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.

Spenot fozelek tojassal
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.

borleves wine soup Hungarian dishes
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.

poppy seed pasta mákos tészta
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!

kókuszkocka lamington
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.

food pacal tripe stew
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.

pancake cake

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