Comfort foods are familiar, simple
foodFood is any substance, usually composed of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water, that can be eaten or drunk by an animal, including humans, for nutrition or pleasure. Items considered food may be sourced from plants, animals or other categories such as fungus or fermented products like alcohol...
s that are usually home-cooked or eaten at informal restaurants. They are foods that are often emotionally significant to a person or group of people and are sometimes related to pleasant associations of
childhoodChildhood is a broad term usually applied to the phase of development in humans between infancy and adulthood.-Age definition of a child:...
.
Comfort food is typically inexpensive, uncomplicated, and easy to prepare. Many people eat comfort food because it is generally easily digestible, is tasty and flavorful, or as a way to reward oneself.
The term "comfort food" was added to the
Webster's DictionaryWebster's Dictionary is the name given to a common type of English language dictionary in the United States. The name is derived from lexicographer Noah Webster and has become a genericized trademark for this type of dictionary....
in 1972.
Various foods or snacks could fill the urge for a comfort food depending on a person's taste, but in any given
cultureCulture is a term that has different meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
or
cuisineCuisine is a specific set of cooking traditions and practices, often associated with a specific culture. It is often named after the region or place where its underlining culture is present...
there are foods that become widely accepted comfort foods.
Comfort food has always been the staple of
dinersDiners can mean:* Diners Club International, a credit card company* plural of "diner", see Diner...
and other informal restaurants, as well as home cooking.
Comfort foods are familiar, simple
foodFood is any substance, usually composed of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water, that can be eaten or drunk by an animal, including humans, for nutrition or pleasure. Items considered food may be sourced from plants, animals or other categories such as fungus or fermented products like alcohol...
s that are usually home-cooked or eaten at informal restaurants. They are foods that are often emotionally significant to a person or group of people and are sometimes related to pleasant associations of
childhoodChildhood is a broad term usually applied to the phase of development in humans between infancy and adulthood.-Age definition of a child:...
.
Description
Comfort food is typically inexpensive, uncomplicated, and easy to prepare. Many people eat comfort food because it is generally easily digestible, is tasty and flavorful, or as a way to reward oneself.
The term "comfort food" was added to the
Webster's DictionaryWebster's Dictionary is the name given to a common type of English language dictionary in the United States. The name is derived from lexicographer Noah Webster and has become a genericized trademark for this type of dictionary....
in 1972.
Types of comfort foods
Various foods or snacks could fill the urge for a comfort food depending on a person's taste, but in any given
cultureCulture is a term that has different meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
or
cuisineCuisine is a specific set of cooking traditions and practices, often associated with a specific culture. It is often named after the region or place where its underlining culture is present...
there are foods that become widely accepted comfort foods.
Comfort food has always been the staple of
dinersDiners can mean:* Diners Club International, a credit card company* plural of "diner", see Diner...
and other informal restaurants, as well as home cooking. Traditionally, there has been an emphasis on
authenticityAuthenticity refers to the truthfulness of origins, attributions, commitments, sincerity, devotion, and intentions.Authenticity or Authentic may refer to:*Authentication, having passed the tests thereof...
and low cost. One recent development, however, as chefs have explored the roots of
American cuisineAmerican cuisine can refer to the cuisine of several regions:*Latin American cuisine*North American cuisine*Cuisine of the United States...
and tried to define it as a unique style, is the advent of fine dining comfort food restaurants that feature more careful cooking and presentation, higher quality and fresh
organicOrganic foods are made according to certain production standards. For the vast majority of human history, agriculture can be described as organic; only during the 20th century was a large supply of new synthetic chemicals introduced to the food supply...
ingredients, and consequently, higher prices.
United States
Favorite home-made comfort foods in the US include chocolate cake, meatloaf,
macaroni and cheeseMacaroni and cheese was created to be a common casserole, similar to the British dish cauliflower cheese....
