The wheel. Fire. Bread. These are the building blocks of civilisation, connecting us with our ancestors thousands of years ago and keeping society moving forward every day. Only one of those things, however, is also delicious.
To some, bread is a simple staple, but real carb-fans know that it’s actually a versatile artform. Sometimes it’s crispy, sometimes it’s doughy, sometimes it’s sour, and sometimes it melts in your mouth – there are literally hundreds of different breads out there, and culinary experts TasteAtlas has just ranked the top 100 on Earth.
Cultures across the globe have developed different ways to make the baked good, so this list is a lot more varied than you might expect. It encompasses everything from Middle Eastern flatbreads to classic rolls and crusty loaves, but shining high above everything else was one international icon: garlic butter naan.
The traditional Indian dish is typically eaten as a side with a hearty curry, and is baked inside a burning hot tandoor oven. Once baked, slather some butter and chopped garlic on top and voila, you have a delicious piece of chewy, salty, savoury bread.
That wasn’t the only kind of naan to make it into the list – the regular old plain kind came 7th overall, and cheese naan was 52nd. TasteAtlas described its taste as ‘unique’, and highlighted how long it has remained a staple (nearly 700 years).
In second place was another Indian delicacy: Amritsari kulcha. TasteAtlas describe it as ‘a flatbread stuffed with potatoes, onions, cottage cheese, and spices… commonly garnished with coriander seeds, cilantro, and red chili powder’. It’s sort of like naan (again) but this time with extra treats inside. If it ain’t broke.
Roti canai, another flatbread with connections to India but (according to TasteAtlas – don’t come for us) associated mostly with Malaysia, was third. To create it, dough is ‘repeatedly folded, so the final product has a layered texture, a soft interior, and a crispy outer layer’. What’s not to love?
The best breads in the world
Here are the 10 best breads on Earth, according to TasteAtlas. Fair warning – reading this list may make you hungry. Proceed with caution, or with a snack.
- Garlic butter naan
- Amritsari kulcha
- Roti canai
- Pan de bono
- Parotta
- Pão alentejano
- Naan
- Piadina Romagnola
- Pão de queijo
- Bolo do caco
You can find the rest of the list here.
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