Dish-level carbon and nutrition dataset for 4,403 Asian recipes

Global dietary transition is becoming imperative as the booming food systems are degrading ecosystems, while malnutrition and diet-related chronic diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent. The choices individuals make about their diets affect their health through nutrition intake and have profound implications for planetary environmental sustainability. Asian cuisines, which are widely consumed within Asia and popular globally, play a pivotal role in this dietary shift. Hence, this study establishes a Pan-Asian culinary dataset comprising 4,403 representative dishes from 48 countries and regions, capturing the region-specific dietary diversity. For each dish, we quantified both environmental and nutritional outcomes. The environmental impact was assessed, encompassing the carbon footprint embodied in food ingredients and seasonings, along with cooking energy consumption, while nutrient composition was characterized through 21 macro- and micronutrients. This dataset provides essential insights at the dish level, thereby making generalized food recommendation guidelines more tangible and applicable to individuals.