25 Iconic Breakfasts From Around The World

Whether breakfast is the most important meal of the day or not, we will always love it. The usual pancakes and bacon are great, but there's a whole world of traditional breakfast foods to explore. Next time you're bored of your usual Denver omelet, try one of these popular breakfast dishes from around the globe.

Tomatoes, peppers, and spices are stewed in this North African and Middle Eastern breakfast classic. Eggs are then poached in the mixture, and fresh bread is used to scoop everything up.

Recipe: The Mediterranean Dish

Is there anything more French than eating croissants in the morning? They're great plain or with jam, or as the ever-popular pain au chocolate.

Recipe: Sally's Baking Recipes

Jianbing is a favorite street food in China. It's made with a big crepe, eggs, crispy fried dough, lettuce, and any number of sauces like hoisin or add-ins like scallions and pickles.

Recipe: Red Spice House

The full English breakfast is a thing of beauty, at least if you love a hearty start to your day. The typical fry-up includes bacon, sausage, eggs, black pudding, tomatoes, mushrooms, toast, and of course, baked beans.

Recipe: I Am a Food Blog

Mexican chilaquiles is a simple meal made by cooking fried corn tortillas in salsa, and often times topping it with cheese, eggs, crema, or meat. Both salsa verde and roja are popular variations. 

Recipe: Rick Bayless

In Spain, churros are often eaten for breakfast at cafes. They come plain, usually with sugar on the side if you want to sprinkle it on, but most people prefer to dip them into the thick cup of hot chocolate instead.

Recipe: Spanish Sabores

In Singapore, buttered toast is spread with kaya, a sweet, thick coconut spread. It's often served with coffee or tea and soft-boiled eggs on the side.

Recipe: Rasa Malaysia

Arepas are eaten in parts of Central and South America including Columbia and Venezuela. The thick corn cakes are often filled with cheese, butter, or beans for breakfast. 

Recipe: Allrecipes

Menemen is a Turkish egg dish. It's similar to shakshuka, in that it's made with tomatoes, peppers, olive oil, and spices. But the eggs are scrambled into the mixture instead of poached.

Recipe: Serious Eats

In Central American countries like Costa Rica and Nicaragua, gallo pinto is a staple on breakfast plates. It's a rice and bean dish that's cooked with peppers and onions, then often served with Lizano hot sauce.

Recipe: Eats By The Beach

Muesli is a Swiss dish, though it's eaten in many parts of Europe now. It's similar to granola, and made primarily with oats, nuts, and dried fruits. Eat it cold over yogurt or with milk and fruit.

Recipe: Allrecipes

Puri, also spelled poori, are crisp deep-fried Indian puffs of wheat dough. For breakfast, they're often served with sweet halwa pudding, chutneys, or more substantial things like chana masala.

Recipe: Swasthi's Recipes

Nasi lemak is considered the national dish of Malaysia. Its main ingredient is rice cooked with coconut milk in a pandan leaf, which comes with strongly flavored additions like dried anchovies, sambal chili sauce, and boiled eggs.

Recipe: Rasa Malaysia

Medialunas are Argentina's answer to croissants. They're similarly shaped, but they're more of a sweet bread than a flaky pastry. It's just one of the popular breakfast pastries in this part of the world.

Recipe: The Argentine Kitchen

Mohinga is practically Myanmar's national dish. It's a fish-based stew with rice noodles and is flavored with aromatics like lemongrass, ginger, fish sauce, and turmeric. Shredded catfish and hardboiled eggs usually top the soup.

Recipe: Food Republic

Ful medames is an Egyptian stew made from fava beans that's thick, hearty, and great with flatbread. It's seasoned with cumin and lemon, and includes lots of olive oil and herbs.

Recipe: Saffron & Herbs

Though Americans prefer pho for lunch or dinner, it's popular at breakfast in Vietnam because that's the coolest part of the day. People grab the beefy soup full of fresh herbs from vendors on the street.

Recipe: Serious Eats

Smorgas are Scandinavian open-faced sandwiches, and they're usually eaten for breakfast or lunch. They can be topped with all kinds of things, but salmon, shrimp, cucumbers, flavored mayonnaise, and dill are all typical.

Recipe: Norr Table

These little cheese buns are popular all the time in Brazil, but especially in the morning. They're made with cassava flour instead of wheat (so they're typically gluten-free), along with plenty of cheese. 

Recipe: Olivia's Cuisine

This is Jamaica's national dish. It's made with ackee, a tropical fruit, and saltfish, a preserved cod. They're cooked together with hot peppers, onions, and tomatoes, and then often served with callaloo and fried bread.

Recipe: Jamaican Foods and Recipes

Italians know their way around pastries, and sfogliatelle is no exception. It's made with tons of flaky layers in a shell shape, and it's filled with a custard-like mixture that often includes ricotta cheese.

Recipe: Nonna Box

These fresh breads are a little like Lebanese pizza. Flat, round dough is topped with cheese, za'atar seasoning, or sometimes seasoned ground meat, and then baked for a savory morning meal.

Recipe: Hungry Paprikas

Though they look like donut holes to us, aebleskiver are Dutch pancakes. They're made in a special pan that makes them round, and they can be filled or topped with jams, syrup, or fruit.

Recipe: House of Nash Eats

Hagelslag are chocolate sprinkles from the Netherlands, though they come in many flavors now. They're put on bread or toast with butter in a thick layer and eaten for breakfast. 

Recipe: International Desserts Blog

Dosa is a popular breakfast in Southern India. The huge savory crepes are made from a fermented batter, and can be eaten plain, with chutneys or daal on the side, or stuffed with masala potatoes.

Recipe: Swasthi's Recipes

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