, mashed potatoes (or twice-baked potato),
applesauceApple sauce is a loose or chunky purée made of cooked or baked apples. It can be made with peeled or unpeeled apples and a variety of spices . Fruit flavorings or sweeters such as sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or sucralose are also commonly added. Apple sauce can be fine or chunky...
,
fried chickenFried chicken is chicken which is coated with flour, a breading mixture or batter and then deep fried, pan fried or pressure fried. The breading adds a crispy crust to the exterior...
, chicken noodle soup,
pizzaPizza is a world-popular dish of Italian origin, made with an oven-baked, flat, generally round bread that is often covered with tomatoes or a tomato-based sauce and cheese. Other toppings are added according to region, culture, or personal preference.Originating in a part of Italian cuisine, the...
,
peanut butterPeanut butter is a food paste made from ground dry roasted peanuts. Major consumer brand peanut butter contains hydrogenated vegetable oil to stabilize it and prevent oil separation, salt to prevent spoilage, and dextrose and other sweeteners to enhance taste. Peanut butter marketed as Natural, or...
,
ice creamIce cream or ice-cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners. In some cases, artificial flavourings and colorings are used in...
,
baconBacon is a cured meat prepared from a pig. It is first cured in a brine or in a dry packing, both consisting largely of salt; the result is fresh bacon . Fresh bacon may then be further dried for weeks or months , boiled, or smoked. Fresh and dried bacon must be cooked before eating...
,
chicken and dumplingsChicken and Dumplings is a popular soul food dish commonly found in the southern United States that is also attributed to being a French Canadian meal that originated during the Great Depression. A dumpling in this context is a mixture of either flour, shortening, and water or milk or flour and...
,
eggsAn egg is a round or oval body laid by the female of any number of different species, consisting of an ovum surrounded by layers of membranes and an outer casing, which acts to nourish and protect a developing embryo and its nutrient reserves...
, and hash browns for breakfast. Many creative mixes of foods have emerged that people term as comfort foods. Some also would consider
potato chipPotato chips are thin slices of potato that are deep fried or baked until crispy. Potato chips serve as an appetizer, side dish, or snack. Commercial varieties are packaged for sale, usually in bags...
s as comfort food.
Canada
Comfort food in Canada has many similarities with comfort food in the United States. However, distinctively Canadian comfort food exists. These include
poutinePoutine is a dish consisting of French fries topped with fresh cheese curds, covered with brown gravy and sometimes additional ingredients....
, which originated in the province of
QuebecQuebec is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking identity and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and is considered a distinctive part of
Québécois cuisineQuebecs traditional cuisine is today being rediscovered and is as rich and diverse as Quebec itself. The historical context of 'traditional' Quebec cuisine is from the fur trade period and many dishes have a high fat or lard content...
, as well as
beaver tailBeaverTails are fried dough pastries individually hand stretched to resemble a beaver’s tail sold by BeaverTails Canada Inc in Ottawa and some other Canadian cities....
pastries in
eastern CanadaEastern Canada is generally considered to be the region of Canada east of Manitoba, consisting of the following provinces:* New Brunswick* Newfoundland and Labrador* Nova Scotia* Ontario* Prince Edward Island* Quebec...
. The former consists of
french friesFrench fries , fries, or french-fried potatoes are thin strips of deep-fried potato...
with cheese curds and gravy, while the latter is a Canadian equivalent of
fried doughFried dough is a North American food associated with outdoor food stands in carnivals, amusement parks, fairs, rodeos, and seaside resorts . Fried dough is the specific name for a particular variety of fried bread made of a yeast dough; see the accompanying images for an example of use on...
. Macaroni & cheese,
tourtièreA tourtière is a meat pie originating from Quebec, usually made with ground pork and/or veal, or beef. It is a traditional part of the Christmas and/or Christmas Eve réveillon and New Year's Eve meal in Quebec, but is also enjoyed and sold in grocery stores all year long...
and mashed potatoes are popular comfort foods in Canada .
