Hungarian cuisine is hearty, flavorful, and often characterized by paprika, chili, and garlic. A mix of agricultural traditions and imperial influences results in a variety of delicious and unique dishes. Here are 10 typical Hungarian foods you must try while on holiday in Hungary.

1. Gulas (Goulash):
Description: Hungary’s most famous dish, Gulyás is a hearty, spicy soup traditionally made with beef, chili, potatoes, onions, and spices like caraway. It is a cross between a soup and a stew, lightly seasoned, and often served with fresh bread.
Characteristics: The main spice in this dish is paprika, and the level of spiciness varies by region. The word goulash comes from gulyos, which translates to cattle herder.

2. Pörkölt:
Description: Pörkölt is a stew similar to goulash, but thicker and less runny. Pörkölt is more like a goulash in Germany. It is usually made with pork, beef or lamb and cooked with onions, peppers and tomatoes. Pörkölt is traditionally served with nokedli (Hungarian egg noodles). A simple, great tasting dish that is widely eaten in Hungary. Also called paprikas when served with sour cream.

3. Langos:
Description: Langos is a popular Hungarian street food, traditionally a flatbread made from yeast dough topped with sour cream and grated cheese or garlic. There are also sweet versions with sugar or jam.

Special feature: Perfect for a snack or a light lunch, especially at markets or food stalls. Longos is also becoming increasingly popular in Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria and is the internationally best known food from Hungary after goulash.

4. Halaszle (Fish Soup):
Description: This spicy fish soup is made from freshwater fish such as carp, roach, pike or catfish and is especially popular along the Danube and Tisza. Paprika, an indispensable ingredient in the broth, gives it its characteristic red color and spice.
Special feature: Halászlé is often cooked over an open fire in a cauldron, which gives it a special flavor.

5. Töltött Kaposzta (Stuffed Cabbage):
Description: This classic dish consists of cabbage leaves mixed with minced meat, rice and spices. The cabbage rolls or cabbage rolls are then cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. It is often served with sour cream.
Special features: This dish is especially popular in the colder months and is a festive meal.

6. Paprikas Csirke (Paprika Chicken):
Description: Paprikás Csirke is a chicken dish cooked in a creamy paprika cream sauce and often served with nokedli (Hungarian noodles).
Characteristics: Due to its creamy consistency and chilli flavour, this meat dish is very popular throughout Hungary.

7. Hortobagyi Palacsinta (Stuffed Pancakes):
Description: Hortobágyi Palacsinta is a pancake filled with minced meat, onions and chillies, served with chilli sauce. As a starter or main course. Most of the time, Hortobagyi Palacsinta is not rolled, but folded.

8. Lecso:
Description: Lecso is a simple but very tasty stew with peppers, tomatoes, onions and sometimes sausage or bacon. It is reminiscent of the French ratatouille, but spicier and is eaten more in Hungary in summer and autumn.
Characteristics: One of the most versatile dishes that can be used as both a main course and a side dish. It is also known in the new federal states in Germany.

9. Kolbasz (Hungarian sausage):
Description: Kolbasz is Hungarian sausage, mostly made from pork and spices such as paprika and garlic. It comes in many varieties, from mild to spicy, smoked or air-dried.
Special feature: This spicy sausage is often grilled or fried and served as part of a snack.

10. Dobos cake:
Description: The most famous Hungarian dessert, the most well-known cake: a layer cake made of thin sponge cake, chocolate buttercream and crispy caramel icing. The Dobos cake was invented by József Dobos, a pastry chef from Budapest (1847 to 1924). This special cake is a popular dessert for special occasions.

Hungarian cuisine offers a wide variety of hearty dishes that are heavily influenced by local ingredients and spices. Paprika, garlic and sour cream play a role in many dishes.