Porridge

Gachas is an ancient, traditional Spanish dish consisting of a few basic ingredients: flour, water, salt, olive oil, and garlic. In the past, it was a staple dish among shepherds and farmers, but today it is popular throughout the country. Its texture can vary from soup-like to pie-thick with a golden-brown crust, depending on the method of preparation. The dish is served warm, and some cooks like to add saffron, paprika, or fried onions in order to improve the flavors.

Gachas

Georgia

Ghomi is a traditional dish from Georgia consisting of coarse and fine cornflour combined with water. If the pieces of cheese such as sulguni are placed in the hot porridge to melt before consumption, the dish is called elarji. Ghomi is often served with different sauces on the side, such as tkemali or bazhe.

Ghomi

Griķi, which is believed to stem from the term for a Greek person, is the Latvian name for the pseudocereal known as buckwheat. One of the staple ingredients of traditional Latvian cuisine, griķi is also the name of this simple dish consisting of buckwheat groats that have been cooked in water with butter and salt before being enjoyed on their own or as an accompaniment to various Latvian specialties. Boiled buckwheat is typically eaten with butter or sour cream and salads, and it usually accompanies creamy meat sauces or meat specialties such as karbonāde (pork schnitzel) and karbonāde ar kaulu (pork chops).

Griķi

Grutjespap is a Dutch porridge made with buckwheat, milk, and salt. The combination of those ingredients is boiled until it thickens, and grutjespap is ready to be served, preferably warm and with a bit of stroop on the side to make it sweeter.

Grutjespap

Harapash is one of Albania's national dishes, made with a combination of cornflour, butter (traditionally goat butter), olive oil, milk, and cottage cheese. The mixture is blended by hand and boiled until it reaches the preferred texture. The most popular way of serving the dish is to have it as a side dish accompanying lamb offal, but it can also be plated in a thin layer and eaten on its own, sprinkled with cottage cheese.

Harapash

A staple during the month of Ramadan in numerous Middle Eastern countries is a plate of jareesh, a satisfying meal which combines coarse wheat and meat. This centuries-old dish probably originated in Saudi Arabia, but has since spread throughout the entire Middle East and India. Numerous countries in the area have created their unique varieties, employing authentic ingredients and giving the dish local names. In Middle Eastern countries, harees is usually prepared with coarse ground wheat which is mixed with water, butter, and meat, then left to soak overnight. Any excess liquid is drained, and all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed to create a homogenous and slightly elastic mixture that looks like a thick porridge. Chicken and lamb are the most common meat varieties employed in harees, but some regional variations also include mutton. The spices used in the preparation are also regionally influenced: cardamom, cinnamon, and cumin are commonly employed in Arabian countries, garlic and olive oil are usually found in Lebanon, while chili and turmeric are used in Indian variations.

Hareesh

Considered the national dish of Armenia, harissa is a thick porridge made by slowly simmering korkot (dried or roasted cracked wheat) together with fatty pieces of lamb or chicken meat. Said to have been invented in the Ararat plains, the origins of the dish can be traced back to ancient times, as well as to Gregory the Illuminator, the patron saint of Armenia, who would offer it as a charity meal. Even to this day, harissa is considered a charity meal, and is traditionally prepared each year for Easter, as well as to commemorate the Musa Ler resistance during the Armenian genocide of 1915. When it comes to the method of preparing, there are two diverging opinions; one claims it is forbidden to stir harissa until it is cooked all the way, while the other insists it should be stirred as soon as the wheat is half-cooked. The finished meal is served in bowls, topped with butter, and paired with a side of pickled vegetables and lavash flatbread.

Harissa

Heukimjajuk is a traditional porridge originating from South Korea. The porridge is usually made with a combination of ground black sesame seeds, sweet rice flour, and salt. The black sesame seeds are toasted and blended with water into a smooth mixture, and then mixed with sweet rice flour. The porridge is simmered over medium heat until it becomes slightly thin and shiny. Once done, it's seasoned with salt to taste. Heukimjajuk is often garnished with pumpkin seeds or pine nuts before it's served warm.

Heukimjajuk

Dikgobe is a dish from Botwsana, South Africa and Lesotho, consisting of a combination of peas, beans and samp, which is processed maize, giving the dish a porridge-like consistency. The ingredients are cooked in a small amount of fat or oil, while salt is used as a seasoning. Although it can be consumed on its own, dikgobe is usually served for lunch as an accompaniment to meat dishes, and it is recommended to pair it with a glass of fresh milk.

Izinkobe

Jatjuk is a traditional porridge originating from South Korea. The porridge is usually made with a combination of ground pine nuts, ground white rice, salt, and water. Finely ground pine nuts and ground rice are cooked in water and slowly simmered until the consistency of the porridge becomes slightly thick. This mild porridge is typically seasoned only with salt and garnished with whole or crushed pine nuts. Due to the fact that it's easily digestible, jatjuk is often served to the elderly and recovering patients.

Jatjuk

The fundamental dish of Russian cuisine is known as kasha, a porridge that has represented an essential Russian meal for centuries. Russian kasha refers to various dishes which are created with cereals, most commonly rice, wheat, or millet, and pseudocereals like buckwheat and quinoa. The dish is usually boiled in water and milk, and ranges from sweet to savory in flavor. It can be modified by numerous additions such as fresh or dried fruit, preserves, cheese, butter, vegetables, nuts, or honey. In the past, the porridge was traditionally prepared in cast iron pots and slowly baked in the oven during the night. This authentic Russian dish holds a strong symbolic meaning&ndash;it is the first solid meal served to children, and is typically served during funerals, thus symbolizing the circle of life. Varieties of the dish, prepared with different cereals, are often found in other Slavic countries such as Ukraine, Poland, and Belarus.