Ireland
Typical comfort foods in
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
are boiled stews such as
Irish stewIrish stew is a traditional Irish dish made from lamb, beef or mutton, as well as potatoes, carrots, onions, and parsley....
and
coddleCoddle is a dish traditionally associated with Dublin, Ireland. It was reputedly a favourite dish of Seán O'Casey and Jonathan Swift , and appears in several Dublin literary references including the works of James Joyce....
and basic pork dishes such as the full Irish breakfast. These are typically served with
soda breadSoda bread is a type of quick bread in which bread soda is used for leavening rather than the more common yeast. The ingredients of traditional soda bread are flour, bread soda, salt, and buttermilk...
and
butterButter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is generally used as a spread and a condiment, as well as in cooking applications such as baking, sauce making, and frying...
. Desserts include
GoodyGoody is an Irish dessert-like dish made by boiling bread in milk with sugar and spices. This dish is eaten on St. John's Eve....
and
BarmbrackBarnbrack is a yeasted bread with added sultanas and raisins. Usually sold in flattened rounds, it is often served toasted with butter along with a cup of tea in the afternoon. The dough is sweeter than sandwich bread, but not as rich as cake, and the sultanas and raisins add flavour and texture...
.
Indian / Pakistani
Comfort food for vegetarians in the North include Dhal (lentil) and Roti (bread). In the South it is rice and Sambar. In the East it would be rice and fish. Another comfort food is Khichuri.
Japan
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
has many types of comfort food, typically simple, hearty, inexpensive dishes like
miso soupis a traditional Japanese soup consisting of a stock called "dashi" into which is mixed softened miso paste. Although the suspension of miso paste into dashi is the only characteristic that actually defines miso soup, many other ingredients are added depending on regional and seasonal recipes, and...
,
onigiri, also known as or rice ball, is a Japanese food made from white rice formed into triangular or oval shape and often wrapped in nori . Traditionally, an onigiri is filled with pickled ume , salted salmon, katsuobushi, kombu, tarako, or any other salty or sour ingredient as a preservative...
,
ramenis a Japanese noodle dish that originated in China. It is served in a meat- or fish-based broth, often flavored with soy or miso, and uses toppings such as , , kamaboko, green onions and even corn...
, chazuke, or
Japanese curryis one of the most popular dishes in Japan. It is commonly served in three main forms: , karē udon and karē-pan . Curry rice is most commonly referred to simply as ....
.
China
An example of a comfort food eaten in
ChinaChina is a cultural region, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
is
CongeeRice congee is a type of rice porridge that is eaten in many Asian countries. The word congee is possibly derived from the Dravidian language Tamil word kanji....
, often eaten when one is sick.
Philippines
Filipino comfort food is synonymous with home-cooked meals. It is also associated with street food such as
balutA balut is a fertilized duck egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell. It is commonly sold as streetfood in the Philippines...
,
isawIsaw is a street food from the Philippines, made from barbecued pig or chicken intestines. The intestines are cleaned, turned inside out, and cleaned again, repeating the process several times...
,
maniMani is a name or word occurring in several ethymologically-unrelated languagues and cultures, including:* Maní, a Spanish word for peanut* El Juego de Maní, an Afro-Cuban martial art/dance similar to Capoeira...
,
maisMais may refer to:* John A. Mais* Petre Mais* Roger Mais* Mais, Azerbaijan...
,
chocolateChocolate comprises a number of raw and processed foods produced from the seed of the tropical cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America, with its earliest documented use around 1100 BC...
, and the ubiquitous
ice creamIce cream or ice-cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners. In some cases, artificial flavourings and colorings are used in...
.
United Kingdom
In the UK comfort food may refer to childhood favorites that are still enjoyed in adulthood, such as boiled eggs and soldiers (the soldiers being buttered
toastToast is sliced bread which has been browned by exposure to dry heat . This browning reaction is a form of the Maillard reaction. Toasting warms the bread, making it more pleasant to eat for some, and makes it crisp such that it holds toppings more securely. Toasting is also a common method of...
cut into strips and dipped into the egg yolk). Traditional dishes that are often considered comfort foods in the United Kingdom include stews - especially in northern England, and "
bangers and mashBangers and mash, also known as sausages and mash, is an English/Irish dish made of mashed potatoes and sausages, the latter of which may be one of a variety of flavoured sausage made of pork or beef or a Cumberland sausage....
