Everybody loves a little R & R, but for globetrotting foodies, travel is all about the food. From a Middle-Eastern shawarma to authentic pad Thai to ever-versatile crêpes, these recipes are inspired by the offerings of the best food trucks, carts, kiosks, and pop-ups around the world.
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RecipeBraised Lamb Shawarma
Tender lamb, lightly pickled cabbage, creamy tahini sauce, and warm flatbread make for a Middle-Eastern street-food favorite that you can make at home. Watch the video. -
RecipeCoconut Curry Caramel Corn
With its wild lime common to Southeast Asia and fresh curry leaves common in India and Sri Lanka, we can’t promise you’ll find these items in your local grocery, but we can promise the popcorn is worth the trip to the specialty market. -
RecipeDrunken Chile Con Carne Tacos
This chile con carne is made with chunks of beef, which is much more common in Mexico than ground beef. It is slowly braised with beer and chocolate for full flavor. -
RecipePork & Shrimp Summer Rolls
Considering how flavorful these Vietnamese rolls are, they’re surprisingly easy to make. Once you’ve prepped the simple filling and whipped up a dipping sauce or two, all you have to do is assemble the rolls and enjoy. Watch the video. -
RecipeIndonesian Beef Satay
Satay is a street-food favorite for a reason: the meat is tender as butter and beautifully charred, and the sauce is rich and spicy. This version substitutes cashews for the traditional peanuts, giving the sauce an ultra-creamy texture and flavor. -
RecipeMango Lhassi
This refreshing Indian yogurt drink is made with Kesar mango pulp (available at Indian markets). It’s used in combination with fresh mango in order to keep the distinctive Indian flavor. -
RecipeMatzo Candy with Caramel
The smooth, velvety texture of the halva combined with the saltiness of the cracker is THE way to eat this Israeli specialty. -
RecipeMexican Grilled Corn on the Cob
Called elote in Mexico, where it's a popular street food, this grilled corn on the cob is slathered in a smoky, zesty mayonnaise and then rolled in crumbly, slightly salty Cotija cheese. -
RecipeBánh Mì Sandwich with Red Cooked Pork
One of the best products of the French-colonial influence on Vietnamese cuisine: a crisp baguette stuffed with paté, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs. This Bánh Mì uses pork braised in a sweet soy sauce. Watch the video. -
RecipeSpicy Mango Ice Pops (Paletas de Mango Enchilado)
Mango and chile has become one of the most common combinations in sweets in Mexico; in fact, when you eat fresh mango, powdered chile of some kind is always on the table. -
RecipePad Thai
This classic stir-fry of rice noodles, tofu, dried shrimp, and colorful garnishes is a street-food staple in Thailand, and surprisingly easy to make at home. Watch the video. -
RecipeSpicy Potato Samosas
These fried, triangular turnovers, so popular at Indian restaurants, make great finger food for parties. -
RecipeGreen Papaya Salad
There are many versions of this spicy north-eastern Thai vegetable salad. It’s always eaten with rice: steamed sticky rice or jasmine rice with coconut cream and sugar. A stall selling grilled or sweet pork can usually be found nearby since they’re a perfect companion. -
RecipeFried Sesame Seed Bananas
There are versions of sweet banana treats all over Southeast Asia. Sometimes the bananas are fried in a batter until crisp, or cooked in oil or lightly grilled, or simmered in sweetened coconut milk. These fried bananas are meltingly lush, and they’re given an extra layer of flavor by a squeeze of lime juice. -
RecipeFalafel Sandwich with Tomato-Cucumber Salad
Falafel are usually deep-fried, but pan-searing these chickpea fritters is healthier and makes them even easier to whip up at home. -
RecipeBrazilian Chicken Salad Sandwich
This easy take on a sandwich sold by vendors along Rio de Janeiro’s beaches is packed with grated vegetables, sweet raisins, fresh lime juice, and cilantro. -
RecipePeruvian Pan de Yuca
The ratio of flour to cheese seems crazy, but it works. Serve the bread hot (for a spongy texture) or warm (for a denser interior with the dough settling more and forming air pockets). -
RecipeBrown-Butter Crêpes
Crêperies and crêpe carts are ubiquitous in Paris—and now you can make a French classic at home. Go sweet, filling your crêpes with sautéed apples, or go savory with a salty ham and grated Gruyère. Watch the video.
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RecipeBeer-Battered Fish Tacos
The fish taco, one of Mexico's most creative tacos, was made first by street vendors in the Baja California port of Ensenada. It's filled with crisp, beer-battered fresh fish and garnished with shredded cabbage and a spicy tartar sauce.
