A national dish is a dish, food or a drink that is considered to represent a particular country, nation or region. A dish can become a national dish for a variety of reasons.
- It can be the national dish because it is a staple daily food for the majority of the population.
- It can also be the national dish because it represents the regions and ethnicity of the whole country.
- In addition, it can be the national dish because it incorporates locally produced ingredients.
Food and cultural identity
National dishes are part of a nation’s identity and self-image. During the age of European empire building, nations consciously developed a national cuisine as a matter of distinction from their rivals.
National dishes and foods by country
As mentioned above, this is not a definitive list of national dishes, but rather a list of some foods that have been suggested to be national dishes.
Afghanistan : Kabuli Pulao
Algeria : Couscous Angola : Muamba de galinha Anguilla : Arroz con Gandules
Armenia : Harissa Australia : Meat Pie ; Roast Lamb Austria : Tafelspitz ; Wiener Schnitzel Bahamas : Crack conch with peas and rice
Bangladesh : Biryani ; Rice and Fish
Belarus : Draniki Belgium : Moules-frites Bermuda : Bermudan Fish Chowder
Brazil : Feijoada
British Virgin Islands : Fish and Fungi
Brunei Darussalam : Ambuyat Burma : Mohinga Bulgaria : Bob Chorba Cambodia : Amok trey Cameroon : Ndole Canada : Peameal Bacon ; Nanaimo Bar ; Tourtiere ; Poutine ; Butter tarts Chile : Empanada : Cazuela ; Curanto ; Pastel de choclo China : Peking Duck, noodles (such as lo mein, chow mein and lamian), fried rice, dumplings. Hong Kong : Char Siu ; Dim Sum Macau : Minchee Colombia : Ajiaco ; Bandeja paisa Costa Rica : Gallo Pinto Cuba – Platillo Moros y Cristianos, Ropa vieja, Puerco asado, Yuca con mojo Czech Republic – Vepřo knedlo zelo (roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut), Svíčková Democratic Republic of the Congo – Poulet Moambé Denmark – Frikadeller, Wienerbrød (Danish pastry), Smørrebrød Dominican Republic – La Bandera (“The Flag”) rice, red beans, meat (beef, chicken, pork, or fish). Ecuador – Deep fried Guinea Pig Egypt – Ful medames ; Kushari ; Molokhia ; Falafel
Eritrea – Zigini, Injera Estonia – Verivorst with Mulgikapsad (sauerkraut stew)
Finland – Mämmi France – Crêpe, pot-au-feu
Gabon – Poulet Nyembwe
Greece – Fasolada, Moussaka Grenada – Oil Down Guyana – Guyana Pepperpot Honduras – Baleada, Carne Asada, Sopa de Caracol Hungary – Gulyás Iceland – Hákarl India – No official national dish Indonesia – Gado-Gado, Nasi Goreng, Sate, Soto Iran – Chelow kabab, Ghormeh sabzi Iraq – Samak masgouf Ireland – Colcannon, Irish Stew Israel – Hummus ; Falafel ; Israeli Salad Italy – Pizza ; Pasta ; Polenta Jamaica – Ackee and Saltfish Japan – Japanese curry, Ramen, Sushi Jordan – Mansaf Kazakhstan – Beshbarmak Kenya – Nyama choma Kuwait – Machboos Kyrgyzstan – Beshbarmak, laghman Laos – Larb with sticky rice Lebanon – Kibbeh, Tabbouleh Lithuania – Cepelinai Luxembourg – Judd mat Gaardebounen, smoked neck of pork with broad beans Macedonia – Tavče Gravče Madagascar – Romazava Malaysia – Nasi Lemak Malta – Pastizzi Mexico – Mole poblano, Tacos Mongolia – Buuz Montenegro – Kačamak, Raštan Morocco – Couscous, Tagine, Pastilla Nicaragua – Gallo Pinto
Netherlands – Stamppot, Hutspot New Zealand – Pavlova, Bacon and Egg Pie, Hangi, Meat Pie, Lamb Norway – Fårikål, Kjøttkaker
Paraguay – Sopa paraguaya Peru – Ceviche Philippines – Adobo, lechon, Sinigang Poland – Bigos, Pierogi, Kotlet schabowy, Żurek Portugal – Bacalhau, Cozido à Portuguesa Puerto Rico – Arroz con Gandules with Lechon
Republic of the Congo – Poulet Moambé Romania – Mămăligă ; Sarmale ; Mici Russia – Shchi and Kasha, Pelmeni
Senegal – Thieboudienne
Slovakia – Bryndzové halušky Singapore – Chilli crab, Hainanese Chicken Rice South Africa – Bobotie South Korea – Kimchi, Bulgogi Spain – Paella, Tortilla española Sri Lanka – Rice and Curry
Tajikistan – O’sh (pilaf) Taiwan : Beef Noodle Soup Thailand : Pad Thai ; Som Tam ; Tom Yum Goong Trinidad and Tobago : Pelau Tunisia : Couscous Turkmenistan : Palaw
Ukraine : Borscht United Kingdom : Fish and Chips 
Northern Ireland : Ulster Fry Scotland : Haggis Wales : Cawl
United States : Apple Pie ; Hamburgers ; Roast Turkey. Uruguay : Asado ; Chivito Uzbekistan : O’sh Venezuela : Pabellón criollo Vietnam : Phở Yemen : Saltah
Test your skills by attempting our National Dishes Crossword – it’s diabolical