Contributed by Ann Martin
Having traveled to many countries, I have experienced indulging in a variety of international foods and also have had the opportunity to miss foods from my own home country. When people speak of comfort foods, is that typically associated with the country you were born and raised in, or can you experience a need for food that you have had in another country and define that as a comfort food? No matter your exact definition of what comfort food is, we all know that when we sit down to enjoy our comfort food it is comforting to us no matter the reason. Here are some of my favorite comfort foods and why I consider them a comfort to me.
Spaetzle
A delicious egg and flour based noodle which is popular in southern Germany, spaetzle is my go to comfort food. Having spent well over a year in Germany, I became quite knowledgeable about the cuisine and all the regional variations. Spaetzle was one of those favorite side dishes that put to shame what the main course was really supposed to be about. Most of the time when I was home in Germany, sharing a spaetzle casserole with friends was my favorite way to pass a chilly afternoon away. There are even so many variations to this side dish, you can make it and then bake it with cheese or with cheese and onions. And for those carnivores, adding some authentic German wurst would make for an instant meal. When I arrived home, I truly missed that doughy spaetzle goodness! Luckily, a friend sent me home with a spaetzle press and a recipe to make my own anytime I wanted! Thank goodness for that press as I am able to indulge in spaetzle anytime I need to have the comfort of Germany back in my home country.
Rice and Beans
I was fortunate enough to grow up with many friends my age. It was quite fun to have dinner and meals with other families as they all had their own traditions and they would have certain meals that were popular in their households. One meal that was quite a favorite at my childhood friend’s house was rice and beans! I remember walking into her house one day and my nose filled with the scent of garlic and onions and other aromatic spices and I just had to figure out a way to stay for that meal! Her mother was born and raised in Puerto Rico and rice and beans was a staple meal in her own house growing up and she wanted to make sure that this recipe would a favorite with her children as well. I was lucky enough to stay that night for dinner and let me tell you what a treat it was. That dish or rice and beans was one of the best I’ve ever had and when I want something creamy and delicious, yet authentic I whip up a batch of beans and rice to eat.
What defines comfort food for you? Something you enjoyed eating as child? Or is it redefining an experience you once had?
Ann Martin is a contributing writer for Dinnerware Center, which is an online store specializing in dinnerware and WMF flatware. Ann also is a featured writer for other home and garden sites and enjoys sharing her tips and suggestions with her readers. In her free time, Ann enjoys cooking and spending time with her family.
This was an interesting article, and it made me realize that I had never actually analysed what constituted “comfort food” for me and why! So I sat back and thought it over.
Did I have any clearly defined comfort food? Well, I did. So how did they fit into this category and what did they do for me?
A few moments of chewing on this food for thought, I found that there were a couple of ‘meals’ that enfolded me in more than just the aroma and flavours!
I say meals because my comfort food is a combination of dishes that constitute a whole meal:
1) Yakhni Pulao with Chicken curry and Cucumber Raita:
The yakhni Pulao/chicken curry/cucumber raita brings home memories of Mummy’s kitchen and table. This was a typical combo for sundays or family gatherings. It brings back the warm feeling of home! The cucumber raita used to have this (crushed) ginger+green chilli flavour that I still love.
2) Fried fish, roast potatoes with a brown sauce, sauted veggies:
Once again this is great for me because it brings back the excitement of a fishing trip/picnic that has not only been fun but rewarding. Mahseer…wow! And many other varieties.
Mummy would put on her apron and go to it while the men basked and boasted about the “one that got away” as they sipped their drink and munched on crisp fried “tinglers” (little fish) that would also come out of her kitchen in a steady supply. Normally there would be an Indian fry and two kinds of curries…..but the crumb fried fish with these particular accompaniments is what I long for and still make to get back a bit of those ‘fishy’ moments!
Wow! Thanks Ann for taking me down this trip…I’ve learned something here.
My comfort food is always available and easiest to make: thick toast, crisp brown outside and soft inside, with lots of butter
Believe it or not, but for me its has to b tea with sweet biscuits.