We all know that Hungary houses beautiful cities and landscapes with rich culture, great views and unique nightlife. Another hidden aspect of Hungary is its food. Not only are there delicious restaurants, but the dishes will knock your taste buds’ socks off.
To save you some time, since everything you find there will be amazing, below are some Hungarian must-tries if you’re thinking of heading there.
1. Gulyás
This one is a must and one of the national dishes in Hungary and you may also know this dish as Goulash. It’s a soup or stew of meat and different vegetables all cooked and seasoned with a Hungary favourite, paprika and other spices. The origin traces back to the 9th century to stews that were eaten by Hungarian shepherds.
2. Lángos
A well known Hungarian speciality and something everyone would love is Lángos. Deep fried delicious flat bread made of traditional dough. To top it off, you add some sour cream, yogurt or mashed potatoes, but that’s all optional.
3. Dobos torte
Sponge cake, layered chocolate buttercream and caramel topping, not much more needs to be said to convince anyone this is a must try. Just wait, add in that the sides are coated with ground hazelnuts, chestnuts, walnuts or almonds that would make anyone hope in a plane.
4. Töltött Káposzta
Another favourite in Hungary along with other Eastern European countries is Töltött Káposzta otherwise known as, the cabbage roll. In Hungary, they take this dish, keep it simple but make it completely out of this world and therefore, a must try.
5. Rétes
Rétes, also known as strudel, is a traditional dish in Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic. If you’re thinking that flaky puff pastry, think again. This pastry is heavier and the fillings vary depending on what you’re looking for and where you’re ordering.
6. Paprika
No, it’s not a full meal exactly, but it’s a key ingredient in almost all Hungarian cuisine. The spice is made from various air-dried fruits within the family of the chilli pepper. Though paprika is well known as a Hungarian spice, it didn’t become intensely popular in Hungary until the 19th century and originated in central Mexico and brought to Spain in the 16th century.
7. Kürtőskalács
These treats are to die for, especially if you like pastries. Easily found on street carts set up all around Budapest, kürtőskalács are a great dessert (or for me, a snack), thanks to its light, fluffy and delicious pastry exterior. Made by taking a sweet dough and cooking it on a spit (which is why there’s a hole in the middle), and covering it in sugar the dough is then roasted over charcoal and basted in melted butter so that the sugar becomes sticky. You can also choose from an array of toppings depending on which street cart you find yourself at. My personal favourite? A simple kürtőskalács covered in powdered cinnamon.
8. Hungarian Salami
If you’re a salami fan, you should probably fly to Hungary just to try it there. There are two differences that made an impact when comparing Toronto’s salami game to Hungary’s. One was that Hungarian salami holds much more oil adding a huge punch of flavour. Two is that the addition of paprika brings a whole new element that I never expected. The salami ranges from mild to medium, to hot all the way to extremely spicy. Checking out the Great Market Hall in Budapest is a must if you’re looking to try these tasty things and the vast selection makes it all that much more exciting.
