Have you ever heard about the little trick of the cook Katharina Schratt? Do you know what dish is considered traditional for Austria and the Czech Republic? Many are accustomed to thinking that, apart from baked goods, Austrian cuisine has nothing to boast of, but in vain, because the Austrians are really good cooks, and their cuisine will appeal to the most demanding gourmets.
Austrian cuisine- this is a unique combination old recipes regional and foreign dishes. For example, Austria was greatly influenced by:
- Hungary;
- Italy;
- Bavaria;
- partly France.
The famous Wiener schnitzel was most likely borrowed from the Italians. The fashion for everything French, which swept Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, did not bypass Austria, which adopted several recipes from its Western neighbors, which they successfully supplemented with typical Austrian ingredients.
Traditional Austrian cuisine
Many dishes of Austrian cuisine are borrowed from their northern and eastern neighbors, but over time the recipes have been changed more than once, so now Hungarian goulash can be distinguished from Austrian goulash without much difficulty. It looks like a successful borrowing, perfectly complemented by something of its own and unique.
First, the roast beef is fried evenly on all sides, after which it is sent to the oven. Then mushrooms, onions, lard are fried in the same frying pan and a little wine is added. Roast beef sauce is made from flour, cream, mustard and parsley. The dish is served with potatoes and dumplings. Girardi roast beef is a traditional Austrian food.
- Viennese chicken
- Cabbage fleckerl
Popular drinks in Austria
Having neighbors such as Germany and the Czech Republic, it becomes clear why beer is one of the favorite drinks among Austrians. By the way, the tradition of holding beer festivals such as Wiener Wiesn was also borrowed from the Germans. This festival is an analogue of the famous Oktoberfest and is held at the end of September or beginning of October.
Austrians have a special passion for less alcoholic drinks – coffee. It is not known for certain where exactly this popularity came from, but there are a lot of coffee shops here, and they are always packed with visitors who have dropped in to drink a cup of mocha coffee and eat a slice of the freshest Sachertorte.
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Regional cuisines
As is the case with traditions, the Austrians have successfully integrated foreign recipes into their lives. Austrian cuisine and cooking methods vary depending on the region. Austrians have a positive attitude towards new things (they are not as conservative as the British), but they will not give up something old and good, for example, a recipe for chicken or pie.
Each region in Austria is famous for its specialties, for example, in Tyrol you should definitely try Tyrolean-style Kaiserschmarn. Well, in Salzburg you won’t be able to ignore roast deer, pork or duck, which migrated here from neighboring Bavaria.
The peculiarity of national Austrian cuisine is that it is characterized by ease of preparation. At the same time, the prepared dishes turn out to be very tasty and satisfying.
There are several regions in Austria, and traditional cuisine each of them has its own specific features. For example, in Bad Hofgastein they like to cook potato casserole and minced meat, as well as potato dumplings with fruit.
Sölden is famous for its dumplings, which are considered business card not only the city, but the entire country.
There are also Austrian dishes that are prepared with equal skill and pleasure in all areas. Particularly popular are noodles with cheese, pieces of ham and egg. Such an ordinary dish can be prepared in hundreds in various ways and evoke a storm of positive emotions among travelers.
Austrian cuisine is definitely worth a try
- Wiener schnitzel - the most famous in the world national dish Austria. Its highlight is that it is prepared from fresh veal. The cost of such a dish in Austrian restaurants will reach 15 EUR per serving.
- Bakkhun - baked chicken. Local restaurants serve it with delicious salad from potatoes.
- Kaiserschmarren - omelette, cooked in a special way. To get it, in addition to standard eggs and milk, cooks use flour, sugar, cinnamon and raisins. Before serving, it is sprinkled with powdered sugar.
- The most famous dessert is apple strudel. Its preparation requires special skill, because a real Austrian strudel should melt in your mouth.
- The Sachertorte will give you many enthusiastic responses. This chocolate delicacy is still considered the favorite dessert of all Austrians.
When visiting Austria, you should never ignore the famous coffee shops. Austrian coffee shops are traditionally famous for offering their visitors the opportunity to read a magazine, chat and play various games in a relaxed atmosphere. In an Austrian coffee shop you can order a large cup of coffee with milk - Grosser, a small cup of coffee with milk - Kleiner Brauner, a cup of black coffee - Schwarzer, a cup of coffee with whipped cream - Melange.
