World Cup Challenge 2014 – 32 Dishes. 32 Countries. 32 Days!

Before the World Cup started I had what at the time seemed like a great idea; to cook a dish from every country competing before the end of the tournament. 32 dishes from 32 countries in 32 days. Sounds easy right?

It turned out to be more of a challenge than I’d anticipated, I didn’t take into account how often I eat out, I didn’t have the opportunity to do one dish per day so ended up doubling up several times.

There were days when I really couldn’t be bothered making anything special but had to in order to keep on track. I’m glad I stuck to it though, I finished and completed the challenge in time – just one hour before the final started! Ending with finalists and favourites Germany, as if it was planned all along. I had a lot of fun along the way too and made some great dishes that I wouldn’t know about otherwise, plus I discovered some amazing new ingredients such as orange blossom water, dried limes and sweet potato noodles.

Besides the challenge and foodie aspect it was also an attempt to get my kids interested in the World Cup and learning about the countries involved. It seemed to work, my 6 year old in particular now has a great knowledge of flags (although his cutting skills leave a lot to be desired as you may notice in a couple of the photos).

Here are all 32 dishes:

Algeria

El ham lahlou: Slow cooked lamb stew with chickpeas, dates and orange blossom water. Served with couscous.

El ham lahlou
El ham lahlou

Australia

Anzac Biscuits: Traditional biscuits named after the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) established in World War I.

Anzac Biscuits
Anzac Biscuits

Argentina

Ribeye Steak & Chimmichuri: Served with Hasselback potatoes (which are Swedish, sadly Sweden didn’t make the World Cup).

Ribeye Steak & Chimmichuri
Ribeye Steak & Chimmichuri

Belgium

Belgian Waffles: With bananas, cream & dark chocolate sauce.

Belgian Waffles
Belgian Waffles

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Cevapi with ajvar: Grilled minced meat (cevapi) with ajvar (red pepper & aubergine sauce) and a quick onion pickle.

Cooking Cevapcici
Cooking Cevapcici

In wraps the first time…

Cevapcici & Ajvar Wrap
Cevapcici & Ajvar Wrap

But liked them so much we made them again the next day and put them in pittas.

Cevapcici & Ajvar Pitta
Cevapcici & Ajvar Pitta

Brazil

Galinhada: Brazilian chicken stew with saffron rice. Washed down with several Caipirinhas (naturally).

Galinhada
Galinhada

Cameroon

Marinated Mackerel with Plantain & Jollof Rice.

Marinated Mackeral with Plantain & Jollolf Rice
Marinated Mackerel with Plantain & Jollof Rice

Costa Rica

Chorreadas (sweetcorn fritters) & Costa Rican Tomato & Avocado Salad.

Costa Rican Tomato Salad
Costa Rican Tomato Salad
Chorreadas & Costa Rican Tomato Salad
Chorreadas & Costa Rican Tomato Salad

Croatia

Brodet: Croatian fish stew; mackerel, salmon & sardines in red wine.

Brodet
Brodet

Chile

Mackerel Escabeche: Lightly cooked mackerel marinated overnight in a pickling liquid with lots of spices. Served with griddled sourdough and a spinach & rocket salad.

Mackerel Escabeche
Mackerel Escabeche

Colombia

Arepa’s: Topped with black beans slow cooked in IPA beer & feta with guacamole, salsa and griddled sweetcorn.

Arepa's, IPA Spiked Black Beans, Guacamole, Salsa & Sweetcorn
Arepa’s, IPA Spiked Black Beans, Guacamole, Salsa & Sweetcorn

Ecuador

Llapingauchos: Fried spicy potato cakes, topped with tomato curtido (salsa) avocado, fried eggs & hot sauce.

Llapingauchos
Llapingauchos

England

English Picnic: Including sandwiches, asparagus tart, cherry tomato tart, cheese & oatcakes, sausages and cake. We ended up eating it indoors though as it rained (of course).

English Picnic
English Picnic

France

Apple Tarte Tatin: With calvados syrup.

Tarte Tatin
Tarte Tatin

Germany

Bratwurst with Sauerkraut, Chicken Schnitzel, Pretzels & Beer.