Kasha

A very old and traditional Polish dish called kasza gryczana ze skwarkami is a buckwheat porridge topped with cracklings. It consists of buckwheat groats cooked in salted boiling water, which are combined with fried bits of bacon, and sometimes fried sausage bits, onions, and garlic cloves. To preserve its warmth, people used pillows or small duvets to cover the dish, which is usually garnished with chopped parsley and accompanied by a glass of kefir or buttermilk. It pairs well with a variety of dishes, including sauces, casserole dishes, and meat dishes such as goulash. In Poland, kasza dishes, which consist of grains or seeds cooked in water or milk, are an essential part of Polish cuisine, dating back to medieval times.

Kasza gryczana ze skwarkami

Kat-kat banana is a traditional specialty that features green bananas and fish cooked in coconut milk. It is usually prepared with plantains, which are first boiled with fresh coconut milk, then mashed and combined with cooked, shredded fish fillets, usually carangue or amberjack. The banana-fish mixture is usually flavored with ginger and garlic. This dish is part of Seychelles&rsquo; Creole cuisine and is typically accompanied by chili peppers and rice.

Kat-kat banana

In Japan, kayu or okayu rice porridge is the equivalent of chicken soup in times of sickness, a common remedy for colds and fever. It is a simple dish consisting of easily digestible soft rice and water. The rice is often cooked in dashi stock or miso in order to enhance the flavors of the porridge. Due to its gentle and mild flavors, kayu is sometimes consumed for breakfast, and some hotel restaurants even serve it as a part of breakfast buffets. Since there is a much greater ratio of water to rice in the dish, it is often used as a weight-loss diet food.

Kayu

Kinteata is a traditional dish that is often described as a porridge or a soup. It is prepared with young nettles that are boiled, pur&eacute;ed, and then mixed with wheat or corn flour until the dish develops a thick and creamy texture. Kinteata is often seasoned with garlic or mint, and it is traditionally served drizzled with olive oil. It is believed that Pontiac Greeks were the first who introduced nettles and kinteata into traditional Greek cuisine.

Kinteata

Koliva is a traditional dish consisting of a combination of any of the following ingredients: boiled wheat kernels, honey, sugar, sesame seeds, walnuts, raisins, anise, almonds, and pomegranate seeds. In the Orthodox Christian religion, it is used as a ritual dish that is prepared for funerals, memorials, Lent, Slava, or Christmas, since it symbolizes death and resurrection. This unique porridge is traditionally served with powdered sugar on top, while it is customary to stick a candle in the center and light it at the beginning of the service, then extinguish it at the end.

Koliva

Madrooba ribyan is a traditional Gulf shrimp dish, particularly popular in countries like Saudi Arabia. The term "madrooba" refers to a thick, porridge-like stew made by cooking grains such as wheat or rice with meat, chicken, or seafood until the mixture becomes soft and creamy. In this case, "ribyan" indicates that shrimp is the main ingredient. To prepare madrooba ribyan, shrimp is cooked with a blend of onions and garlic, with spices like bahārāt. The grains are added to the pot and cooked with the shrimp until they become tender and mushy, resulting in a hearty, flavorful dish. This dish is often served as a comforting meal during the cooler months or as a special dish during Ramadan and other festive occasions, embodying the rich culinary traditions of the Gulf region.

Madrooba ribyan

Madrouba is a spicy and comforting Omani and Qatari porridge made with chicken, overcooked rice, and a plethora of flavorings such as turmeric, cumin, cardamom, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, garlic, and black pepper. Variations do exist, though, as there is no fixed recipe. One of the more common is madrouba made with wheat and not rice. It is recommended to serve madrouba while it is still piping hot, preferably garnished with fresh lime zest.

Madrouba

Mămăligă is a traditional porridge and the country's national dish that is often confused with polenta. It is an extremely simple dish of boiled cornmeal that was cooked mostly by peasants in the past, often acting as a substitute for bread. They would prepare it in a round-bottomed kettle known as ceaun, and after it cooled down and hardened, the porridge would get sliced with a piece of string. Mămăligă is often topped with butter, sour cream, or cascaval cheese. Another way of serving the dish includes crushing the porridge in a bowl of hot milk. In the last few decades, this simple and rural meal evolved into something bigger, so today it can also be found in modern, upscale restaurants. The dish is also very popular in Moldova.

Mămăligă

Italy

Matuffi is an old peasant dish originating from Tuscany. It's especially popular around Lucca. This robust and hearty dish is essentially layered polenta with mushrooms and sausages. It's made with olive oil, carrots, celery, onions, lean sausages, red wine, mushrooms, tomatoes, cornmeal, and grated cheese. Bay leaves are traditionally used to flavor the sauce made with vegetables, wine, crushed sausages, tomatoes, and mushrooms. When the polenta has been cooked, it's placed in serving bowls with alternating layers of the polenta and the sauce, with the addition of grated cheese in between. It's recommended to eat the dish with a spoon and follow it up with a glass of full-bodied red wine.