i always like thinking of traditional foods in fiction so here’s some various theories about atla cuisine
earth kingdom food involves a lot of preparation directly on stones, especially slabs of salt. crushing, pulverizing, and grinding processes are largely featured, and the inclusion of various flavorful pastes as fillings is very popular. a lot of things that aren’t considered ‘edible’ by non-earth standards are eaten since they are heavily processed. this includes lots of tough plants, animal cartilage, and some tough, muscly invertebrates which can be tenderized by earth methods.
fire nation food is performative, with many markets of raw stuff on sticks waiting to be seared and sizzled live right in front of you. popular food establishments akin to korean bbq lay out myriads of raw ingredients for you to cook yourself if you can bend or you can request a tableside chef to do it for you. desserts often feature caramelized sugar elements and spun sugar is a popular festival food. fire flakes are desiccated hot pepper pieces prepared with different seasonings.
water tribe food is focused on fats and proteins to aid in protection from the cold. fish and seal meat is eaten raw or often dried or preserved in ice near-indefinitely and thawed out when needed. different types of fermentation are used to preserve foods like seaweeds that would be compromised by freezing, which results in a surprising amount of funky, potent flavorings that can be added to dishes or enjoyed on their own.
air nomad food is made in large quantities for sharing. vegetable soups, dumplings, etc are made to be shared with fellow monks and visitors alike. pastries are a surprising specialty of the air nomads, since their techniques can aerate dough like no others! sweet and savory steamed buns with all sorts of fillings are popular travel food as they can be packed tightly in airtight containers and prepared along the way by enveloping them in a whirl of hot air.