Imagine you’re somewhere far away, somewhere you’ve never been before. Your senses are tingling – you can feel the sun on your shoulders, hear the bustling sounds of the city and a language that is not your own, see the bright colours and the people – the life – ebbing and flowing around you like a river, smell the tantalising scents of dishes you can’t quite put your finger on.
But what about the foodie’s favourite sense – taste? When you’re abroad, there’s no better way to authentically introduce yourself to the local cuisine than by sampling it from a stall at a local market or a food truck as you’re strolling down the road. Read on to discover three countries that specialise in street eats (and maybe plan a tasty trip).
Marrakech, Morocco
Street food in Morocco ranges from simple to quite unusual. Head to a Marrakech market and try these diverse (and sometimes intimidating) delicacies:
- Dessert – Beautifully decorated and sinfully sugary cookies and other pastries are everywhere (Moroccans are known for having a serious sweet tooth).
- Freshly Squeezed Juice – A fruity favourite.
- Meloui – A hot, folded pastry, similar to a crepe or pancake, with a filling inside – a popular choice is spicy onion.
- Sheep Heads – Not for the faint of heart.
- Snail Soup – Escar-woah!
Cairo, Egypt
Falafel may have taken the world by storm, but Egyptian cuisine is so much more than just chickpeas – and Cairo has some fantastic meals that have yet to go international. Take a stroll down almost any busy street and try the following foods:
- Koshary – A mixture of chickpeas (hey, I said Egypt is more than just chickpeas – I didn’t say they weren’t a delicious addition to many meals), pasta, rice and lentils, topped with fried onions and vinegar-tomato sauce.
- Kunafa – Crystallised honey, a sweet that’s often washed down with hot tea.
Istanbul, Turkey
If you like your meals to have variety, you’ll find the streets of Istanbul to be the taster platter of your dreams. Due to the high number of migrants from all over Turkey and its surrounding countries, the street food this city has to offer is as diverse as it is delicious. Here are some of my favourite dishes:
- Durum – A wrap filled with traditional kebab ingredients.
- Ice Cream – Often under-appreciated overseas, this Turkish treat is well-worth trying (I recommend picking pistachio).
- Lahmacun – Turkish pizza. It’s simple yet satisfying!
- Simit – A pretzel-bagel hybrid crusted with sesame seeds (this is probably the most well-known of all Turkish street foods). Dip these freshly-baked treats in molasses for the full effect.
Next time you’re craving a takeaway, put down that Domino’s menu and pick up a plane ticket instead – street food from all over the world awaits!
