Discovering World Recipes

Introduce children to world of tasty flavours and foods.

April 2025 | 6 min read

Cooking | Official Blog for Hands-On Education

Traditional Horiatiki Salad

Cooking with children

This month we have been discovering recipes from around the world. We have had so much fun tasting ingredients we haven’t tried before and experimenting with different flavours.

I must admit that cooking is not my favourite activity and it is actually Jeffrey who does the majority of the cooking in our home. When I do prepare meals, I really go for simple dishes that I know well.

Following these recipes has been a bit of an adventure as the children and I have not taken it seriously and instead focused on having fun. I do find it a little easier now the boys are older (9 and 10) and I know they have a better understanding of safety in the kitchen. However, there is so much to discover even with young children. There is always something they can contribute, whether this is mashing up ingredients with a fork or rolling sponge cake in chocolate icing!

Ingredients for a fruity couscous recipe from Morocco.

Trying new ingredients

We explored a variety of recipes from different continents around the world. One of my favourite dishes was a fruity couscous from Morocco. I like this dish because you can add as much or as little of the ingredients as you like, according to your tastes and what you have in the cupboard. The recipe calls for onions, dried cranberries, raisins and chopped dried apricots all mixed in with the couscous. But if you don’t have one of the ingredients or don’t like one of them you can leave it out and it will still be tasty.

One ingredient you should not leave out however is tamarin. This isn’t an ingredient we have at home so we bought it specially and enjoyed the yellow colour the couscous turned as well as the flavour.

Lamingtons Cake from Australia.

A sweet treat

We only made one desert which of course was a big hit as it is full of tasty ingredients such as sugar, jam and chocolate icing. Lamingtons Cake from Australia is delicious. Lamingtons are a famous Australian cake, often served during afternoon tea or on special occasions. This square sponge cake is filled with a layer of jam, dipped into chocolate and covered in desiccated coconut.

This recipe is believed to have come about courtesy of Lord Lamington, Queensland’s eighth governor, whose chef accidentally dropped sponge cake into melted chocolate. Lamingtons have become such a symbolic Australian treat that they get celebrated every year on the 21st of July.

This recipe involves getting your hands covered in chocolate icing and desiccated coconut. Watching Teddy and Harry make this was hilarious – they couldn’t wait to finish so they could like their fingers!

Guacamole from Mexico

Delicious and nutritious

Preparing tasty food doesn’t always have to be complicated and time consuming. I really love recipes which don’t involve ‘cooking’. Making Guacamole is one of those recipes in which the children can take ownership. They can scoop out the avocado fruit, squeeze the lime and add tomato, mashing it all together. This is a recipe in which they cannot go wrong and will always taste delicious.

Another delicious and nutritious recipe is Mango Lassi. This recipe is from India and is similar to a smoothie. Once again this is a simple recipe to follow and children do most of the preparation themselves. They can consider where mangoes come from – not just the local supermarket but where it is grown, in warm climates like India.

Teddy and Harry mixing ingredients to make Soda bread from Ireland.

Skills in the kitchen

There are many opportunities for children to develop a number of skills in the kitchen.

Communication – this was key for us as we all shared the tasks in cooking and worked together.
Maths skills – there are many maths skills involved in cooking. Use this opportunity to practice weighing ingredients on the scales or measure liquids in a measuring jug. Divide a recipe in half or multiply it to make a larger batch.
Practical skills – children can learn important life sills from a young age including mashing, peeling and the simple smell and feel of raw ingredients.

Staying safe in the kitchen

I think one of the concerns holding parents and educators back from exploring more in the kitchen is safety. There are a number of dangers in the kitchen including sharp knives and burning ovens. Here are a couple of tips to support a safe environment:

Discuss the dangers – talk about the different hazards with your children and explain what can happen.
First aid kit – have a first aid kit near-by in case of any mishaps.
Demonstrate – show your child how to use tools and kitchen equipment safely.
Supervise – ensure you are on hand to support children where appropriate, particularly when they have just learnt or are learning a new skill.
Setting appropriate tasks – provide children with tasks suitable for their age and ability. As parents and educators, you will know which tasks children are able to accomplish on their own.

Hands-on resources

Each activity within Hands-On Education’s World Food topic comes with information about the dish including the location of its origin on the world map. The recipes can be easily adapted to suit tastes and diets. As much as possible they incorporate items you likely already have in the cupboard. Prompt questions support children in discussing the recipe and their experiences in the kitchen at the end of each activity.

Many of our topics include recipes to encourage children to experiment in the kitchen. Here are a few looking at food and human health.