Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but there's not need for boring egg on toast. All around the world, people eat comforting, filling meals to start their day. For some countries, breakfast means runny poached eggs with thick Greek yogurt and pita, and for others, chocolate-filled pastries. In Asia, noodles are king, and breakfast is no exception. Make jams and spreads ahead of time and keep them in the fridge. Then make breads and pancakes in hundreds of ways.
Stateside, we're comfortable with our oversized bowls of sugary cereal and brown sugar-topped oatmeal, but there's a whole world of breakfasts out there worth exploring. Here are our favorite breakfast recipes from around the globe. Just add coffee or tea.
Stir-Fried Breakfast Noodles
Any Chinese noodle—rice, wheat, flat, thin, or broad—can be used in this simple stir-fry from author Francis Lam; it’s one of his favorite breakfast dishes. Get the recipe for Stir-Fried Breakfast Noodles »
Portuguese Salted Cod, Egg, and Potato Baked Casserole
The olive oily layers of thinly sliced potatoes, hardboiled eggs, and homemade salt cod in this Portuguese “casserole” are just as good for breakfast as dinner. Get the recipe for Portuguese Salted Cod, Egg, and Potato Baked Casserole »
Crumpets
A delectable British treat, these springy pancakes are molded in a shallow ring on the griddle and pan-fried until golden. They get their distinctive nooks and crannies—ideal for a slick of jam and butter—from a yeast-based batter boosted with baking soda. Get the recipe for Crumpets »
Turkish Poached Eggs in Yogurt (Cilbir)
Looking for a March breakfast? This egg dish is perfect. Pair it with warm bread to mop up extra egg yolk and yogurt.
Japanese Egg Custard (Chawanmushi)
Custards don’t have to be sweet. Get the recipe for Japanese Egg Custard (Chawanmushi) »
Irish Coffee Soda Bread
Espresso powder adds a jolt to this sleepy soda bread. We love it as toast for a breakfast sandwich or to mop up rich sauces alongside a dinner roast. Get the recipe for Irish Coffee Soda Bread »
Maldivan Breakfast (Mas Huni)
Test kitchen director Farideh Sadeghin discovered this simple dish while traveling through the Maldives; although fresh-cooked tuna is ideal, water-packed canned tuna works just as well. Get the recipe for Maldivan Breakfast (Mas Huni) »
Biscuits with Sawmill Gravy
One of the pillars of the Southern breakfast table, buttery biscuits smothered in a sausage-studded white gravy makes a hearty meal any time of day. A hint of cayenne brightens the gravy’s richness, but it’s even better with a dash or two of hot sauce. Get the recipe for Biscuits with Sawmill Gravy »
Danny Bowien's Hanoi-Style Breakfast Pho
This dish, which Danny Bowien serves on his breakfast menu at New York City’s Mission Cantina, is inspired by the Vietnamese soups he ate at Turtle Tower in San Francisco when he was a culinary student. Get the recipe for Danny Bowien’s Hanoi-Style Breakfast Pho »
Filipino Garlic Fried Rice with Vinegar Sauce (Sinangag)
This garlicky rice is a popular breakfast dish in the Philippines and is delicious served with fried eggs and a drizzle of vinegar sauce. Get the recipe for Filipino Garlic Fried Rice with Vinegar Sauce (Sinangag) »
Egg and Cheese Soufflé
Its name derived from the French verb souffler, meaning “to breathe” or “to puff”, a soufflé’s pillowy top will naturally rise in the oven but slightly deflate just moments after removal. The eggy treat’s fleeting moment of perfection is one of the reasons the dish is handled so delicately by chefs and cherished so deeply by diners. This savory cheese version is courtesy of chef Daniel Skurnick of Le Coucou restaurant in New York City. Get the recipe for Egg and Cheese Soufflé »
Puerto Rican Ham and Egg Sandwiches (Mallorcas)
Fluffy, eggy, buttery, sweet, coiled like a snail’s shell and generously dusted with powdered sugar, Pan de Mallorca is named for its land of origin, in Spain. Get the recipe for Puerto Rican Ham and Egg Sandwiches (Mallorcas) »
Swiss Hash Browns (Rösti)
If Plato had imagined hash browns, they’d have been rösti: fresh potatoes coarsely grated, pressed, and fried. In the dish’s native Switzerland, recipes include bacon, rosemary, caraway seeds, eggs, pasta, cheese, even coffee. These variations can be delicious, but we found the definitive version in Bern, at Restaurant Della Casa—golden, impeccable, ideal. Get the recipe for Swiss Hash Browns (Rösti) »
Muesli
This muesli is a flavorful take on the original raw-cereal mixture developed in Switzerland by Maximilian Bircher-Benner in the early 20th century. Get the recipe for Muesli »
Masa Cakes Stuffed With Eggs (Gorditas de Huevos)
These savory gorditas stuffed with chile-spiced scrambled eggs make a great breakfast meal or afternoon snack. Get the recipe for Masa Cakes Stuffed With Eggs (Gorditas de Huevos) »
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