14 Delicious European Foods (And Where to Eat Them).
Künefe in Turkish
Nothing beats a warm pan of künefe, even though Turkish pleasure and Swiss chocolate are both delicious. The dessert, or some variation of it (each with a slightly different recipe and spelling), originated in the south-central region of Turkiye and is now popular throughout the Levant and much of the Middle East. Arabic recipes from the 15th century have versions, and a dessert that is comparable is known to have originated in Palestine as early as the 10th century.
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Gulyás, or Hungarian goulash
Gulyás, the national dish of Hungary, is not at all like the goulash your grandmother probably cooks. The Hungarian rendition was a comfort food for Magyar shepherds and dates back to the ninth century. The word actually means “herdsman.” Traditionally, this stew of beef and onions was cooked over an open flame in an iron kettle called a bograc.
Irish Pudding with Sticky Toffee
Disclaimer: Just to clear things up, sticky toffee pudding is offered throughout the United Kingdom. The reason this post emphasizes it as Irish is as I personally think the best rendition comes from a restaurant in Limerick. In any case, the origin is disputed. It was allegedly devised in by Francis Coulson of the Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel in the Lake District of England.
Waffles from Belgium
Waffles, really? Yes! However, these aren’t Eggos. It is said that the thick, deep waffle was sold to ravenous churchgoers back in the Middle Ages. Waffles are a modern Belgian obsession, with dozens of regional variations. Similar to the breakfast you may be familiar with in the United States, the Brussels waffle is rectangular and has sweet toppings. However, there are other variations across the nation that differ in shape, dough type, and topping selection.
Haggis, Neeps, and Tatties from Scotland
Haggis is the food that is most closely associated with its area of origin when it comes to traditional cuisine. It is perhaps the first cuisine you connect with the country, aside from whiskey. The meal is originally mentioned as “hagese” in local cookbooks from the middle of the fourteenth century. But such foods have probably been consumed since antiquity.
Greek Moussaka
Even though Greece is regarded as the center of civilization, one of its most well-known dishes has only been a mainstay since the 1920s. Chef Nikolaos Tselementes is credited with introducing it to Greece. The fundamentals of the dish date back much further, though, and it shares cousins in the Levant, Egypt, and Turkiye, much like most of the cuisine that is popular throughout the Mediterranean and Balkans. The most widely recognized version worldwide is most likely the Greek translation.
Ukrainian beer
I never would have guessed that I would enjoy Ukrainian borscht. But it holds a special place in my heart because of the warm memories it provided me—as a comfort from the chilly weather and as a result of the caring hands who prepared it. There’s just something so reassuring about handmade borscht. Throughout Eastern Europe, borscht is served in hundreds of variations; however, the Ukraine version is likely the most well-known. Although the word is Russian, it goes under other names in Poland and Lithuania as well. It may be the main course in really impoverished places, but it’s usually served as an appetizer in restaurants.
Gelato from Italy
Indeed! Italy is renowned for creating pizza, fresh pasta, excellent wine, and tiramisu. While we certainly adore gooey mozzarella cheese, we humbly believe that handcrafted gelato is the ultimate Italian treat! Although there are several origin theories, one of the most well-known ones is that in the sixteenth century, Florentine Bernardo Buontalenti served his frozen innovation to Catherine de Medici’s court.
Papanaşi in Romanian
Nothing is nearly as gratifying as Romanian papanași (pronounced papanash) anywhere in the world. Although the word’s etymology implies “food for children,” we assure you that this is the most refined donut you have ever seen. It is believed that the dessert, which is among my top three favorites, originated in the Moldova region and was modified from an earlier Austrian version.