10 Foods That You’ll Be Addicted To In Europe

Europe is a foodie’s dream. With so many diverse flavors, cooking traditions and ingredients all available in such close proximity to one another, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Each country offers its own unique cuisine that has been influenced by years of history and culture, many of them boasting dishes that you’ll fall in love with at the first taste.

You could spend a lifetime sampling all the amazing foods of Europe. To get you started, we’ve compiled this list of 10 superstar dishes that should be at the top of your list. They’re all bursting with flavor and are commonly found in the countries they originate from. Warning: you may get addicted. Keep reading to find out what 10 foods you can’t miss in Europe!

10 Kranjska Klobasa In Slovenia

Central Europe is famous for its sausages, salamis, and similar meats that have been a staple of the local diet over the course of centuries. In Slovenia, you’ll get a chance to try kranjska klobasa, or Carniolan sausage. If you’re a sausage person, it’s very hard not to become addicted!

Originating in the Gorenjska region of Slovenia, this smoked sausage is now available across the country and often makes an appearance at celebrations and other important events. Its distinct smoky flavor is what makes it unique, and it’s often served alongside a starch such as potatoes.

9 Wiener Schnitzel In Austria

Schnitzel in Germany

There’s another famous meat that comes from Central Europe and that’s the Austrian wiener schnitzel. Otherwise known as the Vienna Schnitzel, this staple is something that people come to Austria from all over the world to experience. Traditionally, wiener schnitzel is made from veal.

This recipe has inspired many others around the world, but there is still only one wiener schnitzel. In Austria, it’s often eaten as a casual lunch and is served with sour cream and onions. You might also get a serve of potatoes on the side.

8 Timpana In Malta

Deliciously rich and filling, timpana is a celebratory dish in Malta that you’ll definitely fall in love with if you’re a carb junkie. Why choose between pasta and pie when you can have both? This satisfying dish consists of pasta that is cooked with a tomato-based sauce and meat. It is then assembled inside a pastry crust so you essentially have a pasta pie.

Often served on special occasions like Christmas lunch, timpana is a national favorite in Malta. You won’t regret giving this dish a try!

7 Croque Monsieur In France

French cuisine is renowned for being creamy and decadent. Croque monsieur is one of the simpler dishes you’ll find in France, but it’s still irresistibly tasty. Essentially a ham and cheese sandwich, croque monsieur takes things to the next level with the added cooking process of either baking or frying and boiling.

You can also get a croque madame, which boasts a fried egg on top for added flavor. While in France, you’ll find this dish commonly served as a quick snack throughout bars and cafes. It’s not for the lactose-intolerant, but it is ideal for anybody who considers themselves a cheese-lover!

6 Arancini In Italy

Speaking of cheese-lovers, Italy is one destination where you’ll be able to try a sea of dishes that are made using delicious cheese. There’s more than just pizza and pasta to be had here. If you’re traveling south to the isle of Sicily, then do yourself a favor and try some arancini.

These are basically breaded rice balls that are stuffed with cheese and other fillings. They can be summed up in three words: to die for. You’ll often be able to get them on the streets of Sicily, but they’re becoming increasingly popular in restaurants and cafes.

5 Smorrebrod In Denmark

Scandinavian cuisine is known for being hearty and satisfying enough to ward off the cold during the long, harsh winters. In Denmark, you have to try the open-faced sandwich known as smorrebrod which is now famous around the world.

Typically built on top of a dense, dark bread such as rye, smorrebrod can contain a variety of ingredients. One of the classics is smoked salmon and dill. Others include roast pork, cabbage, and orange, and smoked eel, scrambled egg, and radish. Not only does this dish taste delicious, but it also looks like a work of art.

4 Currywurst In Germany

Currywurst isn’t strictly a traditional German food that goes back to the days of Frederick the Great, but it is now a popular dish in Berlin. And you have to try it at least once! It’s a fast-food staple that locals and tourists love in Berlin and is the perfect remedy to a hangover.

The German pork sausage known as bratwurst is boiled and fried and then topped with ketchup seasoned with curry. Most of the time, currywurst will be served cut up into bite-sized pieces along with a serving of French fries.

3 Blini In Russia

One of the most beloved dishes of Russian cuisine that has now left a mark on the rest of the culinary world is blini, otherwise known as Russian pancakes or crepes. While in western countries we typically think of blini as small pancakes, in Russia and Ukraine they’re regular-sized.

You can have both savory and sweet blini. The savory ones are usually served with salmon, caviar, whitefish, ground meat, chicken, and a range of other additions. Sweet blini are sometimes made with fruit such as apples and raisins.

2 Moussaka In Greece

The Greeks are known for their selection of meat dishes. Kind of similar to the Italian lasagna, moussaka is a layered dish consisting of eggplant, tomatoes, ground meat, and a béchamel sauce. You can also find variants that use zucchini and mushrooms. The majority of the time, the ground meat will be lamb.

Although moussaka is a national favorite in Greece, you will also find similar dishes in the Arab world. In Egypt, for example, they make moussaka using ground beef instead of ground lamb. In Turkey, the dish is known as musakka and is not layered.

1 Gazpacho In Spain

When traveling through Spain in the summertime, there’s nothing better than a cool bowl of gazpacho. This tomato soup is tangy and creamy at the same time, making use of ingredients such as cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, garlic, stale bread, and spices.

This soup is found readily around Spain and Portugal in the summer months. It’s super refreshing and the perfect way to cool off after a long day of sightseeing. Because of the bread that goes into the mixture, it’s also nice and filling.

NEXT: 10 Delicacies You Must Try While In The United Kingdom