Italian pasta is one of the most popular international cuisines. Homemade pasta is incredibly rewarding and surprisingly easy to make. All you need is flour, eggs, and a pasta maker. Mix the flour and eggs, then knead the dough before rolling it out into sheets. Cut the pasta into your favorite shapes like spaghetti, penne or linguine. Boil until al dente, usually 8-12 minutes, then toss with your favorite sauce like Bolognese, carbonara or cacio e pepe.
Nothing says French cuisine like a classic crepe. Whip up a batch of thin pancakes and fill them with sweet or savory fillings. For dessert, spread with Nutella, bananas and whipped cream or lemon juice and sugar. For dinner, fill crepes with ham and cheese, mushrooms, or spinach and ricotta. Crepes require only basic ingredients but the results are impressive.
Tom yum soup is one of the most popular Thai dishes, and for good reason. The spicy and sour broth is packed with mushrooms, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and chili peppers. Add in shrimp, chicken, rice noodles or vegetables for a hearty and healthy meal. Tom yum is easy to make at home with widely available Thai ingredients. The balance of spicy, sour, salty and sweet flavors is unlike anything else.
Mexican guacamole is a chunky avocado dip that’s perfect for sharing. Mash ripe avocados with lime juice, chili, cilantro, tomato, onion and salt. Serve the guacamole with tortilla chips, or in tacos and burritos. Avocados provide healthy fats and creaminess, while the lime juice and chili add zest and heat. Homemade guacamole is so much tastier than store-bought versions. Your friends will surely ask you to make another batch.
Japanese ramen is a dish of noodles in a flavorful broth, topped with meat and vegetables. Tonkotsu ramen features a rich pork bone broth, while shoyu ramen has a soy-based broth. Add slices of chashu pork, soft-boiled eggs, seaweed, green onions and bean sprouts. Ramen may seem complex but the broth can be made in large batches and many of the toppings are easy to prepare at home. With some key Japanese ingredients, you can make delicious ramen for your family and friends.