Our tourists have fallen in love with Austria for a very long time, and when traveling to this beautiful country you simply must try the local cuisine, so in this article I will tell you about the main Austrian dishes.
The development of Austrian cuisine was greatly influenced by neighboring regions such as Hungary, Bohemia, Bavaria and Northern Italy, so the Austrians learned to perfectly cook not only meat dishes, but also the most delicious sweets in Europe.
Soups
In Austrian cuisine you can see a large number of soups, depending on the region, soups are prepared differently. Usually in Austria, tourists have more than enough main courses, but soups are an integral part of Austrian culture, so let's look at the main local soups.
- Potato soup (Erdäpfelsuppe).
- Bread soup (Brotsuppe) The soup contains croutons and sausages.
- Beer soup (Biersuppe) the soup contains raw eggs, cream, spices, croutons are always served with the soup.
- Vegetable soup (Gemüsesuppe) - light soup from vegetables, the composition includes carrots, cabbage, potatoes.
- Barley soup (Gerstensuppe)- The soup contains eggs, cream, pearl barley and vegetables. In general, Gerstensuppe is a national Swiss dish, which in the country of cheese is prepared according to a completely different recipe.
- Goulash in Austria is very different from goulash in Hungary or the Czech Republic, the composition of goulash includes fried sausage, onion rings, potatoes, paprika.
- Lentil soup (Linseneintopf)- stewed soup, the recipe of which includes greens, potatoes, bacon, pork breast or sausage.
- Schöberl- soup with dumplings.
- Mushroom soup (Pilzsuppe)- traditional Austrian soup made from dried chanterelles or porcini mushrooms. The composition also includes parsley, spices, bay leaf.
- Milk soup (Stosuppe)- soup from sour milk or sour cream with potatoes, cumin, salt and pepper.
Main meat dishes
Wiener Schnitzel- a thin layer of veal breaded with flour, eggs and breadcrumbs, fried in a large amount of melted pork fat or butter until golden brown. Usually Wiener schnitzel is served with cold potato salad, but it also happens that vegetable salad, cucumber salad and boiled potatoes sprinkled with parsley, as well as rice or French fries are used as a side dish. Served with a slice of lemon, cranberry sauce, and green celery. Wiener schnitzel is a dish you must try in Vienna!
Chicken Viennese (Backhendl)- this is chicken rubbed with salt, black pepper and a small amount lemon juice, cut into four parts with wings separated. The pieces are dipped in flour, then in a beaten egg and then in breadcrumbs, and then deep-fried in a large amount of melted butter or in a frying pan with a lid. The dish is served with parsley, a slice of lemon, green salad or potato salad.
Tafelspitz- boiled beef fillet with applesauce. Boiled carrots, potatoes, green beans and dill.
Beuschel- This is a stew made from the lungs or heart of a veal. Served with cream sauce and bread dumplings.
Roast beef with onions (Zwiebelrostbraten)- a piece of beef that is baked in the oven, served with fried onions and fried potatoes or pasta.
Vanilla roast beef (Vanillerostbraten)- the same roast beef, only with garlic. Vanilla used to be expensive and garlic was called "the poor man's vanilla."
Krautfleckerln- a cabbage dish with Austrian fleckerl pasta.
Austrian sweets
Austrians eat a lot of desserts, and I think that visitors to the city simply must try Austrian sweets, such as:
Strudel- an Austrian flour dish in the form of a roll of sheet dough rolled into a tube with various fillings. Apples are used as a filling in Viennese strudel, although strudels made from pear, cherry and others are common.
Linz Torte- This is an almond pie with jam, the basis for the shortcrust pastry of which is crumbly flour and almond butter. Feature pie - replacing the top with a thin lattice of dough.
Sacher cake — chocolate cake, the invention of the Austrian pastry chef Franz Sacher. Sachertorte is a chocolate sponge cake with one or two layers of apricot jam, covered on top and sides with chocolate glaze.
Kaiserschmarrn- a sweet flour dish; to prepare Kaiserschmarrn, sweet pancake dough is used: flour, milk, eggs, sugar and a pinch of salt.
Moor in a Shirt (Mohr im Hemd)- This is a dessert in the form of chocolate pudding, which is doused with chocolate sauce and whipped cream, sometimes served with ice cream.
