Are you one of those who get confused between some food items that look similar, but are not the same? Just like Noodles and Spaghetti or Cupcakes and Muffin? Then you are not alone in facing this confusion. Many people face the same problem and there’s nothing to be embarrassed for. The most surprising fact about these foods is that they look so similar and they can’t be differentiated, but they are exactly opposite in taste. The method of preparing the food is different. As there are many foods that look similar, we will try to distinguish between five foods this time. Let’s get into it!
1. Spaghetti and Noodles:
Spaghetti and Noodles are very popular dishes in the world. Spaghetti originated in Italy but it is a very common and well-known dish in America. Noodles originated in China and it is a common dish for people around the world. Both spaghetti and noodles are long and cylindrical. Noodles are thinner than spaghetti. Noodles are eaten with chopsticks and spaghetti is eaten with a fork. The main ingredient of spaghetti is wheat flour and spaghetti of high quality is prepared of durum wheat. Whereas noodles contain different types of ingredients such as rice starch, rice flour, potato starch and more. Spaghetti and noodles both are boiled in water. Spaghetti is boiled with olive oil, salt and then different types of spices and sauces are added. Noodles are cooked with vegetables, meat, chicken or eggs. Though their appearance is the same the taste of both dishes helps you to differentiate them.
2. Tofu and Paneer:
Many people eat Tofu and Paneer with vegetable curries or with any kind of salad. Both are white, soft and mild. They provide the same nutrients but in different amounts. Paneer is a type of cheese that is derived from animal milk. Tofu is made from soy and it does not contain animal-based ingredients. Paneer originated in India and it is also known as Indian Cottage Cheese. The mild taste of paneer can remind of American cottage cheese. It depends on how long the paneer is pressed, also its texture ranges from soft and spongy to slightly firm. Besides, paneer does not melt while cooking. Tofu originated in China and nowadays it is very popular in Asian countries. Tofu is added to dishes like soups and stir-fries. Both foods have calcium and minerals that support the health of our bones. Surprisingly tofu contains more calcium than paneer.
3. Cupcakes and Muffins:
Is it a cupcake or a muffin? This is a common question of everyone whenever they see a cupcake or a muffin. People often become reluctant to spot the difference between these two. Like other dessert items, both these items contain some similar ingredients such as eggs, flour and milk. Butter is used to make cupcakes and it has a much higher sugar content whereas muffins have lower sugar content. Generally, cupcakes are smaller in size. Oat flour, vegetable oil or other healthier alternatives are being used to make muffins. To make muffins unique and tasty, ingredients like different kinds of nuts and dried fruits are added. The texture of the muffin is usually much dryer and slightly denser than a cupcake. The main difference between them is, cupcakes have frosting on the other hand muffins don’t.
4. Pancakes and Crepes:
Pancakes and crepes are the two most common and similar dishes around the world. Both of them have flour-based batter, enriched with milk and eggs. Then it is poured into a griddle, skillet or pan and cooked until firm enough to flip or roll up. Many kinds of pancakes have been introduced till now. Some are fluffy and some are flat but flavorful. Whereas crepes are wafer-thin and very delicate. Both these dishes are made in different styles in different countries as they have many variants. In some countries, people eat them as savoury or sweet, either for breakfast menu or lunch, sometimes for dinner. For an appetizer or dessert, they are perfect. Blueberry sauce and maple syrup are the most common toping items for pancakes. There are lots of other things that are added while eating pancakes such as bananas, chocolate chips, whipped cream, and ice cream. To make crepes a wide range of ingredients is needed. They can be chickens, vegetables, asparagus, Nutella, fruits or food like that. People can easily make a happy brunch time with them.
5. Donuts and Bagel:
Donuts and Bagels look similar because of the hole that goes right through them in the middle. They differ from each other in terms of their recipes and toppings respectively. Both the dishes are hugely popular in countries like the USA, United Kingdom. Both foods are marked similarly in shape. Bagel is prepared from a very firm dough that is made of high-gluten flour or bread flour. On the other hand, donuts are highly desired among all food lovers especially among those who have a sweet tooth. Besides, donuts are made from lighter dough as compared to bagels. Apart from their appearance, bagels and donuts also differ from each other because of their toppings. Bagels are coated with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic, etc., and loaded with a layer of soft cream cheese on top. When toppings of different kinds are combined, many popular bagels have good flavors like cheddar cheese, cinnamon, raisin, blueberry, onion, etc. On the other hand, donuts are mainly filled with jelly or cream or glazed on top with some sweet ingredients. Some donuts have frosting, sprinkles on top of them and a range of flavors are added such as chocolate, blueberry, lemon, maple, etc.
The five foods that have been discussed so far look similar but are absolutely different in taste. From their preparations to serving, every detail of them is measured separately. It can be assured by saying this– ‘Different foods have different tastes, different methods to make and mostly they have different popularity around the world.’
