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Every country has its own set of unique dishes. Some dishes are so woven into the fabric of the land that they have become synonymous with the place. However in the case of India, which has a highly diverse culinary culture, it is impossible to pinpoint a few classic dishes. Hop on as we take you on a gastronomical journey. We also look at some of the authentic dishes that have crossed over to other lands, becoming 'global' dishes.

HAMBURGERS - THE U.S.

 Who doesn't love a good hamburger? Even as the origin of the hamburger is debated, the dish is well loved in the U.S. and is more of an emotion. This classic dish comes with different toppings and accompaniments and has turned into a global delicacy.

ACKEE AND SALTFISH - JAMAICA

"Ackee, rice, saltfish are nice..." sang Harry Belafonte in his iconic song Jamaica Farewell'. One of the most famed delicacies in Jamaica, it is a combination of saltfish (traditionally cod) and Ackee, a West African fruit. While Ackee is the national fruit of Jamaica, Ackee and codfish is the national dish.

POT-AU-FEU - FRANCE

Pot-au-Feu translates to "pot on fire. A soup fashioned out of meat and root vegetables and spruced up with herbs, Pot-au-Feu is the signature dish of France. This traditional dish often uses beef as the meat. The dish is served in two courses. The broth is sieved and served separately from the meat. This is a well-loved meal in France.

KUNAFA - PALESTINE

Here is an overload of sweetness and cheesy goodness. With a golden crust and a gooey, cheesy core, the kunafa, a dish from Palestine, makes for the ideal dessert. It traces its origin to the Palestinian city of Nablus. The base of the dish is Phyllo dough and cheese. It is topped crushed pistachio and is paired with sugar syrup.

IRISH STEW- IRELAND

On any given day, a good broth is always comfort food. The Irish Stew is one of the most popular dishes in Ireland. The thick broth is a medley of mutton and root vegetables.

PIZZA - ITALY

Italy is synonymous with pizza. The dish has traversed the world and is loved globally. The flatbread is often topped with a myriad range of toppings. The origin of pizza dates back to 1700s in Naples. The city's tradition of making pizza has even been accorded intangible heritage status by UNESCO.

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Fondue is a delicious, warm dish made of cheese. Get to know how it is eaten

Fondue is a delicious (warm) cheese dish of Switzerland, France and Italy. It is considered a national dish in Switzerland.

Fondue is basically a communal dish, which means it is generally eaten by a group of people, rather than individually. The fondue is served in a communal pot (called a fondue pot), at the centre of the table. It is kept warm by heating it on a low flame, usually with a candle or a spirit lamp. People seated at the table, dip pieces of bread into the fondue with long-stemmed forks and eat them.

According to tradition, if anyone's bread piece falls into the cheese then he or she has to pay a penalty as punishment! This style of eating is not only fun, but also gives the diners a certain sense of equality and sharing.

There are different types of cheese and so there are different types of fondue. The word fondue comes from the French word fondre, which means 'to melt. The term fondue' is now used to describe other dishes where pieces of solid food are dipped into a liquid that is kept warm in a fondue pot. For example, in the case of chocolate fondue, pieces of fruit or pastry are dipped into melted chocolate, kept warm in a pot. Other kinds of dessert fondue include honey, caramel, coconut and marshmallow.

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Baklava is a rich sweet pastry that originated in West Asia. The word 'baklava' is Turkish in origin.

Baklava is made up of layers of filo, filled with chopped nuts and soaked in sugar syrup or honey. Filo (or phyllo) is a kind of dough that can be stretched into thin sheets.

There are regional variations- almonds are traditionally used in Iran, while walnuts are preferred in Turkey. In Iraq and Iran the sugar syrup is flavoured with rose water, but the Greeks use a mixture of honey, lemon juice and cinnamon instead.

Modern-day chefs have introduced innovations by adding dates or chocolate chips to the baklava. Baklava is made in different ways and the recipes are closely-guarded secrets handed down the generations.

Once the baklava is glazed with butter and naked, it is cut into diamonds, squares or triangles. It is served with Turkish coffee on special occasions.

Picture Credit : Google