" (sausages and mashed potatoes). Rich steamed
puddingPudding most often refers to a dessert, but can also refer to a savory dish in some dialects.In the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries, pudding refers to rich, fairly homogeneous starch- or dairy-based desserts , or, informally, is used to refer to any dessert...
s, made from flour and suet and with considerable quantities of added sugar and spice, are also popularly considered to fall into this category . Ice cream is also a popular comfort food choice.
Spain
Fried
eggsAn egg is a round or oval body laid by the female of any number of different species, consisting of an ovum surrounded by layers of membranes and an outer casing, which acts to nourish and protect a developing embryo and its nutrient reserves...
with
fries- People :* Fries, member of an ethnic minority in the Netherlands, see Frisians and Friesland* Elias Magnus Fries , botanist* Thore M. Fries , botanist, son of Elias Fries...
or
riceRice is the seed of a monocot plant Oryza sativa, of the grass family . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East, South, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and the West Indies...
are some common comfort foods in Spain.
Mexico
Milanesa de res o pollo (chicken fried steak or chicken); quesadillas; sopa de fideo (vermiccelli soup); tacos; and beans. Chicken
soupSoup is a food that is made by combining ingredients, such as meat and vegetables with stock, juice, water or another liquid. Hot soups are additionally characterized by boiling solid ingredients in liquids until the flavor is extracted, forming a broth....
with vegetables,
scrambled eggsScrambled eggs is a dish made from beaten whites and yolks of eggs . Beaten eggs are put into a hot greased pan and stirred frequently, forming curds as they coagulate.-Sample preparation:...
with
onionOnion is a term used for many plants in the genus Allium. They are known by the common name "onion" but, used without qualifiers, it usually refers to Allium cepa. Allium cepa is also known as the "garden onion" or "bulb" onion...
,
tomatoThe tomato is a herbaceous, usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family that is typically cultivated for the purpose of harvesting its fruit for human consumption...
and serrano chile, enchiladas and
huevos rancherosHuevos rancheros is a classic Mexican breakfast dish similar to Huevos motuleños which has become popular throughout much of the Americas.Huevos rancheros means "eggs ranch-style" or "eggs country-style" in Spanish...
are some of many comfort foods in Mexico.
Brazil
Rice and Beans with Steak and Fries (Arroz e Feijão com Bife e Batata Frita), Beef
EscabecheEscabeche is a typical mediterranean aera cuisine which refers to both a dish of poached or fried fish, and not only fish that is marinated in an acidic mixture before serving, and to the marinade itself...
(Carne Louca/ Maluca),
Beef StroganoffBeef Stroganoff or Beef-Stroganov is a Russian dish of sautéed pieces of beef served in a sauce with sour cream. From its origins in 19th-century Russia, it has become popular in much of Iran, Europe, North America, Australia, South Africa, Lebanon and Brazil, with considerable variation in the...
,
ArracachaThe arracacha is a garden root vegetable originally from the Andes, somewhat intermediate between the carrot and celery...
Soup (Sopa de Mandioquinha), Bean Soup (Sopa de Feijão) and fried eggs are some of the main comfort foods appreciated in Brazil.
Argentina
MilanesaThe milanesa is a common meat dish mostly in Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay as well as in other American countries to a lesser extent, such as Mexico, where breaded meat fillet preparations are known as a milanesa .The milanesa was brought to...
(Breaded Meat) with Fries, Empanadas,
ChoripanA choripán is a popular sandwich in Argentina, Peru, Chile and Uruguay. The name comes from the combination of its ingredients: a grilled chorizo and a crusty bread such as a marraqueta or baguette.-Argentina:...
