Here in America, we turn to many different comfort foods when we're feeling stressed or tired. Typically, it's fast food, chocolate, or something home-cooked that contains about a pound of butter. But what does the rest of the world eat in their times of need? Here are what 11 countries version of "comfort food" looks like, which may or may not resemble what you might eat in a crisis.
Canada: Poutine
Poutine is the French version of loaded French fries. More specifically, the fries are covered in melted cheese and brown gravy. They also add meat and/or vegetables on top if desired. These fries are typically homemade, instead of just being picked up at the nearest fast food joint.
Spain: Tortilla Espanola
A tortilla espanola is made up of potatoes and onions that are sauteed and baked into an egg. The American equivalent would be an omelette, though this version is lighter and fluffier. Tortilla espanola is enjoyed at any time of day, not just for breakfast.
France: Crepe
Crepes are probably the most popular comfort food on this list, but also one of the hardest to make. If you're unfamiliar, a crepe is a thin pancake that can be filled with anything from fruit to chocolate to Nutella, or made savory with fillings like cheese and tomatoes.
Japan: Oden
Oden is a dish that is usually served in Japan in the wintertime. It is a rather hearty dish, containing boiled eggs, radish, konjac, broth, and fish cakes. Like most things about Japanese culture, this recipe varies by region, with different parts of the country adding fish, vegetables or tofu.
Brazil: Pao De Queijo
Pao De Queijo is basically a Brazilian cheese bread that is baked into small rolls that can be served as snacks or for breakfast. They're made of milk, eggs, and cheese, and have a crispy texture on the outside, but remain soft on the inside. They're similar to those cheese biscuits at Red Lobster we all know and love here in America.
Mexico: Chilaquiles
Chilaquiles are like the healthier version of American nachos. It's a dish consisting of tortilla chips covered in salsa, pulled chicken, Mexican crema, queso fresco, eggs, and refried beans. Chilaquiles are spicy, crunchy, and creamy all in one, making for a pretty decent comfort food if you ask me.
Lebanon: Man'oushe
Man'oushe is a flatbread covered in olive oil and herbs, including cilantro and oregano, and filled with tomatoes and mint. The herbs provide a range of flavors that are sure to satisfy any tastebud.
India: Khichdi
Khichdi is made of rice and beans and is comparable to a typical risotto dish in America. This dish is filling, but at the same time it's not too heavy that it'll leave you feeling awful afterwards. It can be spiced up with curry or cumin different meats and vegetables can be added to make it your own.
Poland: Pierogis
Pierogis are like a fluffy pillow of deliciousness. A dumpling-like dough is stuffed with onions, potatoes, ground meat, aged cheese, and even fruit, and then oiled and fried in a pan. This is a dish that can be as simple or as complicated as you make it out to be, depending on what you want to put in it. But no matter what it's sure to always be good.
Greece: Moussaka
Moussaka is basically like a makeshift eggplant casserole. The layers of eggplant are sauteed and layered with lamb, tomatoes, onion, garlic and spices. It's put together much like a lasagna, as once finished it's topped with a bechamel sauce that truly ties the whole dish together.
As you can see, the comfort dishes around the world are definitely a lot different than the ones we're used to here. However they're all unique to their own countries' tastes, and I bet they give them all the comfort they need.