It’s that time of year again; holidays and warm weather seem like things from a distant past, the new term is in full swing and deadlines are beginning to pile up. Those summer memories of scarfing down piping hot bowls of french onion soup in view of the Eiffel Tower or tucking into that delicious bowl of Pad Thai at a Bangkok street food stall seem a lifetime away. Fortunately for the tired student-adventurer, the Her Campus team has prepared a lip-smacking, globetrotting list of nine dishes to re-ignite the flame. Â
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Chicken liver and raw garlic together don’t sound appealing on first mention, but this cheeky little Italian recipe pulls the hat-trick off just right. The creaminess of the chicken liver finds its perfect partner in garlic, which draws out its flavour while having its sharp edge toned down. Besides, liver is a veritable storehouse of iron and the benefits of garlic are legion, packing this dish with a hardcore nutritional punch. At only 5 ingredients, this dish is an absolute steal.Â
(Image credit: Just One Cookbook)
Curry came to Japan by way of Royal Navy visits to the country at the time of the British Raj, where this popular lunchtime dish was swiftly adapted by the Imperial Japanese Navy. Japanese curry is a lot less spicy than its Indian cousin and is fairly sweet. Honey and apple-flavoured varieties are available too. The beauty of this dish lies in its versatility- any meat or vegetable combination will find an eager companion in the gentle curry sauce. Try it served piping hot over rice for the ultimate winter warmer. Â Â
3. Sukiyaki
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A popular Japanese stew with a sweet and salty flavour akin to teriyaki, sukiyaki is usually made in a hotpot but can be easily cooked in a saucepan. Japanese foods are renowned for their versatility and lend themselves well to student needs. Sukiyaki is no exception. Even though recipes may call for specific, exotic ingredients, any vegetable and meat combination will do. The only requirement is that sugar and soy sauce be added to the dish in equal proportions.Â
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For all you enchilada lovers out there, this casserole version of your favourite dish lets you make plenty at once. It is endearingly simple; instead of rolling the tortilla round the fillings, this powerhouse entails layering the tortillas in between the beans, onions and as much cheese as you could possibly want. Do feel free to add as much salsa or red sauce as you like for a dinnertime trip to Cancun.Â
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Don’t be fooled by this French recipe. Deceptively simple, all it calls for are for the potatoes and leeks to be boiled and some butter for stirring in at the end. The magic lies in the butter – it transforms the vegetables-in-water concoction into something worthy of the title haute cuisine. The recipe was recorded by American food writer Richard Olney in his cookbook “Simple French Food” which chronicles homespun French fare. Serve with baguettes for that trip to Paris sans the flight.Â
(Image credit: Divas Can Cook)
In a tribute to our cousins across the pond, this hearty American recipe is an upgraded version of the humble mac and cheese. On top of the pasta, milk, cheese and minced meat, spices are included to bring out hidden dimensions of flavour. Do run wild while customising it – suggestions include adding chili sauce for a chili helper and topping it with tomatoes and spinach for a healthier option.Â
(Image credit: Foodandwine.com)
Meatloaves were a childhood favourite of mine. So you can imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon this gem of an Italian recipe. It’s a normal meatloaf recipe, except that it’s chock-full of cheese, ham and eggs inside. This recipe is versatile; the meatloaf can be stuffed with anything – the image above shows it with proscuttio and spinach! Try it for when you have food about to expire.Â
(Image credit: Allrecipes.com)
Interestingly, the world “casserole” conjures up different meanings on both sides of the Atlantic. To a European, they refer to anything cooked in a casserole dish. The American definition entails a pasta dish with meat and vegetables, held together by a creamed soup, cooked in the oven. This dish pays homage to the concept of American casserole. Easily assembled, all it requires are cheese, a pasta of your choice, your favourite vegetables, cream of mushroom soup and canned tuna.  Â
9. Chinese Steamed Egg and PorkÂ
(Image credit: Feat of Feasts)
Childhood trips to visit my lovely Asian grandmother conjure up memories of racing against my siblings to see just how much pork and eggs we could scarf down in 5 minutes. Soft, silky steamed eggs, with minced pork hiding underneath, this dish was a childhood staple of mine. Perfect for light dinners after massive Sunday lunches or when the only edible things you have are eggs and meat.Â
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(Article Image Credit: Zero Hunger Challenge)