15 Unique Dishes You Must Try When You Visit Europe
Europe holds some of the world’s best destinations, but the cuisine truly makes it unique. Boasting multiple cultures and delightful cuisines, the continent has tasteful opportunities for foodies. Here are some of the best and most unique dishes you must try when visiting Europe:
Pastel de nata – Portugal
Crisped to perfection, pastel de nata is a puff pastry containing a rich, creamy custard made from sugar, eggs, and cream. The pastries are crimped by hand, giving them a slightly ruffled texture. The tarts are then popped into the oven, where the sugar crystallizes at the very top, creating a sugar glaze that crunches with every bite. You’ll find these pastries all over Portugal, but street vendors will serve the best.
Börek – Bosnia & Herzegovina
A famous pastry not only in the Balkans but also in Turkey, Börek is a multi-layered savory phyllo dough pastry. The pastry contains a rich filling of spinach and meat, but popular variations include potatoes, cheese, and chicken. The pastry is made by lining out paper-thin phyllo sheets, filling them with the savory mix, and overlapping the layer until you get a crepe-like stack, which is then popped in the oven until golden brown. You’ll find it all over Bosnia’s streets, but it’s so popular that even mainstream eateries serve it.
Ćevapi – Balkans
Another mouthwatering gem from the Balkans, Ćevapi is a grilled minced meat dish typically served with a soft flatbread. Lamb or beef minced meat is ground with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic and rolled into long kebabs. They are then hand-grilled over an open flame and served hot. Depending on where you’re visiting, Ćevapi might even be served with sauces; the Serbian version is topped with a decadent dollop of ajvar, a spice-based condiment.
Boeuf Bourguignon – France
Also known as beef burgundy, this classic French dish is a rich stew made with an aromatic blend of spices and herbs. Thick chunks of beef are thrown into a pan and seared until they turn brown. A rich blend of carrots, onions, mushrooms, and heaps of burgundy wine are added, simmering until they create a stew. The flavorful stew is left to cook on a low flame for several hours until it boils down to a thick blend. It’s a popular dish in many French eateries.
Arancini – Italy
A light snack you’ll find all over Italian bars and even on the streets is arancini, which are fried rice balls. They’re made from fresh batches of risotto, usually seasoned and blended with ragu, mozzarella, and peas. The risotto is rolled into balls and breadcrumbs and fried until golden brown. Although numerous Italian cities serve arancini, the dish originated in Sicily, so that’s where you’ll get the best of them.
Irish stew – Ireland
Ireland may be famous for its booze, but a classic stew can do you no wrong. This traditional stew usually involves potatoes, onions, and mutton simmered in water, but modern variations include carrots and other root vegetables. The stew is seasoned with a fresh blend of herbs and pepper and allowed to simmer over low heat, tenderizing the meat until it falls off the bone. Once cooked, the stew is served with a side of soda bread.
Tapas – Spain
Perhaps one of the most popular dishes in Spain, tapas are appetizers served on almost every occasion and have made it to street food. Traditional tapa recipes include chorizo, olives, meatballs, and squid, but you’ll find variations across cities. Interestingly, tapas can also be made into a complete meal; smaller portions are usually slapped on a flatbread, but proper meals involve a thicker stew and more significant portions.
Halászlé – Hungary
Also known as the fisherman’s soup, Halászlé is a delectable mix of onions, water, and a freshwater fish, typically carp. Halászlé is generously seasoned with paprika, which gives it a vibrant red hue and adds a flavorful kick to the mix. Halászlé is generally made during Hungarian festivities and family gatherings, but you’ll find the dish across fine-dining eateries in Hungarian cities.
Kürtőskalács – Hungary
Another Hungarian delight but one usually served in Budapest, Kürtőskalács is a cake dish but served in a rather unique way. The cake pastry is made from sweet yeast dough left to proof for a few hours to enhance fluffiness. It is then wrapped around a cylindrical mold, rolled into sugar, and baked. The hot flame crystallizes the sugar, creating a crisp, sweet topping while the cake peels off like an orange peel.
Mash & pies – England
Ditch the overrated fish and chips and ask the local tavern to serve you mash and pies. This delicious English dish is a stellar combination of mashed potatoes and flaky pastries, usually filled with various ingredients like chicken, tenderized steak, kidneys, and even beans. Although mash and pies may look like a simpleton, the dish is a soulful food deserving praise.
Wiener Schnitzel – Austria
A simple and traditional Austrian dish, wiener schnitzel is served almost everywhere, including local eateries and bars. Wiener schnitzel is basically veal cutlets pounded until they flatten and can be shaped into a crispy scallop. The cutlets are then rolled into beaten eggs, breadcrumbs, and flour and fried until crisp on the outside. They’re often served with a lemon wedge to enhance their zesty flavor.
Pierogies – Poland
Although Polish pierogies are delicious all over the country, the best is served from many hole-in-the-wall in Krakow. Pierogies are delicious, simple dumplings made from mashed potatoes, cheese, minced meat, and sauteed onions. Some eateries even add fruits to enhance the flavor. Pierogies are usually boiled, but modern variations fry them, too.
Pincho – Spain
Pintxo or pincho is a bite-sized snack with hundreds of unique recipes and blends. Typically, pincho is a simple meat skewer grilled over an open flame and topped with olives and cheese. However, some variations include elaborate toppings like gravies and adding seafood and vegetables. Because they’re pretty easy to eat, pinchos are served by street vendors and local eateries and are perfect for tourists on the go.
Gyros – Greece
You haven’t tried Greek cuisine if you don’t eat gyros; these delectable fast foods involve a painstaking cooking process, but it’s ultimately worth it. Gyros are typically made from pork or meat slow-roasted over a vertical rotisserie. Once cooked, the meat is shaved off and toasted again with aromatic sauces and spices. The mix is then rolled into a fluffy pita bread with tzatziki sauce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and occasional fries.
Chimney Cake – Czech Republic
Chimney cake, known as “Trdelník” in the Czech Republic, is a traditional sweet pastry that has become a popular street food, especially in Prague. It is made from rolled dough that is wrapped around a stick, then grilled and topped with sugar and a mixture of nuts. Chimney cake has become a symbol of Czech festivals and local markets and a must-try for visitors coming to the country for the first time.
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Emese Maczko is a travel blogger behind Eco Lodges Anywhere. Having explored several destinations around Europe, the US, Indonesia, and Australia, and resided in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Luxembourg, Emese possesses a keen understanding of diverse cultures and an appreciation for the beauty of each destination she visits. She advocates for sustainable travel and ecotourism.