The ancient spice known as "red gold"
Be it a battered vegetable, a bread-crumbed cutlet, or a tender piece of dough, what doesn't taste amazing after a proper fry job?
The ancient Egyptians invented the technique of frying food in hot fat, and since then each culture has taken their unique spin on it. From basic French fries to delicate tempura, nothing quite pleases the palate like a delicious crisp from a brief dip in hot oil.
Ready for a mouthwatering experience? Click through this gallery for the world's most popular fried savory foods.
A popular Japanese dish, tempura usually consists of seafood and vegetables that have been coated in thin batter and then deep-fried. It was introduced to Japan via Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century as a meatless option during holy fasting days.
An Italian favorite, fried zucchini blossoms are a delicacy, dipped in a light batter and fried until puffy and golden. The flowers can also be stuffed with ingredients such as cheese, prosciutto, rice, and herbs.
These savory cornmeal croquettes have been eaten in the Southern US since the Civil War era. They're a traditional accompaniment to fried fish.
One of Brazil's favorite street foods, coxinha (translating to "little thigh") is a crispy croquette filled with shredded chicken and cream cheese. It's then molded into a shape resembling a teardrop, battered, and deep-fried.
The history and birthplace of French fries has been contested between Belgium and France for centuries. But today, they're beloved around the world!
When craving crunchy fried chicken in Japan, katsu is the way to go. These panko-breaded cutlets are a staple of many meals, served over rice or with a curry.
A popular Indian vegetable fritter, pakora can be made with anything, including potatoes, eggplant, cabbage, and spinach. Although it's a quintessential Indian snack, it can be found on numerous street corners around Southeast Asia.
Often associated with the US South, fried green tomatoes actually have their origins in the 19th-century Midwest. A national staple today, they can be dunked in cornmeal batter or breaded with flour, cornmeal, or cracker crumbs before frying.
Though the name translates to "orange cake" in Vietnamese, there's no orange flavor in these deep-fried rice balls. Made with glutinous rice flour, they're filled with mung bean paste, and then rolled in sesame seeds and fried.
Also known as bolinhos de bacalhau, these crispy cod fritters are one of the most beloved of Portuguese snacks. They consist of dry salted cod, mashed potatoes, onions, parsley, eggs, and a variety of spices.
Tostones are twice-fried green plantains with variations found throughout Latin American and the Caribbean. Slices of plantain are fried once, then smashed and fried again. It's named after the Spanish verb tostar, meaning "to toast."
A popular Sicilian street food, these golden rice balls have been delighting Italians since the 10th century. They can be stuffed with fillings as diverse as meat ragù, mozzarella, eggplant, mushrooms, and even pistachios.
There are many ways to cook chicken, but two of the most popular, and crunchy, are American and Korean fried chicken. While the American version is known for its thick and rough crust, the Korean version has a thin, crispy batter coating instead.
Consumed in many cuisines throughout the Mediterranean, fried calamari are either batter-fried or breaded. They're usually served with a lemon wedge, and either a marinara or a creamy mayonnaise-based sauce.
Considered a national dish of Lebanon and Syria, kibbeh are fried meat-and-bulgur balls. They're made from minced beef or lamb that's mixed with cooked bulgur wheat, onions, and spices.
An iconic New England dish, fried clams tend to be served at seaside clam shacks. Clam bellies are dipped in milk and then dredged in a cornmeal-flour breading before frying. They're usually served with tartar sauce.
Naples, Italy, is famous for its airy, thin-crusted Neapolitan pizza, but also pizza fritta, or fried pizza. They're stuffed with ingredients such as ricotta, crushed tomatoes, and pork cracklings.
Shrimp toast is a Cantonese dim sum dish from Hong Kong. It's a simple savory snack consisting of shrimp paste smeared on white bread, then deep-fried to a golden crisp.
While Arizona claims to be the birthplace of chimichangas (deep-fried burritos), they are now a staple of Tex-Mex cuisine.
Chicharron, or deep-fried pork skin, has been a method for making the most of every part of the pig for centuries. It's most popular in Spain, the Philippines, and several Latin American countries. In Portuguese-speaking countries it's known as torresmo.
Traditional potato fritters from North Africa, maakoudas are made with potatoes, parsley, garlic, flour, salt, and pepper. They tend to be served as an appetizer, a side dish, or in a sandwich.
Commonly found in Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisines, spring rolls consist of thin sheets of dough that are filled with various ingredients. Common ingredients for filling include shredded pork, shrimp, mushrooms, and cabbage.
One of the most common fast food items in Brazil, pastel is a deep-fried, stuffed pastry. It's stuffed with a variety of ingredients, typically shredded chicken, ground beef, mozzarella, or small shrimps.
One of the best known specialties of Austrian cuisine, Wiener schnitzel is a thin, breaded, pan-fried veal cutlet.
Popular throughout Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa, samosas are savory pastries filled with spiced potatoes, onions, peas, meat, or fish. Its origins date back to medieval times.
Kibbeling is a popular Dutch street food made with pieces of fish. Dipped in batter and deep-fried, kibbeling is then served with a sauce, such as garlic or whiskey sauce.
Often considered Britain's national dish, fish and chips consists of fried fish in batter, which is served with fries. Popular accompaniments include salt and vinegar, as well as mushy peas.
Found in different variations around the world, croquettes were originally French. Usually prepared with a buttery béchamel base, they're formed into round or cylindrical patties, which are then coated in egg wash and breadcrumbs, and fried until crispy and golden. Popular flavors include meat, seafood, cheese, rice, mushrooms, and various vegetables.
Consumed as a popular snack in various countries, fried onions are commonly cooked by basic pan frying or sautéing of sliced onions.
Sources: (TasteAtlas) (CNN) (HuffPost)
The world's most popular savory fried foods
These are some crave-worthy dishes!
FOOD Dishes
Be it a battered vegetable, a bread-crumbed cutlet, or a tender piece of dough, what doesn't taste amazing after a proper fry job?
The ancient Egyptians invented the technique of frying food in hot fat, and since then each culture has taken their unique spin on it. From basic French fries to delicate tempura, nothing quite pleases the palate like a delicious crisp from a brief dip in hot oil.
Ready for a mouthwatering experience? Click through this gallery for the world's most popular fried savory foods.