Hungarian food is an explosion of flavors, steeped in history and tradition. Much of the cuisine harkens back to the Magyar people’s steppe history, with hearty stews cooked over fires in cauldrons like they would have back on the open plain. It’s also impossible to downplay the influence of the mixing of cultures such as Saxons, Jews, Poles, and even more during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Much of the cuisine features the country’s favorite spice, paprika, which you’ll find in a lot of the following dishes. And while many people might associate Hungary with goulash, the country’s culinary repertoire has so much more to offer. Whether you’re indulging in street food or enjoying a festive feast, note down these 20 iconic Hungarian dishes for a delicious journey through Hungary’s gastronomic landscape.
1. Gulyás (Goulash)
Beef Stew with Paprika
Let’s get Hungary’s most famous dish out the way. This flavorful stew made is made with beef, onions, garlic, paprika, and vegetables like potatoes and carrots. It’s traditionally served as a hearty soup or stew, perfect for cold winter months but also enjoyed all year round. It’s often served as a main course, accompanied by fresh bread.
2. Pörkölt
Meat Stew with Paprika
Pörkölt is a catch-all term for a rich and spicy meat stew, and there are many different variations. It’s typically made with pork, beef, or chicken, slow-cooked with onions, garlic, and, you guessed it – paprika. It’s often enjoyed in the colder months, served with dumplings or bread as a main course. The word pörkölt translates to ‘roasted.’ The dish’s quality largely depends on using few and fresh ingredients, with the flavor and spiciness of the paprika powder playing a crucial role. A classic Hungarian tip for preparing pörkölt is to start by frying onions in lard or oil. Once softened, remove the pot from the heat and quickly add the paprika powder and meat, stirring vigorously. This technique, derived from the verb pörkölni (meaning ‘to roast’), helps seal in the juices and enhances the dish’s flavor.
3.Csirke Paprikás
Chicken Paprikash
A beloved Hungarian classic, chicken paprikash features tender chicken simmered in a rich, creamy paprika sauce.The dish is traditionally served with nokedli, soft, dumpling-like boiled egg noodles similar to German spätzle, or boiled potatoes. It’s often enjoyed for lunch or dinner, especially in the colder months, and is a comforting family favorite at both casual and festive gatherings.
4.Töltött Káposzta
Stuffed Cabbage
This dish has deep roots in Hungarian cuisine, evolving from its predecessor, cabbage meat. During the Ottoman conquests, Turkish influences introduced dishes like sarma to the region. While traditional Turkish sarma is wrapped in vine leaves, sauerkraut was a staple in this area, leading to the creation of a local variant wrapped in sauerkraut leaves. Over time, the dish was further adapted with the addition of smoked meat, resulting in what is now a classic Hungarian specialty. Like many traditional dishes, stuffed cabbage has countless regional variations. The base typically includes minced pork, sauerkraut, rice, and smoked meat. It’s a traditional dish often prepared for special occasions like Christmas, but also enjoyed during the colder months as a hearty, satisfying meal for lunch or dinner.
5. Jókai Bableves
Jókai Bean Soup
Named after the famous Hungarian writer Mór Jókai, this thick and hearty bean soup is made with smoked ham, sausage, and vegetables. A frequent guest at a restaurant in Balatonfüred, Jókai often ordered bean soup, leading the dish to be named in his honor. According to various accounts, he was also a fan of halászlé (fish soup), which we’ll come to later. It’s typically eaten in the winter and is a perfect comfort food, usually enjoyed at lunch.
6. Túrós Csusza
Curd Cheese Noodles
Hungarian cuisine is all about comfort food, and Túrós Csusza is a perfect example. This dish features egg noodles tossed with cheese curds and crispy bacon, seasoned with black pepper and paprika. Beloved by locals and visitors alike, it’s one of the most iconic Hungarian dishes to experience.
7. Halászlé
Fisherman’s Soup
A staple of Hungarian cuisine, halászlé is a vibrant, fiery-red dish made with abundant hot paprika and carp or a mix of freshwater fish. Originating in the Pannonian Plain, particularly along the Danube and Tisza river regions, it is also cherished by ethnic German Donauschwaben, who call it Karpfensuppe. In Croatia, the dish is popular in Slavonia and Baranya, where it is known as fiš paprikaš. Thanks to its liberal use of hot paprika and often spicy peppers, halászlé stands out as one of the spiciest traditional dishes in Europe. It’s also a staple dish of Hungarian Christmas Eve dinners.
