Finger Foods Around The World (Slideshow)
Baba Ghanoush — Turkey
This iconic eggplant dip is smoky, rich, creamy, and an incredibly popular dish all over the Mediterranean and Middle East. It's most often eaten with chunks of pita.
Bao — China
These fluffy soft dough buns are usually steamed (though sometimes they come baked too) and are stuffed with a variety of fillings (pork, beef, vegetables). They're light and buoyant and are often dipped in a soy-based sauce for extra flavor.
Bichak — Afghanistan
You can get both sweet and savory versions of the this triangular treat, which is folded pastry filled with cheese, meat, jam, fruit... and just about anything else you can put in a pastry. It's often enjoyed towards the end of a meal or party, or as a light snack.
Bruschetta Alla Romana — Italy
Most of us are familiar with this toasted bruschetta dish that's topped with garlic, tomato, basil, and drizzled with olive oil, but it's most popular in its country of origin. Ingredients are also often locally sourced and the flavors depend on what part of the country you're in.
Buffalo Wings — U.S.A.
It's the quintessential American finger food, bar snack, or even light meal. These chicken wings are deep fried and drenched in sauce (often very, very spicy sauce) and served everywhere from parties to bars and restaurants across the country.
Cancha — Peru
Enjoyed along the western coast of South America, but especially in Ecuador and Peru, this finger food is made with large-kernelled maize that is deep fried until they expand and turn a golden brown, then they're dusted with salt and enjoyed hot and crunchy. Really, they're a lot like inside-out popcorn.
Coxinhas — Brazil
The name is Portuguese for "little thighs" and they're shredded chicken with cheese that are wrapped in dough and deep fried. What makes them special (an extra adorable) is that they're molded to look like little chicken drumsticks.
Dolmades — Greece
This Greek classic favorite is simple but tasty; dolmades (or dolmadakia) is from the Greek word dolma meaning "stuffed" or "filled." Grape vines leaves have been boiled (to remove the bitterness) then stuffed with rice and sometimes meat. They are most often drizzled with lemon juice for added tartness.
Falafel Balls — Middle East
This is a deep fried, crunchy ball made from ground up chick peas or fava beans (or sometimes from both). Falafel balls are immensely popular across the world but particularly in the Middle East where they can be eaten as a snack, as a finger food (often dipped into yogurt or sour cream), or as a full meal with pita, salad, and toppings.
Gefüllte Eier — Germany
This German take on deviled eggs is a popular favorite (and standard fare) at parties and meals because they are easy to make and even easier to eat!