Actually, there are a couple of things that I think will end up being both ubiquitous and highly variable due to localization:
- Some sort of cereal or pseudocereal grain processed into dough, then wrapped around a protein of some sort, and cooked. Earth analogues: Dumplings, bao, wonton, samosas, shumai, gyoza, Jamaican meat patties, Cornish pastys, calzones, arguably the sandwich, etc. [Generically might be referred to as something akin to 'hand-meal' in SF]
- Some sort of cereal or pseudocereal grain, cooked whole (steamed or boiled), and served with boiled pulses or legumes, optionally with a spiced sauce of some sort. Earth analogues: curried dal [lentils] or rajma [kidney beans] or channa [chickpeas], various "ethnic" forms of rice-and-beans, etc.
Some more ideas:
en.wikipedia.org
Gumbo (Louisiana Creole: Gum-bo) is a stew that is popular among the U.S. Gulf Coast community, the New Orleans stew variation being the official state cuisine of the U.S. state of Louisiana. Gumbo consists primarily of a strongly flavored stock, meat or shellfish (or sometimes both), a thickener, and the Creole "holy trinity": celery, bell peppers, and onions. Gumbo is often categorized by the type of thickener used, whether okra or filé powder (dried and ground sassafras leaves). Gumbo can be made with or without okra or filé powder.
en.wikipedia.org
Dirty rice is a traditional Louisiana Creole dish made from white rice which gets a "dirty" color from being cooked with small pieces of pork, beef or chicken, green bell pepper, celery, and onion, and spiced with cayenne and black pepper. Parsley and chopped green onions are common garnishes. Dirty rice is most common in the Creole regions of southern Louisiana; however, it can also be found in other areas of the American South and referenced as "chicken and rice," "Cajun rice," or "rice dressing".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alu_chat
Alu chat (also spelled alu chaat, aloo chat, or aloo chaat) is a street food originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is popular in North India, West Bengal in Eastern India, Pakistan, and also in parts of Sylhet Division of Bangladesh. It is prepared by frying potatoes in oil and adding spices and chutney. It can also be prepared with unfried boiled potatoes and adding fruits along with spices, lime juice and chutney.
en.wikipedia.org
Bhel puri (also bhelpuri, bhel poori, or simply bhel) is a savoury snack and a type of chaat, commonly served as street food. It is made of puffed rice, crunchy puris, and sev, which are layered with ingredients such as potato and onion and topped with chutneys—typically a coriander leaf chutney and a tangy tamarind chutney. Combining as many as fifteen ingredients, it incorporates contrasting textures and flavours. Bhel puri is originally from Mumbai and is rooted in Gujarati cuisine. Many similar versions of puffed rice snacks exist across India, including jhalmuri, masala puri, and churumuri.
