Food from a Hungarian Girl's Kitchen: Hungarian Cuisine

Hungarian cuisine is a prominent feature of the Hungarian culture, just like the art of hospitality. Traditional dishes such as the world famous Goulash - 'Gulyás' soup. Dishes are often flavoured with 'Paprika' (ground red peppers), a Hungarian innovation. The paprika powder, obtained from a special type of pepper, is one of the most common spices used in typical Hungarian cuisine. The best quality of paprika comes from the city of 'Kalocsa' .

sweet red pepper

The famous Hungarian hot river fish soup called Fisherman's soup or 'Halászlé' is usually a rich mixture of several kinds of poached fish.

Soups like Meat Soup, Cauliflower Soup, Garden Pea Soup, Kohlrabi Soup, Vegetable Soup, Cream Soups like Garlic, Mushroom, Celery, etc.

Main Course are 'Chicken paprikash' with Dumplings, Stews - as Beef Stew with Red Wine, Pork Stew, Deer Stew, Wild Boar Stew, Fish Stew. 'Vadas' (boiled Game meat with vegetable gravy and potato dumplings). Budapest Medallions - fillet of Beef, with stock: liver, peas, pepper, tomato. Pan-fried zander, Stuffed Cabbage, Layered Sauerkraut in Klausenburg Style, Stuffed Peppers, Pastas like 'Túrós csusza' (dumplings with fresh quark cheese, thick sour cream and fried bacon). 'Làngos'- potato based dough fried in oil, serve with garlic, sour cream and cheese.

Thick, heavy Hungarian sour cream called 'Tejföl' ,is often used to soften the dishes flavour.

Desserts include the iconic Dobos Cake, Strudels - called 'Rétes'- filled with apple, cherry, poppy seed or quark cheese, 'Gundel palacsinta' - pancake filled with walnut creme, when you serve pour some chocolate sauce, some alcohol and burn , Quark dumplings, Plum dumplings 'Szilvás gombóc' , 'Somlói' dumplings, 'Bird's milk with meringue dumplings, Cream Puffs, Walnut Gâteau. Dessert soups like chilled sour cherry soup, Pear Soup, Peach Soup. Sweet chestnut puree, called 'Gesztenyepüré' (cooked chestnuts mashed with sugar and rum extract and split into crumbs, topped with whipped cream).

The 'Csárda' is the most distinctive type of Hungarian inn, an old-style tavern offering traditional cuisine and beverages. You can eat Fish Soup and traditional Hungarian meals like Goulash soup, Breaded Meats, etc. 'Söröző' is a pub offering draught beer and sometimes meals like Hamburgers, Sandwiches, Pizzas. The 'Büfé' is the cheapest place, although one may have to eat standing at a counter, you can eat Sausages, Grilled Chicken, 'Làngos'.
Pastries, cakes and coffee are served at the confectionery called 'Cukrászda'.