Tried-and-true recipes: What Hungarians eat at Christmas

When thinking about the Christmas menu in Hungary, iconic dishes like fish soup, stuffed cabbage, poppy seed bread pudding, and bejgli are often the first to come to mind. However, the options extend far beyond these classics. A recent survey conducted by VIRTU Restaurant sheds light on the foods that truly make their way to Hungarian tables during the festive season.

Family meals take centre stage

According to Drive.hu, Hungarians value family gatherings, especially during Christmas. According to the VIRTU survey:

• A significant 77.5% of respondents confirmed they participate in a family lunch or dinner during the holidays.
• Only 2.8% said they would not join their family for a meal, while 7.1% were unsure.

Dining out remains uncommon, with over 50% of respondents exclusively eating at home or with relatives and friends, while only 8.3% plan to visit a restaurant during the holidays.

Holiday shopping habits

When it comes to grocery shopping, international discount chains dominate:

• A majority (66.9%) of Hungarians shop at Lidl, Aldi, or Penny for holiday ingredients.
• 50.1% opt for hypermarkets like Tesco or Auchan, and nearly as many (49.1%) purchase items at markets or directly from farmers.

Regarding spending, most families allocate HUF 20,000–30,000 (EUR 49–73) for their holiday meals. Around 25% spend between HUF 10,000–20,000 (EUR 24–49), while a smaller segment spends HUF 30,000–50,000 (EUR 73–121) or more.

Traditional dishes remain favourites

Unsurprisingly, traditional dishes continue to dominate holiday menus. Fish soup leads the way, with 45.4% of households preparing this dish, followed by chicken broth (33.7%). Stuffed cabbage is the most popular main course (55.6%), closely followed by fried or baked fish (51.9%).

Side dishes like mayonnaise-based potato salad (32.9%) are staples, while breaded dishes such as fried chicken (29.6%) and pork cutlets (26.4%) also feature prominently.

Bejgli reigns supreme

For dessert, bejgli is the undeniable star, gracing tables in over 75% of households. Other favourites include gingerbread (45%), zserbó cake (36.7%), and linzer cookies (26.3%). Surprisingly, poppy seed bread pudding, often associated with Christmas, is prepared by only 14.2% of respondents.

Preserving forgotten culinary traditions

Chef Levente Lendvai of VIRTU Restaurant emphasises the importance of preserving Hungarian culinary traditions:

“Many Hungarian dishes have fallen into obscurity, even during the holidays. For instance, dishes like vargabéles or lamb are rarely served. At VIRTU, we aim to bring these forgotten flavours back to life.”

By blending tradition with exploration, Hungarians can rediscover the rich culinary heritage that defines their festive celebrations.

Read also:

• 3 Quintessential Hungarian Christmas recipes for the festive table
• 5 Hungarian Christmas recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth

Featured image: depositphotos.com