Top 10 worst Hungarian dishes according to foreigners
While most Hungarians are proud of their local cuisine, some delicacies just do not make sense to foreigners. Here we have compiled a list of the quirkiest Hungarian dishes that might leave you scratching your head.
Főzelék
According to ncl, foreigners do not fancy Hungarian’s so-called főzelék. Főzelék is a type of Hungarian dish that can be described as a thick vegetable stew or soup. It is typically made with various vegetables such as green beans, peas, carrots, spinach, potatoes or lentils. The vegetables are usually cooked until tender and then thickened with a roux or a mixture of flour and sour cream. It is a popular comfort food in Hungary and can be served as a main dish or as a side dish alongside meat or bread. The dislike towards this meal might be down to its consistency; too thick to be a soup but it is not really like a stew either.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/klapkaetelbar/
Stefánia szelet (meatloaf stuffed with egg)
Next up, we have Stefánia szelet – a beloved Hungarian dish consisting of a seasoned ground meat mixture, typically beef or pork, formed into a loaf shape. A hard-boiled egg is placed in the centre of the meat mixture, and then the meatloaf is baked until cooked through. When sliced, each serving reveals a cross-section with the egg in the centre. Töltött fasírt is often served as a hearty main dish in Hungarian cuisine and is enjoyed with various sides such as mashed potatoes, salad or the above-mentioned főzelék. We can see why stuffing meat with eggs might sound odd to foreigners… But trust us, it is worth trying out this filling Hungarian dish!
Borleves (Christmas wine soup)
Borleves, also fondly known as Christmas wine soup, divides opinion even among Hungarians. This traditional soup is served during the holiday season, particularly around Christmas. It is a sweet and aromatic soup made with white wine, mixed with water, egg yolks, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and sometimes lemon zest or juice. Some families like to add small cooked pasta (tarhonya) to this soup, while others prefer to flavour this dish with dried fruits such as raisins or prunes.
Source: Youtube / Nosalty
Poppy-seed pasta
The Hungarian poppy-seed pasta, as the name suggests, is a pasta tossed with ground poppy seeds and sweetened with sugar or even honey. Poppy-seed pasta is a beloved traditional Hungarian dish, especially popular during holidays like Christmas and Easter, but it can be enjoyed year-round as a comforting and indulgent meal. There are so many things foreigners might find weird about this delicious meal. However, most people find it pretty odd to add sweet toppings to your pasta.
Source: Youtube / Blondi konyhája
Vadas (Hunter’s stew)
The Hungarian Hunter’s stew is a traditional stew that features meat cooked in a rich, flavourful sauce made with root vegetables, onions and a variety of spices. The sauce for this delicacy might sound weird, as it is basically a blended meat soup. Vadas is typically served hot and accompanied by sides such as dumplings (nokedli), potatoes or bread. While some find it strange, we suggest you try this meal that is a staple in heartwarming Hungarian dishes.
Further odd Hungarian dishes
Lekváros bukta (sweet jam-filled bun) is essentially a jam-filled dough. Some foreigners dislike the doughy texture and the overly sweet jam filling. However, the jam content is up to personal preferences.
Kókuszkocka is a chocolatey coconut cube that is also known as lamington. This delicacy originates from Australia, but it is widely popular in Hungary as well. Some may not like the texture of desiccated coconut or find it too dry or gritty. Although, if it is prepared in the right way, it will not be dry at all!
Source: Youtube / Szilvi Szécsi
Tripe stew might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Tripe, the main ingredient in this stew, is the edible lining of the stomach of various animals, typically cattle. For many cultures, it might not be too appealing to eat stomach lining. Not to mention the chewy or rubbery texture and the strong flavour.
Tripe stew. Source: pixabay.com
Potato soup is yet again one of the comfort foods of Hungarians. It is quite a mystery why someone would find this delicious meal icky. But we are not here to argue with anyone. 🙂
Pancake cake is also one of the Hungarian dishes that foreigners find weird. While pancakes are usually a big hit in every country, the pancake cake seems a bit too much for foreigners. This traditional Hungarian dish often features thin layers of pancakes stacked with creamy fillings in between. Some may find the texture or presentation of this dessert unconventional compared to more familiar cake varieties.
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10 Comments
Obviously they dont know whats good. Vadas is delicious. And so is Lekváros bukta.
i am english and married to a hungarian and sorry i love Főzelék, Kókuszkocka. vadas is delicious and so is pancake cake. yes i dont like the other dishes but them i have said are great.
