14 Global Dishes for an EPIC Carnival Celebration
You already know how to throw the ultimate Mardi Gras party, so why not expand the Carnival celebration a bit this year? Around the world, you’ll encounter a host of different foods and traditions with one common theme: FUN. Get in the festive spirit with these 14 delicious dishes. Complete with a generous helping of fried foods and other indulgent creations, you’ll definitely have a good time going global.
1. Bourani: You’ll instantly be transported to the sunny shores of Greece when you tuck into this seafood and sausage paella-style casserole. (via Gourmet Traveller)
2. Brazilian Cachaça Chicken Kebabs: Rio’s Carnaval is all about street food so you can keep the festivities moving. Espetinhos — essentially all kinds of skewered, grilled meat — and hot dogs reign supreme. (via Weber)
3. Prinjolata: At once gaudy and gloriously gooey, this decadent Maltese cake is a fun creation that kids (or anyone with a serious sweet tooth) will love. (via The Red Bistro)
4. Frappe: These crisp, fried strips of dough go by several different names in Italy — sfrappole, cenci, chiacchiere, angel wings. But beyond the Italian border, you’ll find variations of this classic Carnival treat in France, Spain and a slew of other countries. (via An Italian in My Kitchen)
5. Mini Cherry-Filled Paczki: Who could say no to these Polish donut holes? Folks in Germany agree that you should totally get in on the jelly-filled fritter action. (via Yammie’s Noshery)
6. Rye Blini: Pancakes are a pretty big deal on Shrove Tuesday, and these savory blini fit the bill beautifully. (via Katie at the Kitchen Door)
7. Pescado Zarandeado: Saucy, spicy barbecued snapper is a favorite dish enjoyed in Mexico. Just add a few margaritas to really get the party started. (via 360 West Magazine)
8. Sweet Milk Pie: Greece also knows how to keep things sweet during Carnival (and Easter) with this custard pie baked in a flaky phyllo crust. (via Amateur Cook Professional Eater)
9. Canadian Beavertails: Don’t worry, no beavers were harmed in the making of these cinnamon- and sugar-dusted fry breads. To wash it all down in true Québécois-style, we recommend a glass of Caribou. (via My Square Frying Pan)
10. Doubles: Curried chickpeas and chutney fill turmeric-spiced fried bread to make this specialty from Trinidad and Tobago. (via Tastes Spicy)
11. Oysters With Orange, Candied Onion and Mint Mignonette: Just add a few flutes of Champagne for the full Belgian breakfast experience. (via Saveur)
12. Castagnole (Vegan): Scented with orange zest and spiked with rum, these sweet fritters are a nice treat to indulge in once a year. (via Vegandare)
13. Shrimp Vuelve a la Vida: This Mexican twist on shrimp cocktail will help “return [you] to life” if you’ve overindulged during the festival. (via The Wall Street Journal)
14. King Cake: Mardi Gras wouldn’t be complete without a slice of this yeasted cake. Find the tiny baby figurine (or, in this case, a pig) baked within, and you’ll inherit a very important task: Next year’s party is to be hosted by you. (via Bon Appétit)
Do you celebrate Carnival? Share your traditions and recipes with us in the comments!
