The Best Deep Fried Foods From Around The World

1. Tempura - Japan

imagesource/twitterVeggie tempura is as light as air - made with soft flour, eggs and cold water, it's easy as pie to make! Throw some mushrooms, lotus root, leafy greens, green beans or pumpkin in & voila! Shrimp Tempura is also a popular dish because how can you not love a shrimp wrapped in batter. Hobba hobba hobba!

2. Hush Puppies - USA South

imagesource/twitterThese cornmeal croquettes are the perfect savoury snack. Also called "red horse bread" in South Carolina, as well as "three finger bread" or "red devils" throughout Georgia and Florida, the name "hushpuppies" stuck when tourists discovered the fritters in the early 20th century.

3. Churros - Spain, Portugal and Latin America

imagesource/twitterOriginally popularised in Spain and Portugal, Churros have become a bit of a worldwide sensation. The sweet pastry sticks can be eaten at breakfast, or snacking throughout the day in Latin America. The batter is piped through a star shaped top into hot oil to give the churro it's unique shape.

4. Beignets - Lousiana

imagesource/twitterYou may have heard Kimmy K talk about these things, in fact, she loved them so much when she was pregnant that she chartered a private jet just to fly her to New Orleans to eat her favourite dessert. Beignets are famously served with chicory coffee at Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter.

5. Mandazi - East Africa

imagesource/twitterThese fluffy, triangular pastries go by many names along the coast of East Africa. The yeast dough is made with milk or coconut milk and flavoured with spices like cardamom and ground nuts. In Ghana, the dough is formed into round balls and the pastries are known as bofrot or puff puff.

6. Jalebi - India

imagesource/twitterJalebi are the India cousins to Middle Eastern Zulbiya - the thin fried batter rounds date back to the medeival era. Cooked through a muslin cloth in oil, then dipped in sugar syrup for that chewy crunchy texture,. They tend to be eaten alongside snacks like samosas or rabdi.

7. Zucchini Flowers - Italy

imagesource/twitterFried Zucchini has become somewhat of a sensation in recent years, fried zucchini blossoms are a botanical bonus for gardeners but only the female flowers will grow into zucchini by summers end. The flowers are dipped in light batter and then fried to perfection.

8. Cronut - USA

imagesource/twitterThis is a modern twist on the regular donut. Cronuts are a hybrid between a croissant and a doughnut and was introduced by pastry chef Dominique Anset in his NYC bakery in 2013. The puff pastry is flavoured with cream and topped with a glaze. Urghhhh delicious.

9. Fry Bread - Native America in the US

imagesource/twitterWhen Native American farmers were forced from their farmlands onto reservations in the mid-1800s, they put the ingredients provided to them to good use - flour, sugar and lard were used to create this staple round puff pastry and has since become a popular fried treat amongst Native Americans.

10. Fried Green Tomatoes - USA

imagesource/twitterFried Green Tomatoes have always been associated with the South and Midwest. Recipes for this method date back to the late 19th century in cookbooks in Ohio as well as Jewish immigrant cookbooks. If you slice the fried green tomatoes, they can be dunked in cornmeal batter or breaded with flour, cornmeal or cracker crumbs before frying.

11. French Fries - Belgium & France

imagesource/twitterProbably the best known 'fried' food - French Fries. The history of the birthplace of French Fries has been contested between France and Belgium. The technique of frenching, or thinly slicing veg so the pieces cook evenly, explain the name. These tasty things can be served alongside steak, burgers, you name it!

12. Pakora - India

imagesource/twitterPakora is a term used fro a variety of Indian veg fritters, which can be made with anything from potatoes and eggplant to cabbage and spinach. These fritters tend to vary in shape and size depending of the vegetables used. Bread Pakoras are often stuffed with veg between them.

13. Tostones - Caribbean & Latin America

imagesource/twitterNot just fried once, but fried twice. Tostones are twice fried green plantains with variations throughout Latin America and Caribbean cuisines. Slices of plantain are fried once, then smashed and fried again to get extra crispy edges. Tostones can be salted and eaten on their own or served with dips and sauces.

14. Arancini - Italy

imagesource/twitterWho doesn't love an Arancini ball?! Because I do! Sicilian Arancini is stuffed with meat Ragu, Mozzarella, Eggplant, Mushrooms and even Pistachios and tend to come in a round shape in honor of the Sicilian volcano Mount Etna.

15. Fofoes de Arroz - Mozambique

imagesource/twitterWith a strong Portuguese influence on Mozambique cuisine, these Fofos de Arroz are breaded and fried rice balls that tend to have garlic and bay leaf seasoned then cooked rice and shrimp in the centre. The Portuguese influence comes from when Portugal colonized Mozambique in the 1500s.

