10 Delicious Hungarian Foods You Just Have to Try

November 23, 2022

The beautiful Danube, a hearty Langos and endless shots of Palinka. Welcome to Hungary, home to some of the most delicious comfort food you’ll ever taste and impressive hospitality that will keep you coming back for more! The following list will be a compilation of some of the best dishes Hungary has to offer. The country’s rich history has welcomed a multitude of cultural influences resulting in a fantastic meal from soup to dessert. Here are some of my personal favorites:

Fruit soup (gyümölcsleves)

Perhaps you have tried Gazpacho or maybe you enjoy a refreshing fruit smoothie on a hot day? Hungarian fruit soup is somewhere between the two. The summers in Hungary can get above 100 degrees therefore you will find yourself seeking something cold when roaming the historic streets of Budapest. This is where fruit soup or Gyümölcsleves really comes into its own. The fresh fruit soup is a slightly sweet treat that restores any weary tourist struggling in the heat.

Here is a fantastic recipe if you would like to recreate fruit soup at home: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/recipe/hungarian-fruit-soup/

Langos

No matter where you find yourself in Hungary you will probably be able to find a Langos kiosk nearby. This deep-fried flatbread is usually eaten with Tejföl, which is sour cream, and grated cheese or garlic oil. The only way to describe Langos is true comfort food. It is the one food I cannot really compare to anything outside of Hungary. Enjoy it warm with a cold beer or even a shot of Palinka!

Here is a fantastic recipe: https://www.happyfoodstube.com/langos/

Pörkölt

Often incorrectly translated to Goulash, this delicious stew cannot be skipped when visiting Hungary! Nothing ends a busy day exploring the various museums of Budapest quite like a bowl of Pörkölt served with a generous scoop of nokedli! It features large helpings of boneless meat, paprika and an assortment of vegetables. In true Hungarian style, it is served with Tejföl which can be mixed into the gravy for a milder flavor.

An amazing recipe for Pörkölt: https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/porkolt/

Kürtökalacs

The Hungarian chimney cake! Traditionally flavored with cinnamon or vanilla sugar and eaten warm, now you can order with many different toppings. This popular Hungarian dessert is made by placing the dough around metal tubes when they are cooked to create a chimney-like appearance. Often eaten at festivals these delicious cylindrical pastries are definitely a must-eat when visiting Hungary! They are sometimes seen in other central European countries but Hungary definitely makes them the best! I would definitely suggest ordering one warm with a side of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate indulgent treat.

Dobostorta

If you love dessert this cake is for you! Chocolate buttercream layered with light sponge cake and topped with crunchy caramel, this cake both looks incredible and tastes awesome. Available in almost every bakery across Hungary, the Dobostorta is a must-eat! It is a popular cake amongst native Hungarians and is often eaten on special occasions such as birthdays. The layered pastry is named after its inventor, Hungarian chef József C. Dobos, a delicatessen owner in Budapest. It is super easy to recognise in a bakery due to its impressive layers and beautiful caramel triangles fanned out across the top of the cake. The smell of unwrapping the rich chocolate dessert is something I will never forget about Hungary. Usually wrapped in paper on a small card plate, the smell of caramel hits as soon as you start to open the packaging. It is definitely one of the tastiest things to come out of Hungary and possibly the whole of Europe!

Here’s a recipe if you feel ambitious enough to attempt this beast of a cake: https://www.thespruceeats.com/hungarian-dobosh-torte-recipe-1136613

Gerbeaud

Another masterpiece of a cake to come out of Hungary, Gerbeaud is the perfect end to any Hungarian meal. It features layers of shortcrust pastry sandwiched between a mixture of apricot jam and ground walnuts. These layers are then topped with a generous layer of dark chocolate giving it an elegant sheen that is dangerously easy to spot in a bakery. The sweetness of the jam compliments the dark chocolate perfectly and the walnuts give a perfect nutty finish. There is also a Cafe Gerbeaud in Budapest that is well worth a visit! Any cake that has a cafe named after it is worth visiting the country for in my opinion! This cake is super easy to bake at home. You can even use ready-made shortcrust pastry for a really quick dessert that looks impressive.

