1/11
Beigli
Beigli might be the most traditional treat of the holiday season in Hungary, and it has been dividing the nation for centuries: the lovers of poppyseed and the fans of walnut filling. It is worthwhile to try both, but bear in mind that they are normally served in thin slices, so it’s best to put more of each type on your plate to ease the decision of which one to take home in a whole roll. Beigli is always special to Magyars, as making this spiral-shaped roll is also a festive family activity bringing generations together. As Hungarians tend to make more beigli than they can eat over Christmas, it is often devoured on New Year’s Eve, too. All in all, this is the ideal treat to cozy up on the couch and share with family and friends.
2/11
Mulled Wine
Scented with cinnamon, nutmeg, orange and spices, the characteristic aroma of mulled wine always fills the air during the festive season. When the cold kicks in, nothing beats a cupful of this tasty tipple that warms hands, body and soul. The ingredients of a perfect concoction vary for everyone; however, the classic version is made from red wine, usually contains some kind of citrus fruit – often orange – and other spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg or even cardamom, and some people even believe that apple and pepper help perfect this mildly potent potable. At this year’s Vörösmarty Square Christmas Fair, visitors can also try the palatable apple punch, infused with local fruit-based pálinka brandy.
3/11
Goulash soup in a bread bowl
The national dish of Hungary, goulash is a must-try. Its scents are super enticing, but when this hearty stew of tender beef cubes, vegetables and plenty of paprika is served steaming in a round-shaped loaf of bread that softens on the inside but stays crunchy on the outside, it is entirely irresistible. Devouring this hearty, filling and flavorful soup is a great way to warm up, and the best thing is that you can also chow down on the bread bowl, dunking pieces of it into the succulent contents as you go. Goulash is normally quite dense, so it makes a proper meal.
4/11
Kürtőskalács (chimney cake)
This typical Hungarian treat is always the star attraction of wintertime, served warm and in so many flavours that you’re sure to find one to your liking. Roughly translated as ‘chimney cake’, these delicacies are baked over open fire at markets, a traditional sight impossible to pass by. Slightly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, chimney cake comes sprinkled with sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate, coconut, walnut and all kinds of sweet coatings. At some stalls, they can be ordered filled with chocolate cream, whipped cream, Nutella, topped with Oreos or in various dreamy designs for that extra sweet experience. Don’t leave without trying this treat, but be warned that it’s addictive from first bite.
5/11
Lángos
Hungarians simply love lángos anytime and anywhere, so it makes an appearance at Christmas fairs just like at beachside huts in summer. This heavy and oily savoury dough is traditionally topped with cold and fresh sour cream, grated cheese and garlic cream, but thanks to modern new-wave trends, it can be ordered nowadays with endless kinds of toppings from bacon to ham and sausages. Lángos fills you up for at least half a day – if you can finish a whole one at all – but it’s a sin to visit Hungary and not try it.
6/11
Hungarian sausage specialties
Hungarian sausages are revered, whatever the shape or filling. The best time to try them is during the festive season, when the freshly made selection is particularly abundant. These succulent eats come in a wide variety of meat types and flavors; hurka is normally boiled and flavored with liver (májas hurka) or with blood (véres hurka), while sausage is often smoked and seasoned to be spicy or mild. At the Christmas markets, sausages can be ordered with various garnishes – if one takes your fancy, you can pick one of strings of links hanging from the stands to take home.
7/11
Parlor candy (szaloncukor)
No Hungarian Christmas tree is ever complete without szaloncukor, a traditional Christmas candy filled with marzipan, flavored jelly, chocolate, caramel, rum, coconut, walnut, strawberry and other sweet creams. It is wrapped in a shiny and colorful foil tasseled at both ends and hung on Christmas trees in a way that the wrapping matches the colors of other ornaments and the overall look. Big piles of it are also placed in bowls basically everywhere you wander during the holidays in Hungary. Most Hungarians have fond memories of Christmases past, sneaking the candy out of its wrapping then hanging loosely on the tree looking as if it’s still full of candy. Don’t tell!
8/11
Roast chestnuts
Roast chestnuts are the perfect accessory to any romantic walk, and an indispensable element to any merry market scene. Chestnuts are harvested in September or October around Hungary, and kept in the refrigerator for a while in order to make them just perfect for wintertime, when they are roasted on covered coal fire on the street and are sold in small paper bags as handheld treats. They are soft, fleshy, creamy and sweet, perfect to be washed down with mulled wine.
9/11
Rooster testicle stew (kakastöke pörkölt)
Yeah... if you’re brave enough to go beyond the ordinary Magyar menu, you might just find traditional Hungarian rooster-testicle stew at one or two markets. This might sound slightly strange, but as Magyars just love a hearty paprika broth, the possible fillings to enhance it with are almost endless. While making this dish, the rooster’s family jewels are mixed in a juicy stew of onions, tomatoes, pepper, dill and cottage cheese in a cauldron, and once they are soft, the stew is served hot as a main dish, garnished with tasty Hungarian dumplings. While some might giggle about the name of this eerie treat, Hungarians devour it with relish, and it almost always makes an appearance at special events and festivals. Adventurous eaters will definitely relish this dish, but bear in mind that it is a bit hard to find.
10/11
Strudel (rétes)
Strudel fills a prominent place in the culinary culture of the country, and while almost all Hungarians would say that their grandma makes the best, they are truly delicious at Christmas markets, too. One bite into a slice of flaky Hungarian strudel will make you already reach for a second one, and you wouldn’t want to miss out on all of the tasty flavor variations. The most traditional fillings are apple-cinnamon, sweet cottage-cheese, poppyseed and sour cherry – strudels are most popular around wintertime but are enjoyed all year around. Whatever you devour at the Christmas market, you’ll always have room left for strudel, the perfect bookend to any Hungarian culinary adventure.
11/11
Stuffed cabbage (Töltött káposzta)
Stuffed cabbage is a traditional dish to devour at Christmastime in Hungary. It is made of cabbage leaves wrapped around a variety of fillings, such as minced pork meat and, obviously, paprika, but the recipe for a perfect wrap varies by region. The cabbage rolls are baked, simmered or steamed in a covered casserole dish and served steaming hot with cold sour cream on top. This dish takes several hours to cook, filling the air with irresistible aromas as it .
