The Best New Years Resolution I’ve Ever Made

83 countries later, it's safe to say this was the best new years resolution I've ever made.

Back in January, I made a New Year’s resolution to cook a recipe from every country in the world. I was off to the races, making recipes from 19 different countries in that first month alone. Courtney was obviously the biggest beneficiary, but I would estimate that over the course of the year, I shared my journey with at least a hundred different people – probably more. I cooked from ten countries for Messy Kitchen Supper Club, raising $1,450 for three charities. I made six international recipes for Bakeolution, and brought dishes to bookclub brunches and work potlucks. I hosted friends for dinner parties – planned and impromptu – and cooked while visiting family in Atlanta and at Silver Lake. I discovered new ingredients (red palm oil, guascas, galangal, dashi powder, hominy, and Maggi cubes – just to name a few) and even cooked from a few countries I didn’t know existed (Nauru, Tuvalu). I cooked from rich countries and poor countries, warm countries and cold countries, new countries and old countries, big counties and small countries, countries with democracies and countries with dictatorships, countries that are at war with one another. And in doing so, I learned something about the culture, customs and history of every single one of them. Despite their differences, food is something they all share.

I’ve made soups, and breads, and side dishes; appetizers, breakfasts and desserts. I’ve discovered a lot of amazing recipes that I fully intend to make again – some for special occasions, and others as an addition to our regular weeknight dinner rotation. I also discovered a few that I definitely won’t (sorry, Samoa – the spam really wasn’t my thing). Below you’ll find a full list of the countries I cooked from in 2017, including the recipe I made, whether I would make it again, and what for. The vast majority of the ones I’m saying I wouldn’t make again were perfectly delightful – they just realistically won’t make the cut – either because of the number of ingredients, the difficulty, or because there are simply too many other recipes on my bucket list. Healthier, easier dishes were more likely to make the “make again cut” than more difficult, heavier dishes. Your takeaway here should be that the ones I say I’d make again are really good. Finally, I’ve pulled out my favorite recipe from each continent – the very best of the best!

What’s next? The remaining 112 countries! I’m having way too much fun to stop now.

Asia

22 Countries
★ Denotes my favorites
Country / Recipe /Category / Make Again? / Everyday or Special Occasion? 

Armenia / Kyufta Soup with Lamb & Prune Meatballs / Main Dish – Soup / Yes / Everyday
Azerbaijan ★/ Lamb Plov / Main Dish / Yes / Special Occasion
Cambodia / Fish Amok / Appetizer or Main Dish / Yes / Special Occassion
China / Jiaozi (Pork & Chive Dumplings) / Main Dish / No
Georgia / Khachapuri / Appetizer or Main Dish – Vegetarian / No
India / Pav Bhaji / Main Dish – Vegetarian / No
Iran ★/ Fesenjān / Main Dish / Yes / Special Occasion
Israel / Matzo Ball Soup / Main Dish – Soup / No
Japan ★/ Okonomiyaki / Main Dish / Yes / Everyday
Laos ★/ Laab / Main Dish / Yes / Everyday
Lebanon / Fattoush / Salad or Main Dish – Vegetarian / Yes / Everyday
Myanmar / Mohinga / Main Dish – Soup / Yes / Everyday
North Korea / Mul Naengmyeon / Main Dish – Soup / No
The Philippines ★/ Chicken Adobo / Main Dish / Yes / Everyday
Singapore / Hainanese Chicken / Main Dish / Yes / Everyday
South Korea ★/ Bibimbap / Main Dish / Yes / Lunch for the Week
Sri Lanka ★ / Thakkali Curry / Main Dish / Yes / Everyday
Syria / Ma’amoul / Dessert / No
Thailand / Yam Neua Yang / Main Dish / Yes / Everyday
Turkey / Stuffed Grape Leaves / Appetizer – Vegetarian / No
Vietnam / Pho Ga / Main Dish – Soup / No
Yemen / Hilbeh & Malawah / Appetizer  – Vegetarian / No

Africa

Total Countries: 21
★ Denotes my favorites
Country / Recipe /Category / Make Again? / Everyday or Special Occasion? 