8. Főzelék
Vegetable Stew
A thick, creamy vegetable stew, főzelék is typically made from beans, peas, or spinach, thickened with flour and served with sour cream. Often eaten as a side dish, it’s especially popular for lunch or dinner.
9. Lángos
Fried Flatbread
Walk around Budapest and you’ll see Lángos stalls all around the city. This is Hungary’s most popular street food in Hungary, a deep-fried dough often topped with garlic, sour cream, and cheese. Today it’s a flatbread which has been deep-fried, but in the past it was the last bits of bread dough left in the oven. It’s eaten at any time of day, from breakfast to late-night snack, but is particularly popular at festivals and local markets.
10. Székelykáposzta
Székely Cabbage Stew
A variation of the stuffed cabbage dish, this stew combines sauerkraut, pork, and sour cream for a tangy, hearty meal. Traditionally served in the winter months, it’s enjoyed as a filling lunch or dinner.
11. Kürtőskalács
Chimney Cake
This iconic Hungarian dessert is one that makes it on most people’s camera rolls when visiting Hungary. You’ll see trailers and market stalls selling the iconic-looking cake all around Hungary’s big cities. It’s made from sweet dough, rolled into a cylinder, and cooked over an open flame, creating a crispy, caramelized crust. It’s a favorite street food during festivals, especially around Christmas, and is often eaten as a sweet snack or dessert.
12. Pisztráng
Trout
Freshwater trout is often grilled or pan-fried and served with vegetables or potatoes. It’s a popular dish in Hungary, especially in regions near rivers and lakes, often eaten for lunch or dinner, particularly in the spring and summer.
13. Lecsó
Hungarian Ratatouille
This vegetable stew is made with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and paprika, often comparable to French Ratatouille. It is also regarded as a traditional dish in Czech, Slovak, and former Yugoslavian cuisines and is widely enjoyed in Poland and Austria. Lecsó is often just the base, upon which more ingredients, like egg or sausage or bacon are added for extra flavor. It’s eaten during the summer months, either as a side dish or a main course with rice or bread.
14. Húsos Töltött Tészta
Meat-filled Dumplings
These hearty dumplings are filled with a mixture of ground meat, usually pork or beef, and then boiled or fried. Often served as a side dish or snack, they are commonly eaten at family meals or gatherings.
15. Meggyleves
Sour Cherry Soup
This refreshing, slightly sweet soup is made from sour cherries, sugar, cinnamon, and sour cream, giving it a tangy and creamy flavor. Meggyleves is traditionally served chilled, making it a perfect appetizer or light dish during the summer months when cherries are fresh and abundant.
16. Hortobágyi Palacsinta
Hortobágy Pancakes
One of my favorite things to eat when visiting Budapest, these savory crepes are filled with a mixture of meat, usually veal or chicken, and covered with a paprika-infused sauce. Often served as an appetizer, it’s a popular dish at celebrations and family gatherings, typically eaten during lunch or dinner.
17. Káposztás Tészta
Cabbage and Noodles
A classic Hungarian comfort food, this dish combines cabbage, onions, and noodles, often flavored with paprika. It’s typically served as a light meal for lunch or dinner, especially during the colder months.
18. Rakott Krumpli
Layered Potatoes
A comforting casserole dish made with layers of potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, sausage, and sour cream, rakott krumpli is a traditional Hungarian dish, often enjoyed as a side dish or a light main course for lunch or dinner.
19. Túró Rudi
Cottage Cheese Snack
A popular Hungarian snack, túró rudi consists of a soft, creamy cottage cheese filling covered in a thin layer of chocolate. It’s often eaten as a dessert or sweet treat, particularly as an afternoon snack.
20. Somlói Galuska
Somló Sponge Cake
This indulgent dessert is made of layers of sponge cake soaked in chocolate sauce, topped with whipped cream, and sprinkled with nuts. A beloved treat at festive gatherings and after big meals, it’s often enjoyed as a dessert at the end of a celebratory feast.