Here is a good recipe: https://www.lavenderandmacarons.com/gerbeaud-cake-hungarian-dessert/

Kolbász

Hungary produces a few different types of sausage that can be enjoyed both hot or cold. However, Kolbász is one of the most delicious ones! Often added to Pörkölt and other soups or stews, this paprika-stuffed sausage adds flavor to anything it is added to. Hungarians even enjoy this sausage with thick bread, margarine and paprika for a delicious snack any time of the day. Some families still make their own Kolbász and have family recipes that are passed down through generations.

If you are not motivated to make your own, here is an excellent fresh alternative: https://hungarianmeatmarket.co/product/fresh-sausage-friss-kolbasz-1lb-next-day-delivery-required/

Rántott Sajt

It’s no secret that Hungarians do not shy away from fried foods or cheese, but what about the two combined? Rántott Sajt is a deep-fried hunk of breaded cheese that I honestly wouldn’t mind eating with every meal of the day. Crispy breadcrumbs and creamy cheese – what’s not to love? I put this in a sandwich and can confirm that it was excellent.

Here is how to make it at home: https://dailynewshungary.com/recipe-of-the-week-fried-cheese-rantott-sajt/

Goulash

Of course, this list would not be complete without Hungarian Goulash! But what if I told you it was a soup, not a stew? This fantastically warming soup contains meat usually on the bone, paprika and a selection of vegetables for a tasty start to any meal. Similar to the previously mentioned Pörkölt which possibly caused this mistranslation, Goulash is always going to be a must-eat meal when visiting Hungary.

Here is how to make it at home: https://www.thespruceeats.com/zsolts-hungarian-goulash-soup-recipe-1136684

Túrógombóc

Túró cheese is sort of a sweet cottage cheese although, to be honest, nothing outside of Hungary has ever compared to it. Túró is then combined with semolina and egg and moulded into a ball shape which is then panniered and fried. They are then served with some kind of jam or yoghurt for an amazing dessert. These round dumplings are like a cheesecakey experience but not quite identical. Nothing I’ve ever tried before can compare to them and that is why they are a must-eat when visiting Hungary!

Here is an authentic recipe: https://budapestcookingclass.com/hungarian-cottage-cheese-dumplings-recipe-turogomboc/

Some other honourable mentions are of course Palinka, fözelék and palacsinta. Hungary is one country that is packed full of fascinating history, hospitable people and mouth-watering foods that you must try when you visit. It is of utmost importance that every tourist in Hungary visits an authentic Hungarian restaurant, a bakery and tries the wine!

Image References

Claudia, Botos. “Dobostorta Házilag Készítve: Hogy Lesz a Legjobb a Roppanós Tető?” Sobors.hu, 3 Dec. 2019, sobors.hu/receptek/dobostorta-recept/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2022.

Davies, Emily. Fruit Soup.

—. Gerbeaud.

—. Langos.

“Füstölt Kolbász.” Receptexpressz, receptexpressz.hu/fustolt-kolbasz/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2022.

“Hagyományos Túrógombóc Recept Képpel – Mindmegette.hu – Receptek.” Mindmegette.hu, www.mindmegette.hu/hagyomanyos-turogomboc.recept/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2022.

“Így Készül a Tökéletes Rántott Sajt – Tippek, Hogy Ne Folyjon Ki!” Receptneked.hu – Kipróbált Receptek Képekkel, receptneked.hu/cikkek/igy-keszul-a-tokeletes-rantott-sajt-tippek-hogy-ne-folyjon-ki/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2022.

Mesquita, Olivia. “Hungarian Goulash Recipe (Gulyás).” Olivia’s Cuisine, 6 Oct. 2021, www.oliviascuisine.com/hungarian-goulash/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2022.

News, Daily. “Kürtőskalács (Chimney Cake) Festival in Budapest – October 11 – 13.” Daily News Hungary, 9 Oct. 2013, dailynewshungary.com/kurtoskalacs-chimney-cake-festival-in-budapest-october-11-13/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2022.

Unsplash. “Photo by Karolina Kołodziejczak on Unsplash.” Unsplash.com, 24 Nov. 2020, unsplash.com/photos/0dD78weVWpg. Accessed 17 Oct. 2022.

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