If you’re looking for some real-deal Hungarian food to cook up in your own kitchen, you’ve come to the right place!
From satisfying soups to hearty goulash to savory delights, these 19 easy-to-follow dishes are guaranteed to delight your taste buds.
I’ve been on a mission to try them all, and am happy to share the collection!
1. Hungarian Cauliflower Soup
Before it was trendy to cook with cauliflower, people in Hungary were already making this soup!
Without the ham, it’s great for vegetarian diets, and it’s so fast and creamy.
For added texture, I recommend crumbling some smoked sausage on the soup.
2. Hungarian Potato Dumplings (Shlishkes)
These are comparable to Italian gnocchi; mashed potatoes make up their base and must be boiled before eating.
The big difference? They’re coated in breadcrumbs for extra crunch and served with the main course.
3. The Best Hungarian Shortbread
As a true shortbread enthusiast, I enjoy testing new recipes to find the next great recipe.
The grating method employed here completely bowled me over.
I will use this from now on; it resulted in a buttery and light crumb.
4. Hungarian Cottage Cheese Spread (Körözött)
Across Hungary, you’ll see this particular cottage cheese spread offered in countless versions. Although some prefer to use a blend of sheep’s and cow’s milk cheese, others stick to one or the other.
From citrus and pepper to a hint of anise, caraway seeds provide a complex taste. You can substitute mustard seeds if you are not a big caraway seed fan.
5. Hungarian Baked Dessert Noodles (Rakott Teszta)
This dessert is like a bread pudding but with noodles.
It’s easy, sweet, delicious, and tender.
Instead of soaking the raisins before incorporating, you can use chocolate chips or dried fruits.
6. Hungarian Cucumber Salad
Though it may seem somewhat dull to create a salad with a cucumber base, this meal is anything but. The minced shallots, fresh dill, white vinegar, sugar, water, and salt combine to elevate the flavor profile of this salad.
I adore the crunchy texture of cucumbers. It would make a great side dish with hearty meat entrees.
7. Sausage Leczo / Lecso (Hungarian Vegetable Stew)
The broth is guaranteed to have fresh flavors because it consists of nothing more than the juices from the stewed vegetables.
With the addition of smoky sausage, this can be ready in only 60 minutes.
8. Krumplileves (Hungarian Potato Soup)
This list’s soups depend on a few ingredients to allow the inherent flavors to stand out.
To duplicate meals like this, use smoked sausage when prompted and locate ripe veggies.
It makes a big difference!
9. Hungarian Meatballs
These colorful and flavorful meatballs are created with a blend of beef and pork, plus peppers, onion, and garlic.
The crème Fraiche and canned tomato sauce blend makes a simple sauce, though heavy cream or sour cream works fine as well.
10. Hungarian Stuffed Peppers
For a light dinner or lunch, stuffed peppers work as a great meal. This recipe can easily be modified for vegetarians and even vegans, and I appreciate how well they travel.
Do not overfill the peppers, as the rice will grow and may cause them to explode while cooking.
11. Hungarian Layered Potato – Rakott Krumpli
I will admit, the boiled eggs with sausage and cheese layered with potatoes did not initially appeal to me. Yet, the creamy texture and flavorful punch won me over.
The taste of sausage will ooze through everything, giving a smoky and salty goodness to every bite. I advise slicing the sausage rather thinly and adding it to the top so it crisps up beautifully while cooking.
12. Traditional Hungarian Goulash (Gulyás)
Goulash is a must-try, especially this recipe. After all, it is a national dish of Hungary!
This is more than a simple stew; it’s brimming with taste and makes a delicious switch to regular old chicken noodle or tomato soup. With peppers, onions, diced beef, and carrots, the ingredients are both filling and affordable. Hungarian paprika makes all the difference.
13. Hungarian Mushroom Soup
This satisfying soup is warm and thick. Sautéing the onions, garlic, and mushrooms in butter unlocks so much flavor, which can only improve this soup.
Be sure to let the flour and butter roux cook until a lovely golden brown to create a fabulously rich base. Once the paprika, dill, soy sauce, and milk are added, this results in an even deeper stock.
14. Hungarian Sausage and Potato Casserole
Evidently, potatoes and sausage are big components of Hungarian cuisine, just like the ever-present paprika.
It’s easy to see why when the sausage tastes this incredible and is so readily available.
While I am partial to smoked sausage, I highly recommend sampling a spicy variety!
15. Hungarian Poppy Seed Bread Pudding (Mákos Guba)
Poppy seeds carry a slight citrus and nutty flavor; thus, their presence in lemon muffins.
Including them into an easy dish like bread pudding gives a new taste, transforming this humble dessert into something unique.
16. Hungarian Green Bean Soup Recipe
This soup makes adding veggies to your meal easy, only needing 30 minutes from preparation to serving.
Because canned tomatoes come with extra juice, I like to use them; however, you can sub in fresh if they’re available and ripe.
17. Hungarian Chicken Paprikash Recipe
You might assume it’s loaded with tomatoes because of this dish’s color, though it’s really that Hungarian paprika breathing life into the unassuming chicken thigh. You’ll have to brown the chicken after rubbing it with paprika before simmering.
Sour cream, milk, and flour quickly mix for the sauce and thicken in the pan.
18. Hungarian Fried Cabbage and Noodles (Haluska)
As a big fan of cabbage, with just butter, salt, and maybe bacon, this ranks high on my list.
If you want, serve this hearty meal without meat.
I’d be tempted to sprinkle some paprika on top with the chicken paprikash.