30+ Recipes from Around the Olympic World to Raise Your Olympic Spirit

Explore 30+ easy recipes from around the Olympic world and turn the Games into a fun, hands-on geography lesson for your family.

Olympic trials on TV. New articles about the athletes on our news apps. Little Olympic-themed Lego scenes scattered all over the house.

We’ve predicted medal counts, binge-watched Geography Now videos on countries we don’t know much about.

We are in Olympic countdown mode.

In light of our (ahem) minor obsession, I wasn’t surprised when my boys suggested we create some Olympic-themed meals.

Challenge accepted.

Well, partly. They wanted to eat nothing but Olympics for the next two weeks — recipes from other countries, food cut into the Olympics rings, food that matched the colors of the Olympics.

(Clearly, they are part of the Pinterest generation!)

I love the thrill of trying out new recipes; my family loves the thrill of eating new recipes. Add in a splash of geography & I’ll call it a win.

But let me say this upfront. Yes, some of these recipes are less-than-authentic! But as the Olympic spirit says, “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part…” Sometimes, simplicity takes precedence!

Olympic Fun (and a wee-bit of learning)

• Building the Summer Games: Lego Challenges
• Summer Olympics Mini Study (from Sonlight)
• Official Podcast of the Olympics

• Games coverage from the BBC
• Summer Games Online Unit Study

In the Spirit of the Caribbean Countries

Fried Plantains (various Caribbean countries)
Jamaican Beef Hand Pies
Johnnycake bread (the Bahamas)
Saucy Beans & Potatoes (Puerto Rico)
Pigeon Peas & Rice (various Caribbean countries)
Switcha (a lemonade-type drink)

In the Spirit of China

Chinese Pork Roast on Garlic Bread
Pork & Shrimp Pot Stickers
General Tso’s Cauliflower
Cucumber Salad
Scallion Pancakes
Spicy Sichuan Noodles

Find more recipes at The Wok’s Life

In the Spirit of Nigeria

Jollof Rice
Beef Suya skewers
Nigerian salad dressing
Puff Puffs (a doughnut-like dessert)

Chef Lola’s Kitchen is a must for more Nigerian (and other African) recipes.

In the Spirit of France

Steak Diane
Onion Tart
Mousse de Citron (lemon mousse)
Frozen Chocolate Mousse

You can find more easy-for-kids recipes in one of our favorite cookbooks, In the French Kitchen with Kids.

In the Spirit of Brazil

Mango Passion Fruit Smoothies
Garlic Butter Brazillian Steak
Strawberry Brigaderio (fudge balls)
Salpicao de Frango (chicken salad)
Onion salad

Get more recipes over at I Heart Brazil

In the Spirit of Italy

Spaghetti with Prosciutto & Red Wine
Crusty Italian Bread
Gelato & Ladyfingers

In the Spirit of Japan

Bulgogi Beef
Garlic Onion Chicken
Orange Teriyaki Wings
Shrimp Fried Rice
Soba Noodle Salad
Souffle Pancakes
Yaki Onigiri (grilled rice balls)

In the Spirit of Mexico

Oaxacan Tacos
Chili Colorado with Pork & Nopales
Steak Ranchero
Yucatan-style Roasted Salmon
Mexican Bunuelos (dessert!)
Chocolate Tamales
Tortilla chips & homemade salsa

Mexico in My Kitchen is one of my favorite food blogs. She weaves culture into her posts beautifully.

And a few from other Olympic countries

Harissa Chicken (Tunisia)
Menemen (scrambled eggs from Turkey)