Drinks
Austrians love tasty, high-quality food. coffee and it is not surprising that it was in these places that "Viennese coffee". All cafes serve excellent coffee, so be sure to take time to drink coffee with some Austrian dessert. In addition to coffee, Austrians love hot chocolate, and mulled wine in the cold season.
It's hot alcoholic drink, prepared from wine with the addition of spices and sugar. Most often, mulled wine is sold at Christmas markets. It is worth noting that compared to the Czech Republic or Germany, mulled wine in Austria is very tasty and enjoyable.
Beer in Austria they love the most popular varieties are lager (Märzen), unfiltered beer Zwicklbier and wheat beer Stiegl. Many restaurants in Vienna will serve you quality beer, but I would recommend choosing a restaurant with its own brewery. The most popular brands of Austrian beer: Gösser, Stiegl, Egger, Puntigamer, Villacher, Kaiser, Zipfer.
Wine is very popular in Austria, because it has been produced there for more than 2000 years, only local winemakers are aimed at the domestic market, so in Austria you have the opportunity to taste varieties of wine that you will not find in Russia.
Where in Vienna can you try these national dishes?
Salm Brau
Address: Vienna, Rennweg 8. Excellent restaurant, which is located near the Belvedere. Here they brew their own signature beer, Salm Bräu. In addition to beer, you can taste good Viennese and Austrian meat dishes here; I recommend taking Wiener schnitzel, pork ribs or knuckle. The waitresses dressed in traditional costumes are a delight.
Figlmüller
Address: Wollzeile 5. Restaurant near Stefansdom, where Wiener schnitzel began to be prepared.
Ribs of Vienna
Address: Vienna, Weihburggasse 22. This restaurant is the birthplace of Viennese pork ribs. They are cooked best here, just be careful, 1 serving is 1 meter of ribs, so it’s better to take a portion for two. Lovers of ribs will have plenty to choose from; the restaurant prepares ribs according to 20 recipes. For better digestion of the ribs, be sure to take the Austrian Kaiser beer.
Zanoni & Zanoni
Address: Vienna, Lugeck 7. If you want to try great Italian ice cream, delicious desserts and wonderful coffee, then be sure to go to the Zanoni & Zanoni cafe, which is located very close to St. Stephen's Cathedral. The menu actually presents large selection ice cream desserts, a pleasing menu with pictures that will help people without knowledge of the language make a choice.
Austrians cannot be called conservatives in the field of cooking; the national cuisine has been formed over many centuries and has absorbed elements of French, Slavic, and German traditions. Initially, Austrian cuisine was more reminiscent of a peasant menu, and only over time it began to include gourmet food. Our review is devoted to the question – what to try in Vienna?
Interesting fact! Sausages and sausages are rightfully considered the pride of the national cuisine. According to statistics, more than one and a half thousand types of meat delicacies are produced in the country. In the capital's restaurants and cafes they are served under the name “Frankfurter”.
General information about national Austrian cuisine
Boishel Each Austrian region has developed its own culinary traditions. For example, in Vienna traditional food– boichel, schnitzel, tafelspitz, smoked meats. Typically used as a side dish sauerkraut. Viennese goulash, which appeared during the existence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The food is more like a meat stew, served with dumplings and potatoes. By the way, dumplings in Vienna are an independent dish, seasoned with bacon.
Austrian desserts deserve close attention. Many treats with Austrian roots are known all over the world. This includes Sachertorte and apple strudel. Great addition for desserts - coffee. Locals They masterfully know how to prepare this drink.
Interesting fact! About 50 thousand hectares of vineyards are grown in Austria, but outside the state, Austrian wine is not as widespread as French or Georgian. However, while relaxing in Vienna, indulge in the pleasure of drinking a glass of dry white wine.
Meat dishes
Austrians prepare a huge number of treats from meat; of course, the most popular food is sausages and sausages. They can be eaten as part of a set lunch or with salad. It is difficult to list all the national Austrian meat dishes; suffice it to say that the menu offers dozens of treats made from pork, beef, veal, chicken meat, game. In the fall, the hunting season opens and local culinary establishments offer food made from venison, roe deer, and wild boar, and in February culinary festivals are held.
