The 20 most famous dishes of Hungary
Hungarian cooking revolves around paprika, onion and rich cooking fat, famous for goulash, fisherman's soup and paprika stews, and for Budapest's grand pastries.
1Gulyásleves
The Hungarian herdsmen's soup of beef, potatoes, carrots and lots of sweet paprika, traditionally cooked in a…
2Marhapörkölt
A thick beef stew of onion and paprika with little liquid, served with tiny nokedli dumplings.
3Paprikás Csirke
Chicken in a creamy red paprika and sour cream sauce, served with nokedli dumplings.
4Lángos
Puffy fried flatbread brushed with garlic and topped with sour cream and grated cheese — Hungary's top street…
5Halászlé
A fiery river-fish soup with hot paprika, cooked on the banks of the Danube and Tisza — a Christmas Eve dish.
6Töltött Káposzta
Sour cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and rice, cooked over sauerkraut with paprika and sour cream.
7Lecsó
A stew of yellow peppers, tomatoes and onion with paprika, eaten alone or with eggs or sausage.
8Rakott Krumpli
Layers of boiled potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, sausage and sour cream, baked until golden.
9Dobos Torta
Six thin sponge layers with chocolate buttercream, crowned with a hard glossy caramel top — from Budapest,…
10Kürtőskalács
Sweet dough wrapped around a wooden spit, roasted over embers and coated in caramelised sugar with cinnamon…
11Somlói Galuska
A trifle-like dessert of vanilla, walnut and chocolate sponge with custard, whipped cream and chocolate sauce.
12Túrós Csusza
Wide noodles with soft túró cheese, sour cream and crisp bacon pieces.
13Gundel Palacsinta
Thin crêpes filled with walnuts, raisins and orange zest under chocolate sauce — from Budapest's famous…
14Hortobágyi Palacsinta
Savoury crêpes filled with paprika-stewed chicken or veal, baked in a paprika sour cream sauce.
15Rétes
Hungarian strudel with hand-stretched see-through pastry filled with apple, sour cherry, poppy seed or cheese.
16Pogácsa
Small, flaky savoury scones with cheese or caraway, served with drinks and at gatherings.
17Hideg Meggyleves
A cold summer soup of sour cherries, cream and cinnamon, served as a starter or dessert.
18Töltött Paprika
Yellow peppers stuffed with meat and rice in a sweet-sour tomato sauce, served with mashed potatoes.
19Zserbó
A layered slice with walnuts and apricot jam topped with chocolate — always on Hungarian Christmas platters.
20Főzelék
A thick vegetable stew (peas, lentils, marrow or potato) thickened with roux and sour cream, served with…