Desserts From Around The World That You May Not Have Heard Of

While we may think we are well-versed in sweet treats, there is a lot out there we may not have heard of. Keep reading to learn about some popular desserts from around the world that may not be very well-known in Western society.

Qatayef Asafiri

Originating from Syria and Lebanon, qatayef asafiri is a pancake filled with various fillings, such as ashta (a rich clotted cream), nuts, ricotta or mascarpone cheese. Then it’s fried and covered in simple syrup. 

Those from the Middle East often associate the dessert with the Islamic month of Ramadan. The recipe can also be adjusted to be either sweet or savoury.

@mariumsfoodchannel

Qatayef Asafiri filled with ashta delicious Arabia dessert in Ramadan #qatayef #qatayefrecipe #ramadan2022 #eiddessert #foodtiktok #fypシ #mariumrizi #mariumsfoodchannel #recipe #foodlover #middleeasternfood #nobakedessert

♬ Oriental – Arabia Pro

Malva Pudding

Popular in South Africa, malva pudding is a warm and spongy cake, made delicious with apricot preserves, baking soda, vinegar, and custard. 

Making the dessert involves similar steps to making tres leches cakes. Because of their physical similarities, many don’t know that the dish originated in South Africa. 

Overall, it’s a delicious dessert to serve during a high tea. It’s sweet, spongy, rich, and buttery.

@kennethtebogomiddleton

Malva Pudding Recipe – 1 cup white sugar – 2 large eggs – 1 tbsp apricot jam – 1 ¼ cups cake flour – 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (add to batter with Flour) – ½ tsp salt – 2 tbsp (30g) butter, melted – 1 tsp vinegar (white or apple cider) – ½ cup (125ml) milk Sauce: – 1 cup (250ml) cream – ½ cup (125ml) milk – ½ cup sugar – ½ tsp salt – 2 tbsp butter – 1 tsp vanilla extract 35 mins at 180 C for bigger baking dishes and 20 mins for smaller

♬ original sound – Kenneth Tebogo Middleton

Mishti Doi

Hailing from the region of Bengal, mishti doi is made from fermented yogurt, then baked and caramelized. The dessert is often creamy, thick and silky. 

Mishti doi tastes both sweet and earthy because the dessert is often prepared in clay pots. The name of the dessert directly translates to “sweet yogurt” in Bengali (Bangla). Legends told in Bengal suggest that consuming mishti doi before working on assignments leads to academic success.

@rootedinspice

should I get two dogs named Mishti & Doi

♬ If I Got It (Your Love Brought It) – Aaron Frazer

Chak-Chak

Chak-chak comes from Tatarstan, Russia, but is also well-known in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Iran. Each region has slight variations when it comes to the flavours and procedures of making the dish. 

This dessert consists of pieces of fried dough coated in a hot syrup or honey. Despite its simple description, it is a dessert that is definitely worth trying because it is irresistibly sweet! Sometimes simplicity is the key to deliciousness!

@mumcookbook

Chak Chak Recipe ✨️🎄 Ingredients For the Dough: 3 eggs 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking powder 300 g flour (sifted) For the Syrup: 300 g sugar 150 ml water Half an orange (juice and some zest/peel) 180 g honey Instructions 1. Prepare the Dough: Mix eggs, salt, and baking powder in a bowl. Gradually add sifted flour and mix. Add more flour if necessary to form a workable dough. Knead well for a few minutes until smooth. Cover the dough and let it rest for 10–15 minutes. Roll the dough flat and cut into strips. Mix the dough strips with flour to make them non-stick. 2. Fry the Dough: Heat oil in a pan. Fry the small strips of dough until they turn yellow to golden in color. Remove from oil and let them drain on paper towels. 3. Prepare the Syrup: Combine sugar, water, and orange juice in a pot. Boil over medium heat for about 5–6 minutes, adding orange zest/peel while boiling. Stir in honey while boiling. 4. Combine: Pour the hot syrup over the fried strips while they’re still hot. Let the dish sit for 4–5 hours before serving. Enjoy! #ChakChak #Recipe #Snack #Foryoupage #fyp #4u

♬ Chaki Chaki – Piano Version – Daler Nazarov

Khanom Chan

Often described as a Thai layer cake, khanom chan contains layers of a tropical plant called “pandan,” as well as coconut. The two main ingredients are rice flour and tapioca, giving it a jelly-like consistency. 

This nine-layered dessert usually comes in bright, vibrant colours, and it’s sometimes made into cool shapes like flowers. In Thailand, the number nine is associated with luck, prosperity, and all things good. Because of this, khanom chan is a popular gift.

@thekitchn

Khanom chan, which translates to “layered dessert,” is a bouncy, squishy, and slightly coconutty Thai treat. @ali :) makes them all of the time as a show-stopping dessert to bring to parties and celebrations of all kinds, like Songkran, also known as the Buddhist New Year or Thai New Year! Get more details on how to make khanom chan at the link in bio. #thaifood #desserts #khanomchan

♬ original sound – The Kitchn

Mazamorra Morada

Made from purple corn, cinnamon, cloves, and dried fruit, mazamorra morada is a Peruvian pudding with a striking deep purple colour. Its unique fruity flavour is often balanced with tangy fresh or dry fruits layered on top. 

It has a more refreshing effect than other desserts. Think of it as something similar to blackberry pie filling, but more tropical, and with some added spice.

@freshofftheraq

Rice Pudding w/ Purple Corn Pudding 🍚💜🌽 aka Arroz con Leche y Mazamorra Morada! This combo is amazing, never had anything like it. The recipe will be on Substack tomorrow. ✨ #arrozconleche #mazamorra #ricepudding #purplecorn #chichamorada

♬ original sound – Raquel

Martabak Manis

Martabak manis is a popular street food in Indonesia; however, it is believed that the dessert may have origins in the Middle East.

This dessert is often only available in the evenings and consists of a thick pancake folded in half, with a sweet filling sandwiched between. Martabak manis is typically described as pancakes, although they have a much different appearance than the pancakes you get at Denny’s. Some popular fillings include chocolate sprinkles, chopped peanuts, condensed milk, and Nutella.

@andy_cooks

Martabak Manis Ingredients – 225g plain flour – 1 egg – 25g sugar – 1 tsp vanilla essence – 325ml water – 0.5 tsp salt – 1 tsp baking soda – 50g shredded cheddar cheese – 2 tbsp nutella – 1 tbsp condensed milk Method 1. In a mixing bowl, add the egg, sugar and vanilla essence. Whisk well until you have a light batter. 2. Sift the flour into the bowl mix, then add the water and salt and mix through. 3. Cover the bowl and leave the batter in the fridge for 1 hour to rest. 4. After an hour, mix the baking soda with a small amount of water until it dissolves, then mix that through the rested batter. 5. In a nonstick pan over medium heat, add the batter and swirl it around the pan going up the edges. 6. After 2-3 minutes, you should start to see small bubbles come to the top. Sprinkle some sugar over the top and place a lid on the pan and turn the heat to low. Cook for a further 3-4 minutes or until the pancake is cooked through. 7. Turn out from the pan and add the cheese on half of it and the nutella on the other half. Then drizzle the condensed milk over the top, fold it over and cut into portions. 8. Enjoy! #streetfood #cooking #baking #foodtiktok

♬ edamame – bbno$

Title

Dessert is eaten all over the world, and no matter how much one may claim to have a sweet tooth, it is very likely there is a sweet treat out there that you would love, but haven’t been exposed to yet.

Whether it’s following a new recipe you find online, or travelling halfway across the globe to try it from a street vendor, these desserts are worth trying. Bon appétit!

• culture
• dessert
• food