If you have imagined travelling through the European continent and trying out the wide variety of cuisines that every country has to offer, you are certainly not alone. From pizzas to croissants, Europe brags some incredible traditional foods – foods that tell the tales of their countries’ traditions, cultures, and histories.

However, European cuisine has much more to offer than the mere classics. While those foods may not be as renowned as their popular siblings,  they are just as delicious – if not more.

In this blog, we will take you through a gastronomical European tour, comprising some of those lesser-known foods that the European lands have to offer. Of course, this does not mean that we will be completely ignoring the classics.

Before we begin, a word of caution: you might want to reconsider reading this blog if you are on an empty stomach.

12 Best Foods in Europe:

1) Arancini (Italy)

Although Italy is most renowned for its pizza and pasta, you should not sleep on these fried little balls of rice. Arancini usually contains meat, mozzarella, aubergines, pistachios, or tomatoes, and is covered in bread before being deep fried.

2) Byrek (Albania)

Phyllo pastry is an extremely common food item in the Balkans, and the Albanian Byrek is just one of the various delicious types of this pastry.

The phyllo pastries are filled with spinach and feta cheese (a bit of meat is also sometimes added). The best part about the Byrek is that it works as well as an appetizer as it does as the main dish.

3) Pierogi (Poland)

Pierogi are dough dumplings that are stuffed with ground meat, potatoes, fruit, cheese, or sauerkraut. To top it off, you can cover it with fried onion, sour cream, or butter. Poland might be the country most strongly associated with Pierogi, but the cuisine is extremely popular throughout Eastern Europe.

4) Waffles (Belgium)

Who isn’t aware of the amazing Belgian waffles? To enjoy the full impact of their taste, always eat these waffles with a combination of strawberries, cream, and Nutella.

5) Cheese fondue (Switzerland)

If you are a cheese lover, this one is for you. The conventional Cheese fondues are made up of Emmenthal and Gruyere cheese, along with some kirsch and white wine. The dish is always accompanied by crusty bread like the Weizenbrot.

6) Cevapi (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

We will go out on a limb and say that, if you can try one thing on this list, let it be the Cevapi. These ground beef, skinless, grilled sausages are usually served alongside onions, flatbread, ajvar (a red-colored roast pepper spread), and kajmak (a type of creamy cheese).

7) Goulash (Hungary)

You have probably heard of this dish – even if you are yet to try it. However, if you find yourself in or close to Hungary (or simply hungry), you need to give this dish a shot – especially since it is at its best when prepared using the conventional Hungarian methods. If there was ever a comfort food, this is probably it.

8) Dolma (Armenia)

Armenia’s fondness for the Dolma can be judged by the fact that this dish is found in more than 50 distinct types.

The most usual version of the Dolma is made using grape leaves or cabbage, which are then wrapped around mincemeat and rice and cooked using olive oil. You can either eat Dolma as is or enjoy it with a bit of dipping sauce.

9) Palatschinken (Austria)

Palatschinken is a kind of crepe – only fluffier and thicker. The dish is highly popular throughout Eastern and Central Europe, and is simply irresistible. Palatschinkens can be served with whipped cream and apricot jam, but taste best when eaten with Nutella.

10) Potato Pancakes (Belarus)

Making a potato pancake requires grated potatoes mixed with minced onion and egg and then frying the mixture.

The Belarus potato pancake goes well with sour cream and served at many restaurants and food vendors throughout the country.

11) Currywurst (Germany)

Just like its name, the dish might sound a bit weird to you. However, we strongly recommend reserving your judgments until you have actually tasted the Currywurst. A staple fast food in Germany, this cuisine involves frying pork sausages and then chopping them up into slices. Currywurst is served with French fries and some curry ketchup.

12) Rye Bread (Estonia)

Breads and Estonians is a love affair that has been going on since the beginning of time itself and the most popular bread is the rye. Estonia has been producing rye bread for over a millennium and is still easily available at a variety of local bakeries and restaurants.

As any Estonian will tell, the rye bread is most delicious when warmed – and a touch of Baltic herring or salted butter certainly helps the cause.

Final Word:

There you have it – a list that combines many of the most delicious yet lesser-known dishes in Europe with some of their more popular counterparts. We hope that this blog can serve as a cuisine checklist for you during your next European tour.