5 Destination-inspired Recipes to Make You Feel Like You’re on Vacation!

With summer winding down many people are already feeling nostalgic about their last vacation. After having spent a wonderful time with your family and friends travelling, it can feel disappointing having to return back home. But there’s one great way that you can feel like you’re back on vacation even in your own home: by cooking an exotic dish!

There are many great dishes that will instantly make you relive your favorite vacation memories in just one bite. Whether it’s cheesy and meaty lasagna from Italy or a fresh Vietnamese Pho, recreating some classic dishes in your own kitchen is a great way to bring a little piece of your vacation home with you. 

Remember that you don’t always have to cook the dishes yourself to relieve your favorite vacation moments. Sometimes it can be fun to invest in a meal delivery service like HelloFresh and have someone else do the cooking for you! By using a HelloFresh promo code, you can even enjoy some of their best vacation-inspired dishes like Citrus Pork Tacos and Szechuan Beef & Green Beans at a discounted price. 

Now onto our top 5 destination-inspired recipes! 

   1-Spain: Paella

If you’ve ever travelled to Spain, then you’ve probably tried Paella before. Paella is a Spanish rice dish traditionally made with short-grain rice, saffron and a variety of meat, fish and vegetables. The name “paella” comes from the shallow pan it’s traditionally cooked in. While it looks complicated it’s actually quite an easy dish to cook. If you can’t find short grained rice, brown rice will do and you can experiment by adding whatever vegetables you have that you need to use up.

   2-Italian: Lasagna al forno

Reminisce about your last vacation to Italy with a big plate of homemade lasagna! In Italy lasagna is a dish that’s usually reserved for Sunday meals but there’s no reason you can’t make it during the week and freeze portions. To make it truly traditional, make sure you avoid lean ground beef and opt for a pork and beef mince instead. If you’re feeling extra fancy, skip the bolognese sauce and choose another of the popular Italian lasagna varieties made from squash or artichokes.

   3-Vietnam: Pho

There’s no better way than to get a huge dose of fresh veggies than with a traditional Vietnamese Pho. You can make your own Pho broth at home or cheat a little and buy the store-bought variety if you’re low on time. Be sure to load up your Pho with lots of vibrant veggies and herbs for extra flavor. If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, Pho is one dish that is easy to make meat-free!

   4-Mexico: Fish Tacos

Everyone loves tacos and fish tacos are a popular Mexican street food! In Mexico, fish tacos are commonly sold by food trucks or in small kitchen shacks called taquerias. If you want to recreate this seaside favorite at home, make sure you don’t skip out on the corn tortillas. Corn tortillas are a quintessential part of recreating the perfect fish taco along with all the traditional toppings: pico de gayo, chipotle, cabbage, radish and hot sauce! You don’t have to wait for dinner time to enjoy your tacos either – in Mexico fish tacos are sometimes eaten for breakfast! 

   5-Japan: Chicken Katsu

Chicken Katsu is a favorite Japanese dish that will bring you back to Tokyo with it’s delicious flavors. Also known as panko chicken, this dish is popular with people of all ages in Japan. It can be made with a variety of meats including chicken, pork or even bean patties. While traditionally this meal isn’t eaten with a lot of veggies, there’s nothing stopping you from filling your plate with your own side dishes!

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