What's better than freshly baked bread? Fried bread, of course.

Sweet or savoury, there's a fried bread to suit every taste.

Nepali Gwarawari bread Source: SBS Food

Eating bread when it's freshly baked is a thing of beauty. But fried bread offers a different experience.

Crispy and crunchy instead of fluffy and light, it's decadent and delicious.

No wonder countries around the world have developed their own versions of fried bread, both sweet and savoury.

In Secrets of the Kitchen (Thursdays 3.25pm), former chef Amar Harrar and his wife Bel make bhaturas for their sons, served with chana masala (chickpea curry).

A deep fried leavened bread from North India, bhaturas are made from flour, yoghurt and spices.

Making fried Indian bread Source: Secrets Of The Kitchen

"So what do you think? Would this class as health food, Jas?" asks Amar.

"Deep fried bread, I suppose, doesn't quite count," his son Jas replies. (Get Amar's recipe here, or try this chana bhatura, matching another version of the Indian bread with chickpeas cooked with aromatic spices.)

No, fried bread might not be considered a health food, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy it sometimes -and  all these versions can't be wrong. 

Russia brings us piroshky, fried yeast buns filled with cabbage.

Fried cabbage buns (piroshky) Source: Tom Donald

In Nepal, gwaramari is a famous breakfast dish. The fried round bread is typically served warm, with chutney or milk tea.

Nepali Gwarawari bread Source: SBS Food

The French family classic, French toast, is given the next-level treatment when made with brioche dipped in milk and egg. A real breakfast treat.

French toasted brioche Source: Benito Martin

Hungarian fried bread, called Lángos, is eaten warm and usually topped with sour cream and grated cheese.

In Vietnam, a side of fried breadsticks are handing for soaking up pho broth.

The East African stuffed flatbread known as keema chapati is filled with minced lamb and spices, and is often served in a breakfast banquet and topped with yoghurt or a sweet chutney.

East African stuffed flatbread (keema chapati) Source: SBS Food

How could you say no to this Thai appetiser, which combines marinated pork and fried bread?

Want a more modern take on fried bread? How about the Croque Hawaiian, where the Hawaiian pizza classic ham -and-pineapple combination meets the French Croque Madame.

Croque Hawaiian Source: Benito Martin