Britain may have chips, roasties, and mash down to a fine art, but elsewhere the potato takes on completely different forms.
From sweet snacks to savoury street food, this everyday vegetable is transformed in ways that might surprise a British palate.
These dishes show just how inventive other countries can be when it comes to making the most of the humble spud.
This article is for general information only. Dishes vary by region and may be prepared differently depending on local traditions. Taste, appearance, and availability in the UK may differ from the examples shown, and photos are for illustrative purposes.
1. Japanese Sweet Potato Ice Cream
Picture this: creamy vanilla ice cream infused with roasted sweet potato and a hint of honey. Japan's obsession with seasonal flavours has produced this surprisingly delicious frozen treat that's become a autumn staple.
Sweet potato ice cream offers a naturally creamy texture and earthy sweetness that's miles away from our typical vanilla or chocolate scoops. Major convenience stores like 7-Eleven stock it during potato harvest season, proving it's no novelty dessert but a proper crowd-pleaser.
2. Korean Potato Corn Dogs
Street food vendors across Seoul have revolutionised the humble corn dog by coating it in cubed potatoes instead of breadcrumbs. The result? A gloriously crunchy exterior that's become a social media sensation.
Small potato cubes stick to the batter-dipped sausage, creating maximum surface area for golden crispiness. Each bite delivers contrasting textures – the soft, fluffy potato exterior giving way to stretchy cheese or juicy sausage inside. Queue the satisfied crunch sounds for your TikTok video!
3. German Potato Strudel
Forget apple strudel – Germans have mastered the art of wrapping paper-thin pastry around seasoned mashed potatoes mixed with herbs and sometimes bacon. This savoury take transforms leftover spuds into proper comfort food.
The contrast between flaky, buttery pastry and creamy potato filling creates pure magic. Served alongside sauerkraut or a simple salad, potato strudel proves that German cuisine extends far beyond sausages and pretzels. Many families guard their secret seasoning blends jealously.
4. Indian Potato Samosa Chaat
While we might know samosas, Indians have elevated them into chaat – a spectacular street food experience where crispy samosas get smashed and topped with chutneys, yoghurt, and fresh garnishes.
The potato-filled samosas become the base for this flavour explosion, providing hearty substance beneath tangy tamarind chutney, cooling mint sauce, and crunchy sev noodles. Each spoonful delivers multiple textures and a perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and sour notes that'll make your taste buds dance.
5. Lebanese Potato Kibbeh
Traditionally made with bulgur and meat, Lebanese cooks have created a brilliant vegetarian version using mashed potatoes as the base. These golden, football-shaped fritters pack serious flavour punch.
Seasoned potato mixture gets shaped around a filling of sautéed onions, pine nuts, and aromatic spices before being deep-fried to perfection. The crispy exterior gives way to fluffy potato and a fragrant centre that's worlds away from our standard potato preparations. Served with tahini or yoghurt sauce.
6. Chinese Potato Silk Noodles
Chinese cooks transform potatoes into translucent, chewy noodles that look like glass but taste distinctly earthy. The starch gets extracted and processed into these unique noodles that absorb flavours beautifully.
Popular in Sichuan cuisine, these potato noodles often appear in spicy stir-fries or cold salads dressed with chilli oil and vinegar. Their slippery texture and ability to soak up bold seasonings make them completely different from wheat noodles. Perfect for anyone avoiding gluten too.
7. Brazilian Potato Coxinha
Brazil's beloved coxinha transforms mashed potatoes into teardrop-shaped snacks that resemble chicken drumsticks. The potato dough wraps around shredded chicken filling before being breadcrumbed and fried.
Street vendors and bakeries across Brazil sell millions of these golden beauties daily. The potato exterior stays incredibly moist while the breadcrumb coating provides satisfying crunch. Often served with spicy mayo or hot sauce, coxinhas prove that potatoes make excellent dumpling wrappers when handled properly.
8. Polish Potato Placki
Polish grandmothers have perfected these crispy potato pancakes that put our bubble and squeak to shame. Grated raw potatoes mix with minimal flour and egg before hitting a hot pan for ultimate crispiness.
Unlike thick American-style hash browns, placki stay thin and lacy with maximum surface area for caramelisation. Traditionally served with sour cream or apple sauce, they work brilliantly for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The secret lies in squeezing out excess moisture for that perfect golden crunch.
9. Turkish Potato Börek
Turkish börek traditionally uses cheese or meat, but the potato version has won hearts across the country. Layers of paper-thin yufka pastry sandwich seasoned mashed potatoes with herbs and sometimes cheese.
Each layer gets brushed with butter or oil before baking, creating incredibly flaky pastry that shatters at first bite. The potato filling stays creamy and aromatic with dill, parsley, and black pepper. Served warm from the oven, this börek makes our potato pies look positively primitive.