Bratwurst with Sauerkraut, Chicken Schnitzel & Pretzels
Bratwurst with Sauerkraut, Chicken Schnitzel & Pretzels
Bratwurst with Sauerkraut, Chicken Schnitzel, Pretzels & Beer
Bratwurst with Sauerkraut, Chicken Schnitzel, Pretzels & Beer

Greece

Moussaka

Moussaka
Moussaka

Ghana

Chicken & Jollof Rice: Crispy spiced chicken with scotch bonnet laced jollof rice.

Chicken & Jollof Rice
Chicken & Jollof Rice

Honduras

Baleadas: Wraps topped with refried beans, chorizo, fried egg, avocado & hot sauce.

Baleadas
Baleadas

Holland

Wentelteefjes: Essentially Dutch version of ‘French Toast’.

Wentelteefjes
Wentelteefjes

Iran

Iranian Vegetable Stew: An Ottolenghi recipe, made with with dried limes & barberries.

Iranian Vegetable Stew with Dried Limes & Barberries
Iranian Vegetable Stew

Ivory Coast

Kedjenou: One pot, slow cooked chicken with aubergine, chilli, ginger etc.. Served with rice & plantain crisps.

Kedjenou
Kedjenou

Italy

Pizza: Homemade base & tomato sauce. Topped with pepperoni, onion, courgette, mozzarella, basil & fennel seeds.

Pizza
Pizza

Japan

Japanese feast: Including homemade sushi (salmon & avocado uramaki), miso soup. edamame & pickled daikon.

Homemade Sushi
Homemade Sushi
Sushi, Miso Soup, Edamame & Pickled Daikon.
Sushi, Miso Soup, Edamame & Pickled Daikon.

Mexico

Mixed Bean Enchiladas, Spinach Quesadillas & Guacamole.

Mixed Bean Enchiladas
Mixed Bean Enchiladas
Spinach Quesadillas & Guacamole
Spinach Quesadillas & Guacamole

Nigeria

Akara Mboro: Sort of banana doughnuts.

Akara Mboro
Akara Mboro

Portugal

Peri-Peri chicken served with sweet potato mash. ‘Algarve Salad’ which we ate everywhere on holiday a couple of years ago but couldn’t find a recipe for so created from memory. Pastéis de Nata (Portuguese Custard Tarts) for dessert.

Whole Peri-Peri Chicken
Whole Peri-Peri Chicken
'Algarve Salad'
‘Algarve Salad’
Pastéis de Nata
Pastéis de Nata
Peri-Peri Chicken
Peri-Peri Chicken

Russia

Russian Salad: Warm salad of potato, carrot, peas & pickles.

Russian Salad
Russian Salad

South Korea

Japchae: Sweet potato noodle stir fry with tofu and shiitake mushrooms.

Japchae
Japchae

Switzerland

Pan-fried venison in chocolate & grape sauce with a giant potato rosti. Followed by Toblerone, naturally.

Venison, Chocolate & Grape Sauce
Venison, Chocolate & Grape Sauce

Spain

Spanish Tapas: Including spinach tortilla, smashed chickpeas, serrano wrapped asparagus, stuffed peppers & aioli.

Spanish Tapas
Spanish Tapas

USA

Burgers: Home made beef patties, cooked medium rare; topped with onions, cheese, mustard, ketchup & pickles in a brioche bun.

Burgers
Burgers

Uruguay

Chivito: The national dish of Uruguay, essentially a giant steak sandwich filled with boiled eggs, salad and mayo. Served with a spicy Uruguayan bean salad.

Chivito & Uruguayan Bean Salad
Chivito & Uruguayan Bean Salad

Phew!

I’m impressed with myself for sticking with it and doing all 32. I’ve enjoyed eating pretty much all of the dishes, favourites include the Iranian vegetable stew, Dutch Wentelteefjes and Ecuadorian Llapingauchos. I’ll definitely be making many of them again.

Check Also

Smokehouse & Cellar, Manchester

Smokehouse & Cellar, Manchester

If there’s one thing that Manchester’s missing, it’s good barbeque food. Sure there’s Red’s; I was a fan …

2 comments

  1. That looks brilliant, well done for doing them all. Couple of recipes I’m after too!

  2. Cheers mate. Just let me know which and they’re yours!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.