Deep-fried Dish

Deep-fried tofu is a traditional delicacy known as aburaage. Tofu is usually fried twice to create a pocket in the middle, so when the piece is cut, it looks similar to pita bread. With a mild flavor, soft and chewy texture, and an incredible ability to absorb other ingredients, aburaage is often incorporated into various Japanese dishes. It is usually rinsed or boiled in water and can be eaten plain, stuffed with sushi rice or fermented soybeans, used as a topping in miso soup, noodle soups, or various Japanese donburi dishes. Deep-fried tofu is an ancient Japanese ingredient, first mentioned in the 18th century, but today it is mostly produced in factories and available at many Asian and Japanese supermarkets.

Aburaage

Brazil

In Bahia, the northeastern state of Brazil, there is a dish that is considered to be the most popular street food around, called acaraj&eacute;. It consists of black-eyed peas or cowpeas that are formed into a ball, deep-fried in dend&eacute; palm oil, split in half, then stuffed with flavorful, spicy pastes made from numerous ingredients such as cashews, palm oil, and shrimp. The most common accompaniments to the dish include a tomato salad and homemade hot pepper sauces. The recipe for the dish originated during the colonial period of the country, from the Nigerian slaves who first started selling it on the streets of Brazil. Today, acaraj&eacute; represents a good example of how African influences have been shaping Brazil's cultural heritage and its culinary identity.

Acarajé

Age gyoza is a Japanese gyoza variety that's deep-fried. The dish consists of a wrapper that's filled with different kinds of ingredients such as kimchi, shrimp, mushrooms, and pork, among others. Once assembled, the gyoza are deep-fried in hot oil until crunchy, then served piping hot, so it's recommended to excercise caution while eating it. Age gyoza is traditionally dipped in soy sauce that's customarily served on the side.

Age gyoza

Aloo pie is a Trini dish consisting of fried dough that is filled with mashed potatoes which are flavored with onions, garlic, cumin, and bandhania. It can often be bought at food stands which sell another Trini favorite known as doubles. These fried pies are said to taste the best when paired with chutneys on the side.

Aloo Pie

India

Aloo tikki is a flavorful snack that is popular in North India and Pakistan. It consists of potatoes (aloo) and onions made into croquettes (tikki), which are then flavored with various spices and deep-fried. The croquettes are a staple of every chaat stall in Mumbai and North India. Aloo tikki is often garnished with onion, chutney, coriander, or hot chiles, and it is usually served with yogurt or chickpeas. In Mumbai, the snack is often topped with spicy curries. Although aloo tikki is mostly consumed in North India and Pakistan, it is also gaining popularity in the United Kingdom, especially in the East Midlands area.

Aloo tikki

Cambodia

The city of Skuon in Cambodia is so infested with spiders that the nearly-starved locals have adapted and started consuming them in the 1970s, and the practice has continued ever since. It is no wonder that the city is known as Spider Town or Spiderville. The spiders (usually tarantulas) are breaded and deep-fried in hot oil, then served with some fresh local herbs on a bed of rice or noodles. The flavor of these critters has been described as a cross between cod and chicken &ndash; at least the hairy legs are supposed to taste so, because consumers are warned not to bite into the abdomen, which contains spiders&rsquo; internal organs and bodily fluids.

A-ping

Venezuela

Arepa frita is a variety of Venezuelan arepas that is popular throughout the country, especially in the Zulia region. The arepa is traditionally grilled, dipped in batter, then deep-fried in hot oil. When it develops a golden-brown color, arepa frita is usually stuffed with cabbage, queso de mano, mortadella, and condiments such as ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise. Although it is typically filled, this variety of arepa can also be consumed on its own as a quick snack.

Arepa frita

In its basic form, Indonesian-style fried chicken consists of chicken cuts, preferably bone-in pieces such as thighs and drumsticks, which are marinated in spices, then shortly braised before being fried until golden and crispy. The marinade is typically based on traditional spices such as lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, and tamarind, but since the dish is enjoyed throughout the country, it comes in numerous regional variations that may include other spices and marinades, or various additions such as grated coconut or rice flour crumbs. All varieties of ayam goreng can be enjoyed as individual dishes, usually accompanied by rice and fresh vegetables or salads, but ayam goreng is also a common side dish at Indonesian banquet-style meals.

Ayam goreng

Ayam masak merah is a Malaysian dish made with chicken pieces that are doused in a rich, spicy, and creamy tomato sauce. Chicken pieces are first fried, then simmered in a sauce consisting of tomatoes, chili peppers, onions, garlic, and various spices such as galangal, cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom. Coconut milk is sometimes added in order to give the sauce creaminess. Ayam masak merah is not an everyday dish &ndash; it is typically prepared for various celebrations and special occasions. Serve this festive dish with rice and a fresh salad on the side.

Ayam masak merah

Austria

The Viennese version of fried-chicken initially appeared in the 18th century and was especially esteemed during the Biedermeier period. The dish consists of a whole chicken, preferably smaller in size, which is generously rubbed with spices and lemon juice. It is then cut into pieces that are dipped in egg wash, coated in flour, and then in breadcrumbs before they are fried until golden and crispy. Backhendl was originally prepared with a whole, deboned chicken, and the dish was traditionally served alongside fried offal, usually chicken liver and heart. Nowadays, it rarely appears in its original form and is traditionally accompanied by lemon wedges, fried parsley leaves, lettuce, and potato salad.

