The research, conducted by travel experts at CV Villas, unveils the most challenging cuisines for tourists to master.

The researchers assessed the 10 most popular dishes from 50 cuisines globally and evaluated recipe data on three key factors: difficulty score, preparation and cooking time and number of ingredients.

These metrics were indexed to create CV Villas ‘Confusing Cuisine Score’ out of 100.

The top 10 most difficult cuisines:

1. Chinese (60.54)
2. Portuguese (60.50)
3. Greek (60.02)
4. Indian (59.51)
5. Vietnamese (58.64)
6. Peruvian (55.59)
7. French (55.28)
8. British (53.62)
9. Malaysian (52.10)
10. Italian (51.74)

You can see the full findings in the press release below. If you choose to use any of the findings shared with you it would be so appreciated if you could credit the source: https://www.cvvillas.com/destinations/portugal/

Revealed: The Most Challenging Cuisines for Tourists to Master

• Chinese cuisine is the hardest to recreate at home, followed by Portugal and Greece, with dishes requiring intricate techniques, numerous ingredients, and long preparation times.
• European cuisines dominate the rankings; Portugal ranks second, Greece comes third, France is seventh and Spain is fourteenth.
• The study analysed 50 cuisines, measuring difficulty based on cooking time, ingredients and complexity to create a ‘Confusing Cuisine Score’ out of 100.
• USA dishes are easier to learn than Spanish and Australian ones, scoring under 50 out of 100 on the difficulty scale.

Holidaymakers often dream of recreating the mouth-watering dishes they enjoyed abroad, but which cuisines are the hardest to master back home? A new study conducted by CV Villas unveils just how challenging that endeavour can be.

To discover the cuisines posing the most problems for optimistic holiday-makers, the researchers assessed the 10 most popular dishes from 50 cuisines globally and analysed recipe data from trusted sources including BBC Good Food, Jamie Oliver, and Olive Magazine. Each dish was evaluated on three key factors: difficulty score, preparation and cooking time, and number of ingredients. These metrics were indexed to create CV Villas ‘Confusing Cuisine Score’ out of 100.

Europe Takes Centre Stage

European cuisines dominate the rankings as challenging culinary powerhouses for the home cook. Portugal emerges as a close contender for the top spot, ranking second globally with a Confusing Cuisine Score of 60.5, thanks to its intricate seafood dishes and complex pastries. The research found that the Pastel de Nata, Portugal’s iconic custard tart, is one of the most intricate dishes to recreate, requiring 14 ingredients and over 145 minutes of preparation.

Greece follows in third place with a score of 60, where the layered intricacies of moussaka and baklava provide formidable challenges. Though Souvlaki may seem simple, it’s the most challenging Greek recipe, requiring 22 ingredients and over 265 minutes of preparation. This is mostly down to the fact that it requires 22 ingredients and takes over 265 minutes to serve up, as you have to dedicate time to marinate the meat to create the ultimate authentic taste.

France, often celebrated as a global culinary capital, ranks seventh with a score of 55.3. Its emphasis on precise techniques, such as those required for Coq au Vin or Soufflé, secures its spot as one of the more demanding cuisines to recreate. Meanwhile, Italy (11th position, 51.7) balances sophisticated flavour profiles and simplicity via dishes like Cacio e Pepe, which requires just four ingredients to recreate at home.

Spain, another Mediterranean favourite, is 14th with a score of 50.3. While its Tapa culture champions simplicity, dishes such as Paella can be deceptively complex to master.

The Top 20 Most Challenging Cuisines

China takes the crown as the most challenging cuisine with a Confusing Cuisine Score of 60.5, narrowly beating Portugal. Other notable cuisines include India (fourth, 59.5) and Vietnam (fifth, 58.6), both celebrated for their bold flavours and multi-step recipes. At the other end of the spectrum, Brazil (19th, 49) and Singapore (20th, 48.3) offer more approachable options for home chefs.

Ben Briggs, Head of Marketing at CV Villas, commented: Food is central to the holiday experience, which is why we conducted this research to highlight the diversity and complexity of cuisines worldwide. For European travellers, it’s particularly fascinating to see how our neighbours in Portugal, Greece, and France have shaped culinary traditions that are equal parts inspiring and challenging to replicate. Whether you’re enjoying authentic local dishes or trying your hand at cooking them in a luxurious villa, we hope our study helps people navigate any kitchen disasters. If you’re not quite ready to tackle the challenging recipes, you can leave it to us to arrange for a private chef to come to your villa and do it all for you.