Foods that bring fortune for Hungarians on New Year’s Eve

Each and every nation has their traditional menu on New Year’s Eve and Day; some of them are actually the same or are very much alike, but some food associations could not be more different. So, what do Hungarians put on the table on a New Year’s Eve party and what do they eat on January 1st?

Pork

It is believed that pigs dig forwards with their snouts, thus unearthing luck, but Hungarian traditions advise you to consume it roasted or as a frankfurter rather than as a schnitzel. Elders might suggest making aspic from pork trotters, ears, tails or snouts, which is eaten both for dinner on the last day of the year and for breakfast or lunch on the first day of the new year.

Lentils

Lentils resemble coins, so it is good luck to eat lentil soup or lentil stew on January 1st so that your wallet will never get empty in the new year. You can cook it with frankfurters, combining it with another magical food.

You can find our suggestion on how to make the best lentil meals here.

Korhelyleves

Korhelyleves is a meaty sauerkraut soup that is said to cure hangovers, so it is especially beneficial to eat it after the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Its main ingredients are sausages and sauerkraut, but sometimes a rich amount of bacon is added to it, which makes one wonder how well the combination of sausages and bacon will sit on a hungover stomach, but you know what they say… hair of the dog.