Lexi Webster
Austrian cuisine is known for its rich flavours and focus on meats and carb-dense foods. The country's culinary tradition is rife with delicious desserts and hearty, comforting dishes. Austrian food has many Bohemian influences, and its cakes and
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meat | Bacon, pork, beef, veal, sausages, lamb, chicken, game meats |
| Carbohydrates | Breads, pastries, dumplings, potatoes |
| Rich flavours | Sweet, savoury, tangy, salty, sour |
| Fruits | Apricots, bananas, apples, redcurrants |
| Vegetables | Onions, peppers, cabbage, radishes, cucumbers, root vegetables |
| Dairy | Cheese, butter, cream, yoghurt |
| Desserts | Cakes, strudels, tarts, doughnuts, soufflés, pancakes |
| Alcohol | Beer, wine, schnapps |
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What You'll Learn
Austrian pastries and cakes
Austrian cuisine is known for its rich flavours and meat and carb-heavy dishes. However, Austrian pastries and cakes are equally famous and form an integral part of the country's culture, especially in Vienna.
Strudel
Austrian strudel is a popular pastry in the country. Apple strudel is a traditional sweet and savoury dish served alongside almost all Austrian meals in households, bakeries, local restaurants, and even Indian restaurants in Salzburg and Vienna. It is a delicate pastry filled with curd and loaded with all types of fruit, usually apricots and bananas.
Another variety is the cream cheese strudel, which is made of a delicate strudel pastry filled with cream cheese.
Buchteln
Buchteln is a delicious baked pastry with sweet fillings of jam, ground poppy, or sweet curds. The soft buns have a browned crunchy top and are airy and spongy inside due to the yeast bread. They are often served as a dessert topped with vanilla sauce or simply sugared on top.
Mozart Torte
The Mozart Torte is a light chocolate ganache covered in chocolate and resting on a small shortcrust pastry base. It is usually served as small delicacies.
Gugelhupf
Gugelhupf is a typical cake baked in the Viennese tradition. It is a bundt cake that is often served during Christmas in Vienna, along with mulled wine and punch.
Stollen
Stollen is a famous Viennese Christmas pastry with a long tradition.
Other cakes
Austrian cakes are typically named by adding "torte" or "kuchen" to the ingredient, like Zitronentorte (lemon cake), Bananenkuchen (banana cake), and Maronitorte (sweet chestnut cake). Schnitte is a term used for cakes served as tall rectangular slices or squares, which are multilayered and include soft layers such as whipped cream.
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Austrian dumplings
There are many types of Austrian dumplings, including the popular Spinatknödel, or spinach dumplings. Spinach dumplings are made with spinach, eggs, butter, garlic, onions, and usually parmesan cheese. They are often served with brown butter and grated parmesan on top. To prevent the dumplings from falling apart while cooking, it is important to ensure that the spinach is dry, and that there is enough egg in the mixture to bind the dumplings together.
Speckknödel are another type of Austrian dumpling, packed with bacon and boiled to perfection. They are usually served in a warm broth or with tangy sauerkraut and a fresh salad on the side.
Austrian egg dumplings, or Eiernockerl, are also a popular dish. They are similar to Italian gnocchi and are made with flour, milk, eggs, and butter. The batter is spooned into simmering saltwater and cooked for 1-2 minutes. The dumplings are then pan-fried in butter, with eggs cracked over them and stirred to coat.
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Austrian street food
Austria has a thriving street food scene, with a variety of dishes available that showcase the country's unique culinary culture. Here is an overview of some popular Austrian street foods:
Würstel
The Würstelstand is a staple of Austrian street food culture, especially in Vienna. The classic Austrian sausage, known as Würstel, is often grilled or boiled and can be found at stands all over the city. It is commonly paired with a small beer, known as a Pfiff. The Käsekrainer, a type of sausage with cheese, is a popular variation.
Leberkässemmel
The Leberkässemmel is a beloved street food option in Austria, found at many Würstelstände and butcher shops. It consists of a Semmel (bread roll) filled with Leberkäse, a spongy and fleshy pressed loaf of meat. This combination creates a unique and satisfying texture contrast.
Burgers
Burgers are a popular choice for street food in Austria, with many food trucks and stands offering a variety of options. These range from classic cheeseburgers to more creative options like the "Summerstyle Burger" with avocado and cuacamole. Austrian burgers often feature premium local ingredients, such as Austrian premium beef or vegetarian alternatives.
Pulled Pork
Pulled pork is another popular dish served from food trucks and trailers in Austria. The pork is slow-cooked for 18 hours, resulting in extremely tender and juicy meat. It is often served as a burger with toppings like Rotkraut, coleslaw salad, and Rucola, and can be prepared in various styles, such as South American or African.
Pizza and Döner
Pizza and Döner (kebab) are also common street foods in Austrian cities, with many stands and small eateries offering these dishes. The Döner, in particular, has become a part of local folklore and is often enjoyed as a late-night snack.