To the question - what should you try first in Austrian cuisine? Local residents answer - of course, Austrian schnitzel. It was first mentioned in a cookbook dating back to 1884, however, historians claim that the recipe was known much earlier.
There are two versions of the appearance of schnitzel in Austrian cuisine. According to the first version, it was brought by Milanese merchants in the 14th-15th centuries. And according to another, in the mid-19th century the recipe was brought by Field Marshal Radetzky. In his report to the Austrian Emperor, he spoke about in an unusual way cooking meat.
Good to know! The original recipe uses veal for cooking, upper part hind leg.
In Vienna, schnitzel is served so large that one serving is enough for two people. Don't be surprised if you hear that every gastronomic establishment prepares the best meat delicacy. The cost of schnitzel in Vienna is from 7.20 € to 20 €.
The most delicious sausages in Vienna can be tasted in street stalls that are installed throughout the city. From the point of view of a tourist visiting Austria for the first time, the easiest way to find the “Wurstelstand” shopping tents is on Albertina Square, on Ringstrasse and Graben streets.
The menu offers at least five types of food; sausages are sold along with a baguette or roll; you can choose French fries, salad or sauerkraut as a side dish.
Interesting fact! Sausages and sausages in Vienna are not boiled, they are baked or fried.
Of course, sausages are considered the most popular in Austrian cuisine. Despite the fact that the name of the delicacy accurately indicates the country, sausages originated in Germany. According to the Germans, they were invented by a resident of Frankfurt, butcher Johan Georg Lachner. However, according to the Austrians, the recipe belongs to the same Lachner, but the cook came up with it after moving from Germany to Vienna.
Interesting fact! According to the original recipe, the sausages contain pork, lard, spices and ice. They should not be boiled, as the shell may burst and the juice will leak out.
Another national Austrian dish, which is prepared from boiled beef in broth with vegetables, horseradish, onion sauce and fried potatoes. The food is served directly in the saucepan. The meal is very satisfying; you can try it at the Plachutta restaurant chain. The establishment specializes in preparing this particular dish. When ordering, keep in mind that the serving sizes are very large and one is enough for two people. The cost of the Austrian dish tafelspitz ranges from 18 € to 33 €.
Good to know! Before traveling to Austria, it would be a good idea to look on the Internet to see how the dish is usually eaten. In restaurants, the tafelspitz comes with instructions with explanations, or the waiter tells you how to proceed - a little broth is poured into the plate, then meat and side dish are added, the portion is eaten, the broth is poured again, beef and vegetables are laid out.
Side dishes
Traditional side dish for schnitzel. Boiled potatoes are seasoned with salt, parsley, onion and vinegar. In many Austrian establishments, the cost of salad is included in the price of the schnitzel, but it can also be ordered separately. Cost from 3.50 € to 8 €.
For many Austrian regions and Vienna, sauerkraut is the main side dish and addition to many meat dishes in Austrian cuisine. There are a huge number of ways to pickle cabbage. The most common recipe is practically no different from the generally accepted one, the only difference is that carrots and cranberries are not added to the cabbage, but bay leaves, juniper, caraway seeds and dill are added.
Soups
In Austria, soups are classified as snacks. national cuisine There is a large selection of both simple and original recipes. All traditional Austrian dishes, and soups are no exception, are nutritious, since life in the mountains does not encourage saving calories. Austrian food is characterized by the use of a variety of roots and seasonings.
Liver meatball soup (Leberknödelsuppe)
Austrians love first courses and traditionally start every lunch with a beef broth soup with small liver dumplings called Leberknedlsuppe.
Pancake soup
The first course is made from beef broth (chicken broth is also used) with various dressings. The most popular are pancakes and greens cut into strips.
Viennese goulash
The Austrian recipe is similar in many ways to the Hungarian version. The translation of the name of the food means cabbie goulash. The dish is served with scrambled eggs, pickled cucumber, and sausage.
Good to know! Trying traditional goulash in Vienna is quite difficult; many establishments offer guests an analogue - the Rindgulasch beef dish. The cost varies from 11 € to 14 €.
Desserts
Austrian cuisine is rich in various desserts. The most famous sweet dish is strudel. By original recipe apples are wrapped in dough, but today in Austria they cook food with with different fillings from fruits and berries. Be sure to try the famous Sachertorte, which is still baked using the original technology. In national cuisine huge selection sweets - pies, cookies, rolls, souffles, puddings.
