What potato dishes look like in 24 places around the world
- From Ireland to Canada, many cultures have a unique twist on potato dishes.
- The versatile starch is mashed with bacon in Denmark and stacked with meat in a pie form in the UK.
- Potatoes are fried and enjoyed with rice in Iran, Chile, and Peru.
Whether you like them baked, mashed, fried, or boiled, there's a potato dish for just about every taste.
Here's how countries around the world like to enjoy spuds.
Poutine is a French-Canadian classic from Quebec.
It's a delectable concoction of french fries and cheese curds, all smothered in gravy.
The Canadian food blog Seasons and Suppers says the key to poutine is authentic, white cheese curds and a mix of beef and chicken stock in the gravy.
Like poutine, Chile's chorrillana puts an even more delicious twist on french fries.
There are many variations of this dish. Some include scrambled eggs, and others might add chorizo sausage to the potatoes.
Traditionally, toppings include fried eggs, meat, and caramelized onions. Because it is usually a large serving, chorrillana is perfect for sharing.
Brændende kærlighed translates to something along the lines of "burning love." It's meant to be served piping hot and is a great comfort meal for cold winter nights.
The dish mainly consists of mashed potatoes with an onion and bacon mixture, sprinkled with chopped parsley and pickled beets.
Mashed potatoes take a classy turn in these savory French swirls.
The exact origins of these artsy potatoes are unknown. However, some believe they were made for an unnamed British duchess who visited France.
After mashing and piping potatoes, they're covered with an egg wash before going in the oven for a golden hint of color.
Long before kale became trendy in America, Ireland was mixing it up with mashed potatoes, salt, pepper, and onions in this traditional meal.
There are several recipes and variations of this dish. A common take involves softened savoy cabbage with garlic and leeks for extra depth.
The comfort meal is topped with butter and scallions.
Gnocchi is one of the many delicious pasta dishes Italy is famous for. The small dumplings are made from potatoes and served primarily with tomato sauce.
Although many regions of Northern Italy claim the origins of gnocchi, it can be found across all corners of the globe.
Gamja jeon, a Korean-styled pancake, is made by deep-frying grated potatoes.
You can easily whip up this pancake by blending potatoes in a food processor and adding in garlic chives, scallions, chili peppers, or zucchini.
It is usually accompanied by a sauce called cho ganjang, made from soy sauce and vinegar.
Saag aloo is a traditional north-Indian Punjabi curry made with leafy greens and potatoes.
It's warm, comforting, and packed with nutrients.
The popular Peruvian street food combines sliced sausages and french fries with a helping of coleslaw on the side.
Sources say the dish had humble origins and was commonly known as a poor man's dish. The name comes from the dish's main ingredients, salchicha (sausage) and papas (potatoes).
Sauces and garnishes, like mayonnaise, aji, ketchup, or mustard, are optional.
The word pierogi first appeared in Polish cookbooks and literature in the late 17th century.
It is often said that making the dough for the Polish potato dumplings can be the hardest part.
Clapshot seems to have originated in the islands of Orkney.
Simply boil turnips and potatoes, mash them, and mix all the ingredients with butter. This take on mashed potato can also include chives and onions.
Tortilla Española, sort of like a potato omelet, is a popular Spanish tapa.
It's usually made with eggs, potatoes, olive oil, and sometimes onion.
To make the best tortilla, season the eggs prior to cooking, gently cook the potatoes in olive oil, and flip the eggs to ensure even cooking.
Jansson's Temptation, a beloved casserole in Sweden, is essentially scalloped potatoes.
Potatoes are sliced thinly and alternated with onions, pickled sprats, salt, and pepper then coated in cream and a sprinkle of breadcrumbs before baking.
Rösti has roots in Switzerland. It's made of fried grated potatoes often topped with an egg, bacon, and sometimes cheese.
The crispy hash pairs well with spinach for breakfast.
Lamb or beef makes up the bulk of traditional UK shepherd's pies. They're then covered in a crust of potato and cheese.
Sources say it was originally a way to repurpose leftover meat, but it's now a popular comfort food on its own.
The secret ingredient in traditional lemoni patatas is semolina flour. It adds a nice kick and crunch to the final dish.
The potatoes absorb the moisture from the juices, creating a juicy, fluffy, and crispy potato topped with oregano.
Potato tahdig is a warm, hearty comfort dish hailing from Iran.
Potato slices are arranged in a mound in the pot, infused with saffron. After the rice is cooked with a bit of oil, the pot is overturned to reveal a stunning display of golden potatoes.
Curry potatoes are a popular dish often served with stew.
The potatoes are typically enriched with spices like turmeric, cinnamon, coriander, chili sauce, tomato puree, and chopped parsley.
Causa rellena is like a cold potato cake stuffed with salad, avocado, mayo, and tomatoes. It's then balanced out with a topping of black olives.
The dish seems to have been born out of the Pacific War of 1879 between Chile and Peru and Bolivia. The Peruvian army relied on potatoes and ate them "for the cause."
Bolani is a traditional Afghan flatbread stuffed and baked with either spinach, pumpkin, red potato, or green-lentil filling.
It is often paired with a spicy cilantro chutney.
Classic potato latkes are made from hand-grated potatoes fried in oil.
The Hanukkah staple is said to have roots in an old Italian Jewish custom. The original latkes were made of deep-fried ricotta.
The vegetarian potato dish is traditionally enjoyed during the Lenten season in the Catholic Church.
Made with fine bulgur, red-pepper paste, finely chopped peppers, boiled potatoes, parsley, and cumin, they're later mashed and rolled into a cigar-like shape.
They can be served wrapped in lettuce or grape leaves.
Pirozhkis buns are typically stuffed with mashed potatoes and other fillings before being either baked or fried.
This dish is often served with a garlic dip.
Papas rellenas are essentially mashed-potato croquettes that are stuffed with picadillo or ground-beef hash and fried.
The warm dish is a filling appetizer or snack.
This story was originally published in July 2018 and most recently updated on November 7, 2024.