Deep-fried Dish

Muqmad or odkac is a traditional dish consisting of preserved meat, which keeps for up to a year. It's also a great source of protein and energy for the nomads. The meat is first cut into strips and dried in the sun. After a few days, the meat is cut into tiny cubes, deep-fried, then preserved in a wooden container. Muqmad is traditionally prepared for weddings, when it's placed in a specially designed container known as xeedho, which is often decorated with seashells and leather. It is recommended to eat muqmad with lahoh, a spongy flatbread, although the preserved meat can also be consumed on its own.

Muqmad

India

Murukku is a popular Indian snack with a crunchy texture, usually made with rice flour and urad dal bean flour, combined together into a spiral-shaped paste that is deep-fried in oil. Most of these savory snacks are additionally flavored with cumin, onion powder, or chili. Originating from Tamil Nadu, its name means twisted, referring to its unusual shape. Today, it is widely available throughout India, but it is most popular in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and of course, Tamil Nadu. Murukku is often prepared for Indian festivities such as Diwali, Krishna Jayanti, and Vinayaka Chaturthi. Due to its great popularity, there are different versions of the snack, so it is sometimes dusted with sesame seeds and salt, while minced vegetables are often added to the paste before cooking.

Murukku

Nam khao is a crispy Lao salad consisting of deep-fried rice balls that are shredded and mixed with various condiments and toppings. Although it appears in numerous regional varieties, besides rice balls, it mostly employs sour som moo pork, sausages, various herbs, and sliced shallots. The whole salad is often generously seasoned with a flavorful dressing, then topped with chili peppers and chopped peanuts. This nutritious, time-consuming national favorite is easily available at many food stands and grocery stores throughout the country.

Nam khao

Nasibal is an unusual fusion of Indonesian and Dutch cuisines, a snack that is usually bought from numerous street vending machines that serve food. Shaped like a ball, nasibal consists of nasi goreng filling (fried rice and various spices) that is breaded and deep-fried in hot oil. It can also be prepared at home, typically with leftover nasi goreng. For the best results, pair the snack with Indonesian peanut sauce.

Nasibal

Pakora is a savory, deep-fried Indian snack made with pieces of vegetables such as cauliflower and eggplant. Although it is a quintessential Indian snack that can be easily found on numerous street corners, it can also be made at home. Traditionally, pakoras are at their most popular during spring, when the locals enjoy fried foods to celebrate the monsoon season. The snack comes in many varieties but is usually made from two main ingredients - potato, and another vegetable or meat of choice, which is then dipped in flour and deep-fried in ghee. Pakoras are usually seasoned with turmeric, salt, chili, or other spices. There is also bhaji, the same snack with a different name, but made without any seasonings. Bhaji is popular in South India, while pakoras are mostly consumed in North India. Regardless of the nomenclature, pakoras make a great appetizer or a snack, and it is recommended to pair them with chutneys and a hot cup of tea on the side.

Pakora

Indonesia

Panada is an interesting Indonesian take on Spanish and Latin American empanadas. These deep-fried, crescent-shaped pastries consist of leavened dough and a fish-based filling. The Indonesian version is traditionally filled with a combination of skipjack tuna, onions, coconut milk, chili peppers, and other optional ingredients. The name of this convenient snack unmistakably resembles Spanish empanadas&mdash;small pies that originated in Galicia, but which have become a staple in Latin American countries. However, it is believed that the origin of panada was influenced by the Portuguese, who were present in the area since the 16th century. Regardless of its questionable background, panada has become a traditional Indonesian snack that is mostly associated with North Sulawesi and the city of Manado.

Panada

Panades is a Belizean version of an empanada, consisting of a deep-fried, crescent-shaped corn flour dough filled with either white fish or beans, which can be red or black. These tasty, crunchy snacks are traditionally paired with a delicious salsa topping made from cabbage, peppers, and onions.

Panades

France

Panisses are deep-fried chickpea cakes originating from the French regions of Provence and C&ocirc;te d'Azur. They can be consumed as snacks or served as a side dish, and consist of chickpea flour batter, oil, boiling water, and salt. Their flavor is creamy, crunchy, and savory, and it is said that they taste like something between French fries and hummus. Panisses are best paired with ros&eacute; wines, while the children's version of these snacks might be additionally dusted with confectioners' sugar. In the 1930s, panisses were especially popular around Marseille's Old Port, when they were paired with various salads as a complete meal.

Panisses

Italy

These crescent-shaped turnovers are traditionally prepared for the Carnival season, and even though it is believed that they originated in the Apulia region, panzerotti are extremely popular all across southern Italy. They resemble small calzone pizzas&mdash;both in shape and the dough used for its preparation&mdash;but instead of being oven-baked, panzerotti are deep-fried, which is why they're also called calzoni fritti (fried calzones), pizze fritte (fried pizzas), or simply frittelle (fritters). The classic panzerotto filling consists of merely tomatoes and mozzarella, but they can be filled with pretty much anything and in various combinations: prosciutto-mozzarella, pepperoni-provolone, spinach-ricotta, zucchini-mozzarella, onion-olives-tomatoes, speck-fontina, etc. Apart from the savory variations, there are also panzerotti filled with all kinds of fruits such as apples, pears, plums, oranges, cherries, peaches, and strawberries, which are wonderfully paired with ricotta, chocolate, or custard cream.

