15 Fantastic Foods You Should Try at Least Once in Europe
Taking an excursion through Europe is fun, and one of the most enjoyable reasons is sampling the unique cuisine of different countries. Some foods aren’t available in the United States, so it’s nice to dine on them in their native countries.
You don’t have to be a foodie to appreciate diverse foods. You just need a willingness to try something new. If you’re ready for a gastronomic tour of the European continent, check out these delicious dishes.
1. Coq au Vin – France
Don’t let the elegant name deceive you. Coq au vin is a very approachable traditional French dish. It’s a chicken stew cooked in a sauce made with red wine and a touch of brandy.
The sauce also contains pearl onions, mushrooms, and bacon bits and is garnished with croutons. It’s usually made with a whole cut-up chicken, but depending on the chef, it might be made with chicken breasts or dark meat.
2. Dolmas – Greece
The name dolmas might not sound familiar, but you may know them better as stuffed grape leaves. If you’ve never had them, you’re in for a treat.
Grape leaves are stuffed with seasoned meat, white rice blended with herbs, and cooked in a lemon broth. Vegetarian versions are also available.
3. Fish and Chips – England
One of England’s most iconic meals is fish and chips. The fish is beer-battered cod or haddock, and the chips aren’t U.S.-style potato chips but thick-cut french fries.
There are variations of the meal in the U.S., but the best fish and chips are in England. It may be the beef tallow they’re fried on or the ambiance of an English pub, but either way, they taste great.
4. Paella – Spain
If you’ve never had paella, that alone is a good enough reason to visit Spain. Paella is a large part of Spanish culture and is a national dish.
Paella is a rice dish traditionally made with seafood like shrimp and mussels, but it can be made with any type of meat. Fun fact: the rice is cooked perfectly if your paella is served with a brown crust,
5. Risotto – Italy
This creamy, cheesy rice dish is synonymous with Italian cuisine. Made with white rice and parmesan cheese, it’s a rich plate that can be served as a side dish but is filling enough to be a main course.
Risotto is notoriously challenging to make, so having the chance to have it in Italy should be treated as the special occasion that it is.
6. Spaetzle- Germany
Italy may be legendary for its pasta, but Germany gives it a run for the money with spaetzle. It’s an egg noodle dish served in various ways and originates from the country’s Southwest region.
Spaetzle can be served with gravies, sauces, buttered, as a pasta salad, or in soups. A trip to Germany wouldn’t be complete without trying spaetzle at least once.
7. Liège Waffles – Belgium
These are not your run-of-the-mill breakfast food, the kind that uses pancake mix to make in a waffle iron. The ingredient that makes liège waffles special is Belgian pearl sugar.
Another thing that differentiates liège waffles from the ones we know of in the U.S. is their size. Liège waffles are about one-third the size of traditional waffles, and their exterior is more brown, but their taste is incredible.
8. Kibbeling – Netherlands
Fish is a popular food in the Netherlands, and kibbeling is no exception. Made with cod or whiting, the fish is cut into chunks, dipped in batter, and deep fried.
Kibbeling is good enough to be eaten plain, but it’s usually served with a remoulade (mayonnaise-based) dipping sauce. Don’t be surprised if it becomes your snack of choice!
9. Caldo Verde – Portugal
Soups come in different types and flavors, but it’s a universal comfort food. Caldo verde or Portuguese green soup, is no exception.
Made with potatoes, thin slices of kale or collard greens only grown in Galicia, and chorizo or other sausage meat, authentic caldo verde is a dish you have to visit Portugal to try. Once you do, you’ll find it’s worth the trip.
10. Toast Skagen – Sweden
Toast Skagen, or Swedish shrimp toast, is unlike the deep-fried shrimp toast triangles you buy from Chinese takeout restaurants. Both are delightful, but they’re very different.
Toast Skagen is a piece of toasted white bread with shrimp, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard spread. It can also be garnished with whitefish roe, which is optional. The only question is whether to eat it by hand or with a fork and knife.
11. Pylsur – Iceland
Iceland has delicacies like harkárl, fermented shark. If you’re not eager to try that, there’s pulsar, a dish that’s simultaneously familiar yet special to Iceland.
Pulsar is a hotdog made from beef, lamb, pork, and raw and crispy onions. It is cooked in beer and water. The condiments include a sauce with mayonnaise, pickle, onion, and vinegar or apple-sweetened ketchup.
12. Brunost – Norway
We’re used to eating cheeses in the U.S. that come in different forms, colors, and flavors. Nothing in the U.S. compares to Norway’s brown cheese or brunost.
What makes brunost stand out besides its caramel color? Aside from the savory cheese taste, there’s also a surprising sweetness that comes from its preparation. It’s described as a food you’ll either love or hate.
13. Pączki – Poland
A sweet treat typically enjoyed right before Lent in Poland and the U.S., pączki is a pastry filled with chocolate, custard, jam, or lemon curd before it’s deep-fried to perfection. Then they’re coated with a glaze, orange zest, powdered sugar, or icing.
They have a richer consistency than traditional doughnuts, and even though they are popular before Lent, they can be made throughout the year. You can find pączki in the U.S., but nothing beats the Polish original.
14. Tavë Kosi – Albania
A national dish of Albania, tavë kosi is a casserole of baked lamb with rice and yogurt. Like any good casserole, it’s viewed as a comfort food by those who’ve eaten it.
The Balkan country’s food has influences from the neighboring countries of Turkey, Greece, and Italy, but tavë kosi is definitively Albanian. Foods from Albania aren’t readily found in the U.S., making this dish a must-try.
15. Imqaret – Malta
Like Albania, Maltese cuisine isn’t commonly found in the United States, and that’s a tragedy because it’s quite good. The food would probably find an appreciative foodie audience here.
Americans visiting Malta should try imqaret. It’s a diamond-shaped pastry that’s filled with dates, deep fried, and dusted with a light layer of sugar. It makes for a fun dessert or snack.
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