Austrian cuisine loses its authenticity and originality without apple strudel. The peculiarity of the dessert is the thinnest dough. The treat is served with ice cream, sour cream, and powdered sugar.
The first recipe for the sweet appeared in a cookbook by an unknown author, published in 1696. Today this copy is kept in the Vienna library.
Interesting fact! To try the dish, visit Vienna's oldest café, Café Mozart at Albertinaplatz 2, which has been in business since the 18th century. You can also visit Café Gerstner, founded by the Habsburg court pastry chef in the mid-19th century. The average cost of an Austrian strudel is 7 €.
Another national Austrian food is soft Viennese waffles, characterized by a porous structure, a large amount of filling, and multi-tiered. Fruits, berries, cream, chocolate, and ice cream are used as toppings. The average cost of one waffle is 4 €.
This cake is rightfully considered the king of desserts all over the world. Made from chocolate sponge cakes, layers of apricots, decorated dark chocolate and cream. The food is named after the author, Franz Sacher.
Interesting fact! It is noteworthy that the original technology for making the cake is kept secret. You can try real Sacher only in the cafe at the hotel of the same name near the Vienna Opera.
Another famous treat in Austrian cuisine is sponge cake, mashed with a fork and crushed with powdered sugar. It is served with plum jam. The dessert is called imperial because Emperor Franz Joseph loved to eat it this way. In Vienna, you can try the imperial omelette at the Central Cafe, where Trotsky, Stalin, Lenin, and Sigmund Freud loved to spend time. The establishment has been operating since 1876. You can recognize the cafe by the impressive queue at the entrance, which, however, moves very quickly. The cost of dessert is about 9 €. The portions are large, one is enough for two people.
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Drinks
We looked at what to try in Vienna from food. But Austrian cuisine is unthinkable without drinks such as coffee and beer. It is believed that coffee came to Europe through Austria, where it began to be consumed not just as a drink, but was turned into a real ritual.
Interesting fact! According to statistics, residents of Vienna and throughout Austria drink coffee several times more often than beer. Each coffee shop offers visitors at least 30 types of coffee. Each one has a specific cooking method.
For tourists, coffee shops offer not just coffee, but a certain ambiance - the drink is served on a silver tray, pastries or sweets are served, and a glass of water and fresh newspapers are always placed on the table.
First of all, in a cafe or coffee shop you need to decide on the serving size, there are two of them: small - kliner, large - gosser.
One classic recipe Viennese coffee does not exist; every coffee shop will offer you several types of this drink. A fairly popular variety is Melange. There is also no uniform cooking technology. Some establishments add sugar, while others add cream or milk. Melange is a cap of milk foam that is used to decorate a drink.
Interesting fact! Popular varieties of coffee in Vienna - in addition to traditional black coffee, the Austrian capital offers espresso, coffee with ice cream and cream, with rum and ice.
Mulled wine
During the cold season, mulled wine is sold in every shop in Vienna. For preparation, dry red wine, lemon zest, sugar and a whole bunch of spices are used. The drink is served hot, you need to drink it within 4-5 minutes, because when it cools down, the taste and aroma are lost.
Traditionally, in Vienna and Austria, mulled wine is drunk on the eve of the Christmas holidays at fairs. The first fair to open is in the historical part of the city - in the Spittelberg district. You can also visit the fair on the main Town Hall Square, where the central market is also located. There are more than 150 stalls selling mulled wine and other warm drinks.
Austrian beer
Austria is considered a beer country and this is not only because of the wide variety of types of foamy drink, but also because of the well-developed culture of its use. The most popular beers:
Ottakringer - Ottakringer, Gold Fassl (Vienna);
- Gosser (Leoben);
- Stiegl (Salzburg);
- Weitrabrau (Weitr);
- Fohrenburg (Vorarlberg).
Each variety differs in strength, density and set of ingredients. Traditionally, beer is served in 0.5 liter mugs, but you can also order smaller glasses or a liter jug. Light snacks are always offered with beer; they are included in the price of the drink.
Of course, this is far from full list national Austrian dishes that deserve the attention of tourists. We have offered the most common of a varied list of what to try in Vienna. Many of the capital's establishments, which have been welcoming guests for more than a century, offer treats prepared according to unique, ancient recipes.
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