Each to his/her own drum. The cake made w. layers of thin crepes is not at all like heavy pancakes that sit in the gut like stones. The meatloaf w. eggs in center is made in UK, much loved except that each egg is individually wrapped in raw meat before baking so that each is the size of a small baked potato, ate Scotch Eggs in Scottland Many people aren’t familiar w. using sour cream except for veggie dips or on potato skins but do love blender soups, with heavy cream poured in such as your photo shows. Pumpkin especially popular spiced with ginger & cinnomon. Expensive eateries always served Vichyssoise…. is potato soup served cold so the unbleded or unriced potato in the Hungarian version should not be shocking to people who love soups, especially those who love KNORR POTATO SOUP. As for the jam filled offering, it is not very different than jam filled doughnuts at coffee shops so what’s the deal? Unfortunately even trained chefs around the world have no clue that poppy seed must be ground to let out the oil where the actual flavour exists so that dish is strong for unfamilar taste buds….as would be Dios te’szta….made with ground walnut meats, sugar and lemon zest. I’m surprised that carraway soup and gooseberry soup are not on the list. MY ABSOLUTE FAVES. Pallets differ as do single cook’s skills. I’ve had great Portugese Paiella & horrible Spanish yet both had squid, crab, rice, tomato etc etc and saffron for spice. Coconut flakes can be soaked in a tiny bit of warm milk to stay ‘fresh’ textured longer. In NA most of us love coconut.
Coming from Hungarian parents, I have made most of the recipes mentioned in this article…all I can say is ,like other cuisines in the world..no one countries recipes is 100 */* agreeable to another person’s tastes…
Every country around this wonderful world has recipes that are favored or disliked…whatever rocks your boat…Eh?
Funny thing, the other day I was in the only shop local to me (20 minute drive) looking at a bag of walnut pcs. 40 grams for $13.99 CA dollars. A man, unknown to me but we often speak to everyone in the Maritimes, stopped to talk to me. I mentioned thinking of making egg noodles with walnut meats. He didn’t have a clue so asked how it’s made. When I mentioned added lemon zest & sugar he said “sweet pasta?” This in Nova Scotia where they LOVE shaved spicy meat (beef or lamb) done on a huge spit that twirls slowly in plain sight which is stuffed into a wrap of some bland type w. sliced tomato and then very sweet thick sauce poured into it! That sauce is made w. a can of Sweetened Condensed Milk with more sugar added to it & a tiny bit of vinegar…so I’m told. It’s called A Donaire. Had it once myself. Yum cus it has that same blk spice that my beloved Hurka has I think, but sweet. We are known for it like Quebec is known for POUTINE…french frys with soft cheese curds and lots of hot gravy poured over it all. Also Yum! So much good food around the world.
Does the Hungarian tripe stew have a rubbery texture?
Wow!
No way!
But what about the most terrifying octopus stew in the coastal countries?
The list is unbelivable. I am a hungarian cook and I think the “véreshurka” and the “kocsonya” should be also on this list. (even I love both)
Chilled Cherry Soup
Real Porrkolt
Curd Cheese Palacsinta
Dobos
Kave
Barack
What more could I ask for??
Nb. Potatoes fried in goose fat,…
My grandmother was a spectacularly gifted cook and equally a brilliant baker. I never once sat down at her table to an indifferent or unappetising meal.
Csúsztatott Palacsinta – which is the proper name for the pancake cake, is assembled with apricot coulis and ground walnuts in thin layers between the pancakes. To temper the sweetness of the apricots just squeeze fresh lemon juice over. Simple and delicious desert. You can serve it with whipped cream also.
Töltött Káposzta – stuffed cabbage is supposedly traditional for New years day. It has vinegar and caraway in the stock, both of which help dispel a hangover. Then you top it off with sour cream.
Vegetable marrow cooked with dill – again lots of sour cream.
Fasírt – meatloaf doesn’t require the egg and is excellent made with veal and chicken combined.
Uborkasaláta – to go with it, is a cumber salad that is simply exquisite.
Szilvás Gombóc – sweet plum dumplings – another one to try.
Unfortunately all her recipes were only in her head. I’m slowly recreating them by experiment over 30 years on. This is not helpful to anyone on a diet as Hungarian food is delicious, irresistible and very fattening!