,Sausages with Mashed Potatoes,
PastaPasta is a generic term for foods made from an unleavened dough of flour and water, and sometimes a combination of egg and flour. Pastas include noodles in various lengths, widths and shapes, and varieties that are filled with other ingredients like ravioli and tortellini...
with
ButterButter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is generally used as a spread and a condiment, as well as in cooking applications such as baking, sauce making, and frying...
and Parmesan,
CanelonesCanelones is the capital of the department of Canelones in Uruguay.-Population:It has a population of 19,871 . While Canelones is the capital of the department of the same name, it has a considerably smaller population compared with two other cities in the department, Ciudad de la Costa and Las...
with
Tomato SauceA tomato sauce is any of a very large number of sauces made primarily out of tomatoes, usually to be served as part of a dish...
,
FlanCream Caramel, flan, or caramel custard is a rich custard dessert with a layer of soft caramel on top, as opposed to crème brûlée, which is custard with a hard caramel top....
with
Dulce de LecheDulce de leche in Spanish or doce de leite in Portuguese , is a milk-based sauce. Found as both a syrup and a caramel candy, it is prepared by slowly heating sweetened milk to create a product that is vaguely similar in taste to caramel...
,
AlfajorAn alfajor is a traditional confection that is found in some regions of Spain and in countries of Latin America including South America, Central America and Mexico. Its basic form consists of two round sweet biscuits joined together with dulce de leche or jam and covered with powdered sugar...
.mate con bizcochitos de grasa,
pascualinaPascualina is a diary, named after the principal character of it, Pascualina, created by Chilean Paulina Mónkeberg, since 1990.- The Diary :...
,
cerveza QuilmesCervecería y maltería Quilmes is an Argentine Brewery founded in 1888 in Quilmes, Buenos Aires Province, by Otto Bemberg, a German immigrant....
, churrasco a la parrilla con ensalada mixta, filet de merluza con pure de papas.
Italy
Comfort food in Italy varies a great deal from the north to the south of the country, due to local traditions. Spaghetti seasoned with extra virgin olive oil and garlic spaghetti
aglio e olioAglio e Olio is an EP by the Beastie Boys, released in 1995. On it, the Beastie Boys return to their roots of punk rock. Aglio e Olio means Garlic and Oil in Italian.-Track listing:...
are very popular.
PizzaPizza is a world-popular dish of Italian origin, made with an oven-baked, flat, generally round bread that is often covered with tomatoes or a tomato-based sauce and cheese. Other toppings are added according to region, culture, or personal preference.Originating in a part of Italian cuisine, the...
,
cannelloniCannelloni usually refers to rectangular pasta sheets that are rolled with a filling. However, sometimes the pasta dough is replaced with a cooked crêpe, generally 8-10 cm in length and once rolled, 2 cm in diameter...
filled with beef, lasagne,
mortadellaMortadella is a large Italian sausage or cold cut made of finely hashed/ground heat-cured pork sausage which incorporates at least 15% small cubes of pork fat...
sandwiches are a favourite. Among the sweet foods, a chocolate spread called
NutellaNutella is the brand name of a hazelnut-based sweet spread registered by the Italian company Ferrero at the end of 1963. The recipe was developed from an earlier Ferrero's spread released in 1949. Nutella is now marketed in over 75 countries across the globe....
has acquired a cult status in the comfort food world after director
Nanni MorettiGiovanni Moretti is an Italian film director, producer, screenwriter and actor.-Life and work:Born in Bruneck from the epigraphist Luigi Moretti, Greek teacher at Rome La Sapienza, and resident for his whole life in Rome, he is known for his films Caro diario and La stanza del figlio...
portrayed a character gorging on it in the film "Bianca". A recipe which has acquired a similar status in the public mind is fritatta con le cipolle, an onion omelette, after the very popular comedy character Fantozzi, portrayed by Paolo Villaggio, enjoys one while watching a football match.
External links