16. Chiko Rolls - Australia

imagesource/twitterInspired by the tasty Chinese egg rolls, the Chiko Roll was invented in in the 1500s by an Australian caterer who wanted a substantial snack for his outdoor events. Filled with beef and vegetables and then deep fried in a pastry crust, Chiko rolls have become an iconic takeaway food in Australia.

17. Onion Bhajis - India

imagesource/twitterSimilar to the Pakora, Bhajis or onion fritters are laced with aromatic spices and have become a staple of Indian takeaway food. They're absolutely delicious and make for the perfect teatime snack and street food in South India. Thinly sliced onions mixed with batter before being deep fried and turned into an onion bahji.

18. Banh Cam - Vietnam

imagesource/twitterThe name translates to "Orange Cake", and although theres no orange flavour in these deep fried rice balls, these Vietnamese snacks are named after their visual resemblance to an orange. The balls are rolled in sesame seeds and fried before being drizzled with sugar syrup.

19. Scotch Eggs - UK

imagesource/twitterA Scotch Egg is a hard boiled egg encased in sausage then coated in breadcrumbs and fried until crispy. They can be quite rich in taste and definitely are not Scottish. This snack was invented in the 1700s apparently and has since become a popular British household snack. Scrumptious!

20. Katsu - Japan

imagesource/twitterWhen craving for some crunchy fried chicken in Japan, look no further than a Katsu! Panko fried breaded cutlets are a staple for many meals, served with rice of curry, Katsu sauce tends to be sweet and tart giving it that je ne sais quoi! You can't put your finger on it, but it tastes absolutely divine!

21. Fried Calamari - Italy & Greece

imagesource/twitterBatter fried or breaded, served with a lemon wedge and either marinara sauce or a creamy mayo based sauce, this Greek/Italian dish is often found in many restaurants around the world, usually as a starter. These simple squid rings are as trendy now as they were in the 90s making them a seafood sensation!

22. Fried Chicken - Korean & American

imagesource/twitterThere are many ways to cook chicken and the most popular is the American and Korean fried chicken. American fried chicken tends to be thick with a crust, Korean fried chicken has a thin and crispy batter coating that's double fried to get the extra crunch and then coated in gochujang honey sauce. NOM NOM NOM.

23. Fried Clams - New England

imagesource/twitterThroughout New England, roadside clam shacks can be found dotted all over Connecticut to Maine, selling the regions most famous fried seafood. Whole clam bellies are dipped in milk and then dunked in cornmeal flour breading before frying. Typically served with tartar sauce, they can be served on their own or as a clam roll.

24. Kibbeh - Middle East

imagesource/twitterThis is the national dish of Lebanon, but many versions of these fried meat and blugar balls can be found throughout the middle east. Minced beef or lamb is cooked with bulgar wheat, onions and spices and mixed and ground by hand then shaped and fried.

25. Leche Frita - Spain

imagesource/twitterLeche frita, also known as fried milk, is a popular Spanish street food. Milk is cooked with flour and sugar into a thick custard and then chilled until firm. The custard is then cut into smaller cubes and cinnamon and sugar is sprinkled over the top to make it a sweeter treat for all.

26. Prawn Toast - Hong Kong

imagesource/twitterWhat's a Chinese takeout with a bit of Prawn/Shrimp toast on the side of your plate? This savoury snack consists of shrimp paste smeared on white bread, then deep fried to a golden crisp. This dish is very popular in the UK and has since spread to dim sum menus worldwide.

27. Deep Fried Mars Bars - UK

imagesource/twitterThe deep fried Mars bar is a Scottish novelty, and has inspired many imitators, like the fried Oreos and Twinkies (they just aren't as good!) If you go into any Scottish chip shop, a frozen bar is dipped in thick batter and fried until the chocolate is gooey and slightly melted.

28. Fried Pizza - Italy

imagesource/twitterNaples, Italy, is known for their airy, thin crust pizzas, but the Pizza Fritta is the lesser known staple of Naples. This style became more popular during WWII when ingredients were scares and bombings destroyed many of the wood fire ovens to make Neopolitan pizza.

29. Chimichangas - Southwest US

imagesource/twitterDeep fried Burritos, also known as Chimichangas, are now a staple of Tex-Mex cuisine. Burritos can be filled with rice, beans, cheese and meats such as ground beef, carne asada, pork or chicken then fried in a tortilla. This crispy shell makes it the perfect Mexican snack!

30. Chicharrons - Spain, Latin America and the Philippines

imagesource/twitterPork rinds have recently become very popular on the Keto diet. Chicharron or deep fried pork skin has been a method of making the most of every part of the pig for centuries and its most commonly used in Latin American and Spanish countries. It can be served as a main course when stuffed in tortillas!