Hy-Vee Recipes and Ideas

Spring rolls are sold throughout Asia but have become a popular street food in Vietnam. The key element is rice paper—translucent sheet of rice flour dough—that can be used to wrap almost any combination of ingredients to make them portable and easy to eat on the go.

This version puts a uniquely American spin on the Asian favorite by incorporating Cheetos for extra flavor and crunch.

Here are more tasty Vietnam-inspired recipes:

• Fresh Spring Rolls
• Short Cut Crab Pho
• Banh Mi Bowl

A quintessential street food, fish and chips were originally wrapped in newspaper to keep the cost low for laborers in England, who often ate the quickly prepared food outside after their shifts. Mashed peas were added as a side to accompany the fried cod and chips (French fries).

This version incorporates peas into a traditional American favorite—hush puppies.

Try these great fish and chip recipes, too:

• Oven-Fried Fish and Chips
• Gluten-Free Fish and Chips
• Beer-Battered Fish ‘n’ Chips

Tortas, essentially tacos on a fluffy bun, are stuffed with seasoned meat, cheese, and vegetables. Originally developed as a street food in Mexico, tortas are now popular across Latin America and come in as many versions as there are fillings.

The sandwiches are typically identified by their meat, which can include beef, pork, turkey, or chicken, but the toppings of crema, cheese, avocado, salsa, raw vegetables, and/or beans really set them apart. Served hot or cold, the tortas can be fully or partially dipped in salsa.

Take these other Mexican street food dishes for a spin:

• Crunchy Street Corn
• Barbecue Pork, Mango, and Habanero Quesadillas
• Beer-Marinated Chicken Tostadas

Shawarma is eaten throughout the Middle East, but has become an especially popular street food in Egypt. It originally was made with lamb or mutton but now is often made with chicken, turkey, beef, or veal. 

When purchased off the street, the meat has likely been slow-cooked on a spit and shaved off to order, but you can make a tasty version at home without much hassle. Choosing traditional flavorings like harissa and tahini will give you the same taste sensation with no travel required.

For more Middle East-inspired flavors, try:

• One Skillet Moroccan-Style Chickpea Bowl
• Indian Chicken Curry Naan
• Red Pepper and Hummus Dip

The first cookbook—printed in Nuremberg, Germany, in the 15th century—included a recipe for donuts. For the last two centuries, Germans have enjoyed the Berliner, a marmalade- or jam-filled donut similar to the jelly donut in the United States.

This recipe adds the holes to the donuts but fills the pastries with a soft drink-flavor jam for a uniquely American spin.

Here are a few other German desserts to make next:

• Black Forest Treats
• Pumpkin Streusel Cheesecake Pie
• Caramel Apple German Pancake