Backhendl

Trinidad and Tobago

Baiganee is a classic Trini snack that can also be served as a side dish. This vegetarian treat consists of sliced eggplant or baigan (hence the name) that is coated in a spicy batter, then deep-fried to golden-brown perfection. It is typically sold by street vendors who often pair it with a tamarind dipping sauce or mango chutney. Baiganee is also quite popular during festivities such as Divali.

Baiganee

Bakso goreng or fried meatballs is a crispy snack of Indonesian-Chinese origin. The fried or goreng version is one of the variants of bakso, a meatball preparation served in restaurants and food stalls across Indonesia. The meatballs are typically prepared using a combination of chicken, beef, fish, shrimp, and pork, or any of those. To create bakso goreng, meatballs are prepared using ground meat and a mix of pepper, garlic, sesame oil, flour, eggs, starch, sugar, and salt. The meatballs are deep-fried to achieve the golden brown, crispy exterior, and are usually served hot with chili sauce on the side.

Bakso goreng

Bamischijf is a popular Dutch snack with Indonesian influences, consisting of a slice of bami goreng (stir-fried noodles) that is coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried in hot oil. The snack is usually produced in factories, where it is frozen and then shipped to snack bars. There are also several varieties of bamischijf such as bamiblok and bamibal, but the main difference is in the shape of the snack.

Bamischijf

United States

Barberton chicken or Serbian fried chicken is a regional specialty originating from Barberton. A whole, fresh chicken is cut into pieces that are dredged in flour, then eggs, and finally in a mixture of breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper before they are deep-fried in lard. It was Belgrade Gardens, a diner that was founded during the Depression-era by Serbian owners Manojlo Mike and Smiljka Topalsky, that first started offering this fried chicken specialty. The style of preparing and frying the chicken had its roots in Serbian cuisine and was handed down to Smiljka by her mother. The traditional way of serving crispy barberton fried chicken includes three side dishes: french fries, vinegar-based coleslaw, and a sort of spicy concoction made with rice, tomatoes, and hot peppers usually called hot sauce. Regarded as one of the best fried chicken dishes in the country by USA Today, this chicken specialty is a favorite in Barberton and the surrounding area.

Barberton Chicken

Batata vada is a popular vegetarian street food item that was invented in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a potato fritter made with a combination of mashed potatoes and spices that is shaped into a ball, dipped in chickpea batter called besan, then deep-fried. The dish is typically served with a chutney consisting of shredded coconut, tamarind, and garlic. Batata vada is also a part of a popular Indian sandwich called vada pav, consisting of batata vada and chutney, served on soft buns called pav. Vada pav sandwich is the most popular way of consuming batata vada, sold at numerous food stalls throughout Mumbai.

Batata vada

Battered sausage is a simple dish consisting of a sausage that is dipped in batter and deep-fried in hot oil. The dish is popular throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia. In the United Kingdom, sausages are often dipped in the same batter where fish was battered, and they are also served with chips on the side. In County Meath, Ireland, the sausages are split after frying, filled with onions, and drizzled over with ketchup.

Battered Sausages

Fried duck is an Indonesian delicacy that is prized for its crispiness as well as its tender, succulent meat. The duck is usually cut into pieces, boiled or steamed, and then deep-fried until crispy. Before it is fried, the pieces are generously coated in spices such as garlic, ginger, turmeric, galangal, or coriander. Bebek goreng is eaten throughout the country and is traditionally accompanied by rice, fresh vegetables such as cucumber or cabbage, and the spicy sambal served on the side.

Bebek goreng

Beguni is a simple dish consists of deep-fried eggplant slices. The variations may include dipping the slices in batter or coating them with various combination of gram flour and spices. The batter is usually prepared with rice and gram flour, while the typical blend of spices includes turmeric, chili powder, and cumin. Beguni is a Bengali dish, eaten both in Bangladesh and India. It is usually served with a yogurt-based sauce or chutney on the side, and it is usually enjoyed as a snack or street food. A similar dish is known as begun bhaji, but the slices are mostly vertical and are rarely dipped in batter.

Beguni

Bhalla is a flavorful snack that is popular throughout Pakistan and North India. It is prepared with a combination of green bean paste and various spices, which is then shaped into croquets and deep-fried in hot oil. This street food staple can be bought at numerous street stands and chaat shops, where it is typically served cold, drizzled with dahi yogurt and chutneys.

Bhalla

Netherlands

Bitterballen are Dutch deep-fried, breadcrumbed, meat-filled balls. The filling usually consists of beef, flour, beef broth, and various seasonings. The dish is usually served as a snack at bruin cafes, a popular type of bar in the Netherlands. Bitterballen are traditionally paired with mustard, french fries, and bittertjes, or Dutch bitters. It is believed that the dish was invented in the 17th century, when the Spaniards occupied the country, and the wife of an Amsterdam pub owner refined and adapted the Spanish version of the dish and served it with beer and jenever. Today, bitterballen are typically consumed while still piping hot, and they can be made with a variety of ingredients, such as chicken, veal, or mushrooms.