Poland, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic and may contain tomatoes (never in the “true” Hungarian version) and flour (as thickening agents) or dumplings. It’s often served over noodles with a dollop of sour cream.
It’s all Greek to me
Finally, moving further south, Greece has some unique offerings. Meat and cheese are popular. The terrain lends itself better to raising sheep and goats than cattle. That said, many dishes feature lamb or feta cheese. And the climate is perfect for growing olive trees, tomatoes, and savory herbs, such as oregano, basil, and garlic. Even though Greece lies on the warm Mediterranean, its hearty dishes and flavorful foods are perfect for the winter months.
Moussaka, a traditional dish that features eggplant, is found in many Balkan and Middle Eastern countries. The Greek version is made in layers like a casserole. The bottom layer is sliced eggplant sautéed in olive oil, followed by ground lamb and tomatoes, with a topping of herbed béchamel sauce.
While it may be too cold to step outside, you can still take a trip across Europe with these hearty one-dish meals.
