The official list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is dedicated to recording and preserving the cultural treasures of the world. Owing to its rich ethnic, regional, and socio-cultural aspects, gastronomy is one of the important categories of the list, incorporating specific dishes, cooking techniques, and related food culture. Here are few chosen entries from the list.

Hawker Culture, Singapore

Singapore is home to a multicultural ethnicity comprising Malay, Chinese, Indian, and other Asian cultures. Drawing inspiration from this cultural confluence, the hawkers or the street-food vendors throughout Singapore adapt various dishes to local contexts and tastes. The ‘hawker centers’ serve as “community dining rooms”, where people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds gather and mingle, having breakfast, lunch, or dinner together. There are more than 100 of these open-air hawker centers, some of which are dated back to the 1960s.

Mexican Cuisine, Mexico

Mexico is rich in food culture with centuries-old traditional recipes and culinary techniques passed down through generations. The cultural characteristics noted by UNESCO include farming methods like ‘chinampas’ (man-made farming islets mainly seen in lake areas), and ‘milpas’ (rotating fields of corn and other crops). Cooking processes such as ‘nixtamalization’ (lime-hulling maize, increasing its nutritional value) is also a notable inclusion, among others.

Kimchi Making Process Kimjang, Korea

Kimchi is iconic to Korean cuisine, which forms an essential part of Korean meals irrespective of region and ethnicity. It is the Korean name for preserved vegetables seasoned with fermented seafood and spices. Following a yearly cycle, Kimchi making process or Kimjang is a collective community practice overseen by the women of the household. It includes centuries-old passed-down recipes from mothers to daughters, incorporating important family heritage of specific ingredients and preparing methods.

French Gastronomic Meal, France

Recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, the festive tradition of French gastronomic meals is a customary social practice in France. With the central theme of enjoying the art of good eating and drinking on a beautifully set table, the French gastronomic meal commences with an ‘aperitif’ or drinks before the meal and ends with liqueurs In between, it generally contains at least four successive courses of starter, fish and/or meat with vegetables, cheese and dessert with paired wines on the side.

Oshi Palav, Tajikistan

Oshi Palav (pilaf) is a highly-valued traditional dish of communities in Tajikistan and is known as ‘the king of meal’. Based on up to 200 varied recipes using rice, meat, vegetables, and spices, these nutritionally enriched delicious dishes are mainly community meals. It is also known as ‘the dish of peace’ for its inclusive role of bringing together people from different backgrounds. Prepared mainly in vast quantities, the cooking of Oshi Palav is usually accompanied by singing and socializing, then eating together by hand sharing from a big communal pot, adding to the dish’s food culture.

The days are getting shorter and the cold weather is setting in, which can only mean one thing: it’s soup season! Is there anything better than curling up with a warm bowl of soup during the Fall and Winter? We don’t think so. With that in mind, here are three super quick soup recipes you can make in no time at all.

Quick Pumpkin Soup

Of course, we couldn’t do a roundup of soup recipes perfect for this season without including pumpkin. Make it snappy by using canned pumpkin, frozen corn, onion, half and half, some prepared chicken broth, and a few herbs and spices. It’ll take less than 10 minutes to prepare and will keep you full all day. Add in some roasted garlic to really give this soup a kick, too.

Tomato Rice Soup

This makes an ideal packed lunch for kids and adults alike, as long as you have a thermos to keep it warm. Use canned crushed tomatoes along with some of your favorite vegetables like carrots or celery. Add in some uncooked long grain rice to simmer away while the soup is cooking, before finishing off with some herbs and spices. It’s quick, easy, and super filling!

Turkey Taco Soup

Looking for something a little bit different for dinner? This turkey taco soup ticks all of the right boxes. This is also the ideal recipe to use up any leftover holiday turkey – if there is any left! It takes just 20 minutes to make, using shredded cooked turkey, peppers, onions, garlic, pinto beans, canned tomatoes, and turkey broth. Add in jalapenos and spices to give this soup a Mexican kick and serve with avocado and chips to dip.

These super quick soup recipes are perfect for getting your soup fix in a rush. The only question is, which one are you going to try first?