Panzerotti

Papri chaat is an Indian dish consisting of deep-fried wafers (papri), tamarind and mint chutney, black grams, potatoes, and dahi. The ingredients are layered, and the dish is usually sprinkled with sev&mdash;fried chickpea noodles&mdash;and chaat masala&mdash;a spice mix which combines cumin, coriander, dried mango and ginger, as well as chili, asafoetida, and black pepper. The dish is a common street food item, and it is usually enjoyed as a filling, convenient snack. It is mainly found in North India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Papri chaat

P&acirc;rjoale are popular Moldovan and Romanian meat patties and meatballs made from lamb, pork, beef, or a combination of the three. The meat is usually combined with garlic, eggs, and fresh herbs such as dill, thyme, and parsley. These patties or balls are rolled in breadcrumbs and deep-fried in hot oil, keeping the meat tender and juicy. P&acirc;rjoale are typically served on rye bread with some whole-grain mustard.

Pârjoale

Parmo is a popular British dish consisting of a chicken cutlet that is deep-fried in breadcrumbs, covered in creamy sauce, and topped with anything from cheese and bacon to pepperoni and garlic sauce. The dish is traditionally served with a large portion of chips and a salad on the side. It is believed that Parmo originated in a Middlesbrough restaurant in the 1950s. Although the name of the dish is derived from another dish, chicken Parmesan, it is typically topped with cheddar cheese, and never with parmesan.

Parmo

One of the most common fast food items in Brazil is known as pastel, a deep-fried, stuffed pastry. This half-circle or rectangle-shaped miniature pie is stuffed with a variety of ingredients, most commonly shredded chicken, ground beef, mozzarella, or small shrimps. Sweet varieties also exist, and they are usually made with chocolate, bananas, or guava jam, but they are not as common as their savory counterparts. The exact origin of the dish is not familiar, but it is believed that pastel evolved from the Chinese spring roll, which was brought to Brazil by Japanese immigrants. The shape and the ingredients changed, but pastel retained its thin and crispy outer layer. They are usually served hot and are most commonly accompanied by beer or a glass of sugarcane juice. It is a snack that is usually sold in snack bars, and it is almost always meant to be eaten by hand.

Pastel

Portugal

Pataniscas are traditional Portuguese fritters made primarily from salted cod (bacalhau). The dish is characterized by its simple batter, which typically includes flour, eggs, and finely chopped onions and garlic, mixed with flaked cod. The batter is then spooned into hot oil and fried until golden brown and crispy. Pataniscas are commonly served as appetizers or snacks, often accompanied by a side of rice, salad, or beans. They are a popular choice in Portuguese cuisine for their flavorful and satisfying taste. These fritters are especially connected with the city of Lisbon and the Estremadura province.

Pataniscas

Pecel lele is a Javanese delicacy consisting of deep-fried catfish paired with sambal paste and vegetables such as cucumbers, string beans, lettuce, and cabbage. Tofu, tempeh, and steamed rice are often seen on the side, depending on regional preferences. It is recommended to pair the dish with a glass of fresh orange juice or tea. Flavorful, inexpensive, and nutritious, it is a favorite meal of numerous Javanese people who often buy it from street stands called warung tenda, which are usually open from late in the afternoon until midnight. Since pecel lele is affordable and uses only the freshest ingredients, the dish has also spread to neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore.

Pecel lele

Pempek is a traditional fish cake made with ground fish meat and tapioca. The actual origin of this dish is the city of Palembang, situated in the South Sumatra province. The origin story of pempek says that an old Palembang citizen was tired of the traditional fried or grilled fish, so he thought of an innovative way to ground the meat, mix it with tapioca flour, and deep-fry it to get a crunchy and delicious snack. He then used to cycle through the city and sell the fish cakes to Palembang citizens. Over time, pempek was recognized as a praise-worthy snack, and today it is considered to be a traditional Indonesian delicacy. These round or rectangular cakes are usually steamed, and right before serving they are fried in vegetable oil and cut into bite-sized pieces. Sliced cucumbers, noodles, or rice are typical accompaniments, and the traditional sweet and sour sauce is usually served on the side so the customers can adapt the flavors to their taste.

Pempek

Ukraine

Perepichka is an iconic Ukrainian street food item consisting of a soft, not overly seasoned sausage that is enclosed within yeasted dough. The whole combination is deep-fried, and it is usually served piping hot without any condiments. The first version of this favorite Kyiv street food appeared in 1981 at a small kiosk on Bohdan Khmelnytsky street. Perepichka was an instant success, and this hole-in-the-wall food outlet became somewhat of an institution for both locals and tourists.

Perepichka

Pescado frito estilo de Yojoa

Pica pollo refers to Dominican-style fried chicken that is often eaten with a side dish of fried plantains and paired with a refreshing beverage on the side &mdash; usually beer or Coke. The freshness of the chicken comes from lemon juice in which it is marinated, while the coating mostly consists only of flour, or rarely, cornmeal.

Pica pollo

Pizza fritta, also known as fried pizza, is a popular Italian street food originating from Naples. To prepare pizza fritta, the dough (similar to traditional pizza dough, but allowed to rise longer, resulting in a lighter and fluffier texture) is rolled out into small rounds or rectangles and filled with classic pizza ingredients such as tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, ham, mushrooms or vegetables. The edges of the dough are then folded over to enclose the fillings, and the pizza is carefully deep-fried in hot oil until golden brown and crispy. Once fried, pizza fritta is usually consumed piping hot from a piece of greasy paper, and is sometimes topped with additional ingredients like fresh basil, grated Parmesan cheese, or a drizzle of olive oil. It is typically enjoyed as a handheld street food.