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Top 10 Austrian foods – with recipes
Delve into the world of Austrian food and you will soon discover an array of delicious and hearty dishes that make for perfect comfort food.
With neighboring countries like Germany, Italy, and Switzerland strongly influencing Austrian cuisine, the country boasts a diverse melting pot of dishes. And because many of these are easy to make, you won’t find it too difficult to whip them up in your kitchen. So why not explore Austrian culture with your tastebuds and follow these simple recipes to create wholesome Austrian food at home. Guten Appetit!
1. Wiener Schnitzel
Wiener Schnitzel, which translates to ‘Viennese cutlet’ in German, is one of Austria’s most important national dishes. In fact, it is so synonymous with the country that its name is protected by law; it can only be called Wiener Schnitzel when made with veal. To create it, thin cutlets of meat are lightly coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried in butter or lard until golden brown. These are then served with a wedge of lemon and a side of potato salad, cucumber salad, or French fries. A beloved favorite among locals and expats alike, Wiener Schnitzel can be found everywhere from street food stalls to high-end restaurants across Austria.
2. Wiener Würstchen
Simple to make yet bursting with flavor, the iconic Vienesse sausage is an essential part of Austrian cuisine. Wiener Würstchen is traditionally made from a mixture of pork and beef encased in sheep’s intestine. These thin parboiled sausages are actually a variation of the traditional German Frankfurter Würstchen (Frankfurter sausage). People often enjoy them as a main dish served with fermented cabbage or Sauerkraut, radishes, and Austrian potato salad. That said, they are also a popular snack and served in a hot bun seasoned with mustard, ketchup, and other sauces. In fact, this is one of the most common street foods in Austria and you can buy them from vendors all across the country. Paired perfectly with a cold beer, these should definitely be on your Austrian food bucket list!
3. Käsespätzle
Comfort food doesn’t get much better than Käsespätzle, Austria’s answer to macaroni and cheese. Perfect for chilly winter days, this hearty dish consists of chewy egg noodles (Spätzle) in a creamy Emmentaler cheese sauce topped with butter caramelized onions. Käsespätzle is actually a specialty dish of the Schwaben region in Germany, however many variations exist throughout neighboring countries. In Austria, people serve it as either a side or a main dish and often enjoy it in the country’s alpine huts. Easy to make and perfect for sharing with friends and family, it’s no wonder Käsespätzle remains one of the most popular Austrian foods among locals and expats alike.
4. Tafelspitz
Another classic Viennese dish is Tafelspitz, which is made by boiling veal in a spicy broth with root vegetables. People in Austria traditionally serve it with potatoes, carrots, and a creamy apple-horseradish and chive sauce. Tafelspitz has remained a popular dish in Austria and the German state of Bavaria since the 19th century. Back then, it was common to boil meat and use the leftovers to make soup. Amazingly, the recipe and method of cooking have remained unchanged since then. Tri-tip, sirloin, or rump cuts of beef are the key ingredients. However, some cooks add pieces of chicken and beef marrow bones to the mix to create extra flavor and a clear broth. Austrians traditionally eat Tafelspitz in separate courses, starting with the broth as an appetizer, followed by the beef and vegetables as the main.
5. Tiroler Gröstl
Another popular Restessen (a dish made with leftovers from a Sunday roast) is Tiroler Gröstl. Originating from the skiing and hiking region of Tyrol in Austria, this hearty classic consists of cooked pork, potatoes, and onions and topped with a fried egg. It is historically popular among Tyrolean farmers, who enjoy sharing it straight from the skillet for lunch or breakfast. To create a vegetarian version, you can simply replace the bacon with mushrooms, courgette, or sweetcorn. And if you have a sweet tooth, you can use sweet potatoes instead of regular ones. To spice things up, however, adding a little freshly chili will definitely do the trick.
6. Erdäpfelgulasch
Simple to make yet heavenly to taste, Erdäpfelgulasch (potato goulash) is ideal for vegans, given that its main ingredients are potatoes, onions, and gravy. This heart-warming stew is one of the most famous dishes in Austria and although it was originally from Hungary, several variations can be found in surrounding countries. For instance, some nations make it with beef and cook it for several hours to create a thick, dark gravy. And while potato is the key ingredient in Austria, some people like to add smoked sausage to give it more flavor. To make a vegan version, though, you can just add more salt, pepper, and smoked paprika to create the same effect.
7. Martinigansl
Although Martinigansl is only available in restaurants for a few weeks in October and November, it is still considered to be a very special Austrian food. It consists of roast goose stuffed with chestnuts and dried plums served with red cabbage and potato dumplings. Enjoying this succulent dish is a very old tradition in Austria and a way of remembering St. Martin – the Bishop of Tours. As the legend goes, he was meant to become a bishop but did not want to take on such responsibilities. He attempted to escape from is duties by hiding in a stable filled with geese. But once there, the geese betrayed him by making a loud noise, thus revealing his hiding place. Forced to become the bishop, St. Martin sought revenge by ordering all the geese in the stable to be cooked and eaten that same night!
8. Fleischlaberln
While Fleischlaberln might look basic, these delicious mixed meat patties are a culinary specialty in Austria and widely enjoyed. They are usually made with beef and pork and seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, onions, and parsley. Small cubes of bread are also soaked in milk and added to the mixture to bind it together and add volume. Depending on your tolerance level, you can also add spices to the mix to give the patties a kick. People traditionally serve Fleischlaberln with creamy mashed potato (Kartoffelpüree) making them a popular Austrian comfort food on cold days.
9. Viennese Apfelstrudel
Our list of top Austrian foods wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Viennese Apfelstrudel. This beloved apple dessert consists of apples, raisins, sugar, and cinnamon, encased in a thin sheet of unleavened dough. Despite its delicate appearance, it is surprisingly easy to make. That said, it takes time and patience to get the paper-thin dough just right and the raisins adequately soaked in rum. In fact, the hardest part is getting the dough thin enough to almost see through it without tearing it. Although Viennese Apfelstrudel is a heavenly dessert in its own right, it is best enjoyed with whipped cream, vanilla sauce, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
10. Sachertorte
Last, but certainly not least, on our list of top Austrian foods is the iconic Sachertorte. This rich, dense chocolate cake was supposedly invented in Vienna in 1832 at the request of Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich. He tasked his kitchen staff to concoct an extraordinary dessert to impress his special guests. Filling in for the head chef who had fallen ill that evening, 16-year-old apprentice chef, Franz Sacher, stepped up to the challenge and created the scrumptious cake. To this day, Sachertorte is considered to be one of the most famous cakes in the world – and for good reason. Crammed with chocolaty goodness, it consists of two thick layers of chocolate sponge cake, separated by a thin layer of apricot jam, coated in dark chocolate icing. The delicious dessert is traditionally served with unsweetened whipped cream and often comes with a dark chocolate medallion on top.
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