TOP 10: Foods to eat before you DIE!

Huffington Post recently drew up a list of the most iconic dishes around the world that you must try before you die. Any idea how did India rank? Take a look.

USA: BBQ ribs
Rank: #10

Describes BBQ as the 'holy grail of smoked pork ribs', HuffPo writes: 'Kansas City, Memphis and St. Louis are US BBQ capitals, not forgetting Texas, the Carolinas ... hell, it seems everyone has their favourite local variety'.

While Memphis ribs owe their flavour to a rub made out of garlic and spices and the Kansas City ribs owe theirs to a sweetly spiced rub before being extra slow-smoked, the St. Louis pork spare ribs are quite simply grilled and had with a tomato-based BBQ sauce, Huff Po tells us.

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Australia and New Zealand: Pavlova
Rank: #9

If you want to get the Aussies and Kiwis fighting all you need to ask them which of the two countries invented Pavlova.

The dessert named after the Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova was created in her honour when she was touring one of the two countries in the 1920s though the odds are in favour of NZ right now.

The heavenly dish made of meringue and cream is pretty much the national dish of both Australia and New Zealand and number 5 in the list of dishes to have before you die. 

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Thailand: Som tam (Green Papaya Salad)
Rank: #8

For those of you who think Thai cuisine is bland, you probably haven't tried the Som tam or the Green Papaya Salad. The raw dish pretty much brings together the cuisine's four basic flavours -- sour, salt, sweet and chilli.

Quite simply, it includes shredded papaya and carrots, cherry tomatoes, chopped garlic, chillies, fried tofu and roasted peanuts and involves tossing the ingredients together!

Watch Chef Ian Kittichai toss one up exclusively for Rediff.com!

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Malaysia: Seafood curry laksa
Rank: #7

This one's pretty much at the top of Malaysia's soup chain and if experts are to be believed is best if had at a roadside stall or a food court rather than at a posh restaurant.

So what exactly is the Seafood curry laksa? HuffPo describes it as 'Malaysia's king of soups is a spicy, tangy, coconut-creamy soup packed full of noodles, seafood, fish sticks, puffed tofu, vegetables, a hard-boiled egg, coriander and chilli sambal'.

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Japan: Teppanyaki
Rank: #6

Here's the thing: Teppanyaki is a style of Japanese cuisine that involves using an iron girdle to cook shrimp, beef, lobster, scallops, chicken and assorted vegetables.

The word itself is derived from two Japanese words -- teppan that means an iron plate, and yaki that refers to the grilling, broiling or pan-frying process.

Usually, soybean oil is used to cook the ingredients.

The good folks at Huffington Post recommend you to 'order grilled Kobe beef, seafood or chicken, or ask for a signature flaming volcano of onion rings, and get ready to be amazed by your teppanyaki chef's superb knife skills'.

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Italy: Zucchini flowers
Rank: #5

HuffPo ranks Italy's Zucchini flowers at number six of foods to eat before you die. If this description on the site doesn't turn you on, we really don't know what will: 'The tender yellow zucchini flowers are stuffed with a delicious filling, maybe herbed ricotta or mozzarella, then dipped into a simple tempura-like batter and sizzled in olive oil. The result is a melt-in-the mouth, sweetly crisp sensation that must be eaten immediately'.

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India: Masala dosa
Rank: #4

Do we have to tell you anything about this yummy dish? A gift of the south Indians to the rest of their countrymen and now the world, the Masala dosa is a paper-thin pancake of sorts made from rice and lentils. Add to that a cooked potato vegetable and serve with sambar and chutney and you have one very fine dish that has quite evidently taken the world by storm.

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Greece: Moussaka
Rank: #3

Moussaka is an aubergine-based dish that is a must-try in the Grecian cuisine. HuffPo calls it 'the Greek answer to the Italian lasagne, the dish is made by smothering layers of ingredients in a cheese bechamel sauce, and baking until creamily melted and golden'.

Variations of the Moussaka use other vegetables such as artichokes and potatoes and as the HuffPo quite rightly puts it 'there aren't many of us who haven't succumbed to this melting concoction'.

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France: Escargots
Rank: #2

Those who've had them will tell you that you're missing something if you haven't had snails in your life. Sure, the idea is cringe-worthy but think of it, how much of snail will you really be able to taste under oodles of garlic butter that is a primary ingredient of Escargots?

Escargot is usually served as an appetiser in French restaurants. It is, incidentally, also the French word for snail.

Contrary to popular belief in India, many land snails are indeed edible and have been considered delicacies by the ancient Romans. So if you can get over the fact that you're eating s-n-a-i-l-s, chances are you'd probably enjoy them!

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China: Peking duck
Rank: #1

One of the most famous dishes of China, the Peking duck has been prepared since the imperial era. The most authentic versions of the dish serves mostly the think crisp skin of the duck and very little meat and is usually sliced before you by the cook.

Ducks used to make this dish are specially bred and are slaughtered after 65 days before they are roasted in an oven.

Two of the most prominent restaurants in Beijing that serve this dish are Quanjude and Bianyifang, establishments that are centuries old and are now household names in China.

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