Breakfast in Asia

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan breakfast is typically omelette, boiled eggs, cake or biscuits, toast, rice with koft’a (meat) or sabzi (spinach). This will be washed down with khuemok chai – black tea with milk and rose essence.

Burma

In Burma, the traditional breakfast is fried rice with boiled peas and green tea. Rice vermicelli in fish broth is also very common.

China

Chinese breakfasts vary greatly between different regions. With the exception of Hong Kong and Taiwan, Western types of breakfasts are rarely eaten. In Northern China breakfast fare typically includes steamed breads, unleavened pocket bread with sesame, steamed buns with meat or vegetable stuffing, soy milk or tea. In Central and Eastern China, breakfast foods include soups with fried tofu and noodles, plain rice porridge, salted duck eggs and pickled vegetables.

India

There are so many different breakfasts in India, but here we name a few. In Bengal and Bangladesh, typical breakfast foods include puffed rice crisps with milk, deep-fried flatbread (luchi) with vegetable curry or semi-fermented rice with dal and chillies. In South India, the most popular breakfast choice is an assortment of main dishes including chapatis. Curries and breads are popular in Keral. In North India, stuffed paratha breads and spicy vegetables is frequently eaten.

Israel

Israeli breakfast consists of coffee, orange juice, fresh vegetables, cream cheese, fresh bread or toast, olives, fried eggs and cookies or cake. Another traditional breakfast dish is malawach (fried bread) served with fruit.

Japan

A traditional Japanese breakfast is based on rice, seafood and fermented foods. It is common in Japanese households to include left-over foods from the last night’s dinner in the next day’s breakfast.

Pakistan

Breakfast in Pakistan is typically a heavy meal. There are several dishes including hlava (a sweet made from semolina), a spicy chickpea and potato curry eaten with deep-fried flat bread, siri paya (a stew made of cow, goat or lamb’s skull and feet) served with naan bread, nihari (a curried stew made from beef or lamb) and lassi (a drink made from milk and yoghurt, usually served sweet). Otherwise, parathas are widely eaten for breakfast, they may be stuffed with vegetables, chicken, beef or mutton mince or unstuffed eaten alongside fried or scrambled eggs).

Singapore

A typical breakfast in Singapore might include fried noodles with egg, vegetables, ham, fishcake or tofu. Some people prefer a more Western approach with toast, cereals or an American breakfast from a fast-food chain. It is common, especially among older students and working adults, to skip breakfast.