Algeria / Makroud Tmar / Dessert / No
Angola /Muamba de Galinha / Main Dish / No
Cameroon ★/ Ndolé / Main Dish / Yes / Special Occasion
Chad / Daraba / Main Dish – Vegetarian / No
Democratic Republic of Congo / Ndizi Wa Nazi / Side Dish / No
Egypt / Om Alii / Dessert / No
Gambia / Chakery / Dessert / No
Kenya / Ugali / Side Dish / Yes / Everyday
Libya / Hraimeh / Main Dish / Yes / Everyday
Morocco / Lamb Tangine / Main Dish / Yes / Special Occasion
Nigeria ★/ Jollof Rice / Main Dish / Yes / Special Occasion
Republic of Congo / Poulet à la Moambé / Main Dish / Yes / Everyday
Senegal ★/ Thiéboudienne / Main Dish / Yes / Special Occasion
Sierra Leone ★/ Groundnut Stew / Main Dish / Yes / Everyday
Somalia / Halwa & Sisin / Dessert / No
Swaziland / Slaai / Side Dish / No
South Africa / Bobotie / Main Dish / Yes / Special Occasion
South Sudan / Sukuma Wiki / Side Dish / No
Sudan / Ful Madames / Appetizer or Main Dish – Vegetarian / Yes / Everyday
Tanzania / Mtuzi wa Samaki / Main Dish / Yes / Everyday
Tunisia / Shakshuka / Main Dish – Vegetarian / Yes / Everyday

North America

Total Countries: 5
★ Denotes my favorites
Country / Recipe /Category / Make Again? / Everyday or Special Occasion? 

Barbados / Flying Fish & Cou Cou / Yes / Special Occasion
Canada / Tourtière / Main Dish / No
Guatemala / Pepián de Pollo / Main Dish / Yes / Everyday
Jamaica / Curry Chicken / Main Dish / Yes / Everyday
Mexico ★/ Pozole / Main Dish – Soup / Yes / Everyday

South America

Total Countries: 4
★ Denotes my favorites
Country / Recipe /Category / Make Again? / Everyday or Special Occasion? 

Bolivia / Salteñas / Appetizer / No
Colombia ★/ Ajiaco / Main Dish – Soup / Yes / Everyday
Ecuador / Majado de Verde / Breakfast / No
Paraguay / Sopa Paraguaya / Side Dish / Yes / Special Occasion

Europe

Total Countries: 25
★ Denotes my favorites
Country / Recipe /Category / Make Again? / Everyday or Special Occasion? 

Andorra ★/ Escudella / Main Dish – Soup / Yes / Everyday
Austria / Linzer Torte / Dessert / No
Belgium / Rabbit Carbonnade / Main Dish / No
Bulgaria / Traditional Round Loaf / Side Dish / No
Czech Republic / Vepřo-knedlo-zelo / Main Dish / Yes / Special Occasion
Estonia / Küpsisetort / Dessert / No
Finland / Porkkanalaatikko / Side Dish / No
Germany / Kaese Spätzle / Side Dish / No
Greece / Avgolemono / Main Dish – Soup / Yes / Everyday
Iceland / Christmas Grouse with Berry Sauce & Spiced Cabbage / Main Dish & Side Dish / Yes / Special Occasion
Ireland / Soda Bread / Side Dish / Yes / Everyday
Lithuania ★/ Balandeliai / Main Dish / Yes / Everyday
Macedonia ★/ Polneti Piperki / Main Dish / Yes / Everyday
Malta / Kapunata Maltija / Main Dish – Vegetarian / No
Moldova / Vertuta / Side Dish or Appetizer / No
The Netherlands / Pannenkoeken Met Appelstroop / Breakfast / No
Poland / Bialy Barszcz / Main Dish – Soup / Yes / Everyday
Portugal ★ / Caldeirada de Peixe / Main Dish – Soup / Yes / Special Occasion
Serbia / Vasa’s Torte / Dessert / No
Slovenia / Prekmurska Gibanica / Dessert / No 
Sweden ★/ Prinsesstårta / Dessert / Yes / Special Occasion
Switzerland / Rösti / Breakfast or Appetizer / No
Ukraine ★/ Varenyky / Main Dish / Yes / Special Occasion
United Kingdom / Beltane Cake / Dessert / No
Vatican City ★/ Gnocchi Al Vaticano / Main Dish – Pasta / Yes / Special Occasion

Australia 

Total Countries: 6
★ Denotes my favorites
Country / Recipe /Category / Make Again? / Everyday or Special Occasion? 

Australia / Lamingtons / Dessert / No
Fiji / Kokoda / Main Dish / Yes / Everyday
Nauru / Coconut Crusted Fish / Main Dish / No
New Zealand ★/ Pavlova / Dessert / Yes / Special Occasion
Samoa / Palusami / Main Dish / No
Tuvalu ★/ Tuna Coconut Curry / Main Dish / Yes / Everyday

Johanna