My friend Sean posted something similar to this on Facebook and I thought it was a simple, smart, idea-generator for creating inventive stews and other International dishes. Once you’ve got the basic savory ingredients for a stew (onion + meat/protein + broth), you can play with the following combinations.
Note: Vegetarian and vegan meat substitutions can include cubes of tofu, slices of seitan, tempeh cubes, cooked beans, or split peas.
BOLIVIA—corn oil, animal fats, cooked quinoa, chunks of acorn or butternut squash, potatoes, bell pepper, onions, oregano, cumin, chili pepper flakes, beans, corn, beef, pork, chicken
BRAZIL—corn oil, animal fats, black beans, onions, chopped tomatoes, kale, oregano, parsley, bay leaves, sliced sausages, beef, pork, lamb, boar
CHINA—sesame oil, shiitake mushrooms, fresh ginger, shallots, green onions, water chestnuts, green beans, tamari, toasted sesame oil, chili pepper flakes, Five Spice powder, sliced carrots (Chinese rice wine in broth), rice, pork, poultry, beef
FRANCE—extra virgin olive oil, butter, red wine, herbs d’provence, saffron, parsley, thyme, marjoram, bay, sage, tarragon, nutmeg, garlic, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, poultry, fish, beef, lamb, rabbit
GHANA—peanut oil, peanut butter, red/green chilies, thyme, garlic, onions, ginger, peppers, curry, basil, nutmeg, sumbala, tetrapleura tetraptera (prekese) and bay leaf, cubed sweet potatoes, tomato paste, beef, pork, goat, lamb, chicken, smoked turkey, tripe, fried fish
HAWAI’I—coconut oil, pork fat, sesame butter (tahini), tamari, wasabi, soy sauce, chili sauce, fresh ginger, Five Spice powder, garlic, chopped kale, yams, onions, rice, poultry, pork, fish, seafood
HUNGARY—animal fats, paprikas (smoked, hot, bittersweet, sweet), black pepper, onions, chicken, pork, beef, game animals, finished with sour cream
INDIA—butter or ghee, ginger, cumin, coriander, paprika, cayenne, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves, fresh peppers, onions, rice, poultry, fish, seafood, beef, buffalo, goat, pork, lamb, finished with yogurt
IRAN—extra virgin olive oil, raisins, walnuts, cardamom, allspice, saffron, lime zest, pomegranate molasses, onions, rice, lamb, chicken
IRELAND—Kerrygold butter, animal fats, Guinness, carrots, potatoes, savoy cabbage, onions, tomato sauce, caraway, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, powdered mustard, lamb, beef, pork, fish, seafood
ITALY—extra virgin olive, red bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, cannellini beans, basil, red wine, lemon juice, rice, pasta, beef, pork, rabbit, many cured meats, poultry, fish, seafood
JAPAN—sesame oil, miso paste, dried bonito flakes, mirin, tamari, wasabi, chili oil, chopped wakame and other seaweeds, shiitake mushrooms, scallions, enoki mushrooms, rice, udon noodles, chicken, beef, pork, fish, seafood
INDONESIA—coconut oil, coconut milk, cumin, coriander, onions, ginger, green beans, carrots, lime juice, rice, beef, goat, chicken, fish, seafood
JEWISH NY—butter, onions, celery, carrots, parsnip, parsley, dill, kosher beef, lamb, goat, poultry, fish
MEXICO—corn oil, animal fats, anise, coriander, cumin, thyme, allspice, oregano, clove, chili peppers, raisins, ground almonds, Mexican chocolate, onions, tomatoes, zucchini, rice, corn meal, poultry, beef, fish, seafood
MOROCCO—extra virgin olive oil, onions, Moroccan dry-cured olives, harissa, cumin, saffron, ras al hanout (roasted cumin, ginger, peppercorn, chili peppers, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, coriander, paprika, fenugreek, turmeric, saffron, dried rose petals), rice, beef, goat, lamb, chicken, seafood
NEPAL—butter, cumin, bay leaves, turmeric, coriander, onions, tomato, cilantro, rice, buffalo, goat, chicken
PALESTINE—extra virgin olive oil, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, eggplant, zucchini, onions, rice, chicken, lamb, seafood
REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA—extra virgin olive oil, onions, kalamata olives, walnuts, cinnamon, coriander, paprika, cayenne, tarragon, clove, cilantro, rice, chicken, turkey, pork
SOUTHEAST ASIA—coconut oil, coconut milk, fish sauce, shrimp paste, (miso paste is a decent sub for fish sauce/shrimp paste), lime juice, rice vinegar, Thai basil, cilantro, galangal, lemongrass, shallots, kaffir lime leaves, tamarind, garlic, five-spice powder, curry powder, cumin, turmeric, chili peppers, scallions, rice, rice noodles, chicken, fish, seafood
SPAIN—extra virgin olive oil, cubed potatoes, saffron, bay leaves, parsley, capers, eggplant, zucchini, onions, rice, beef, chicken, fish, seafood