In addition to these options, Austria also hosts the European Street Food Festival, which features a wide variety of street food options from across Europe. This festival attracts millions of visitors and showcases the diverse and delicious street food culture of the region.
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Austrian snacks
Austrian cuisine is known for its rich flavours and meat and carb-heavy dishes. While some of these foods may be considered meals in themselves, here are some Austrian snacks to try:
Pretzels
Pretzels are a staple of Austrian street food, especially in Vienna and the Salzburg region. They can be found in heurigen (wine taverns), breweries, bakeries, and street stands. These oversized, soft, and warm treats come in a variety of flavours, from classic salted to more adventurous cheese or chocolate-filled options.
Buchteln
Buchteln is a delicious baked snack with sweet fillings such as jam, ground poppy seeds, or sweet curds. These soft buns have a browned, crunchy top and are airy and spongy inside due to the yeast bread. They are often served as a dessert topped with vanilla sauce or a sprinkle of sugar.
Knabber Nossi
Knabber Nossi is a popular snack sausage, especially among children. It is known as "Austria's Number One Snack Sausage".
Marillen Krapfen
Marillen Krapfen is a type of doughnut with an apricot jam centre. It is widely available in bakeries and supermarkets.
Soletti
Soletti is a popular salty stick snack in Austria.
Manner
Manner is a well-known Austrian wafer cookie brand. These wafers are described as rich, heavy, and tasty.
Paprika Chips
Austria also has its own version of the popular potato chip, with a unique paprika flavour.
Mozart Rounds and Milka Chocolate Bars
Austria is also known for its unique chocolates, including Mozart Rounds and Milka chocolate bars.
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Austrian drinks
Austria has a rich drinking culture, with a variety of beverages to cater to all tastes. Here is an overview of some popular Austrian drinks:
Coffee
Coffee holds a significant place in Austrian culture, with café culture being an integral part of Austrian life since the 17th century. Vienna, in particular, is renowned for its grand and decadent coffeehouses, which have been granted UNESCO intangible cultural heritage status. Austrians enjoy sipping coffee with friends at any time of the day, not just for breakfast. Interestingly, while 92% of Austrians drink coffee daily, 88% of coffee is consumed at home.
Tea
Although tea is not as widely consumed as coffee, it has gained popularity in Austria over the years. In recent times, there has been a growing trend towards drinking tea, with new varieties and specialties entering the market. About a third of Austrians now drink tea daily, and the demand for tea is on the rise, especially for herbal and fruit infusions, black tea, and green tea.
Beer
Austria has a range of well-known beers, and Austrians enjoy beer-based mixed drinks during the summer, such as Radler, which is a mix of beer and lemonade.
Wine
Austria has a vibrant wine culture, with Lower Austria being a notable wine-producing region. Sturm, a fermenting grape juice on its way to becoming wine, is a favourite during the harvest season. Austrians also enjoy Spritzer, a mix of white wine and sparkling water, during the summer. Another popular drink is Schilcher, a wine made from the Austrian red grape variety Blauer Wildbacher.
Cocktails and Spirits
Austrians also have a variety of unique cocktails and spirits. Hugo, a cocktail made with prosecco, elderflower syrup, fresh mint, and soda water, is a popular choice during the summer. Kracherl, a cocktail mixing lemonade with spirits like vodka or gin, is a staple at Austrian gatherings. In terms of spirits, Austrians have their own distinct variety of rum called Inländerrum, known for its rich, spicy flavour. Obstler, a fruit brandy made from apples and pears, is also a staple in Austrian spirit culture. Additionally, Austrians enjoy liqueurs like the celebrated Gurktaler Alpenkräuter, known for its blend of alpine herbs, and schnapps, such as Zirbenschnaps, which is infused with pine cones from the alpine Zirben tree.
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Frequently asked questions
Austrian cuisine is known for its rich flavours, meats, and carb-dense foods like pastries and breads. A typical Austrian meal might include:
- Wiener Schnitzel: thin cutlets of meat coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried, served with potato salad, cucumber salad, or French fries.
- Kaiserschmarrn: fluffy shredded pancakes topped with jams, sweet sauces, fruit compotes, or caramelized dry fruits.
- Erdäpfelsalat: a classic Austrian potato salad made with boiled potatoes and sliced onions, tossed in a tangy dressing of vinegar, oil, and mustard.
Austrians are known for their delicious desserts, including:
- Salzburger Nockerl: a sweet meringue-like soufflé from Salzburg, served with a sprinkling of icing sugar or a fruit sauce.
- Buchteln: baked buns with a browned, crunchy top and a soft, airy interior, filled with sweet jam, ground poppy, or sweet curds.
- Apple strudel: a traditional Austrian pastry filled with curd and fruit, usually apricots or bananas.
Austrians have a variety of traditional drinks, including:
- Schnapps: a fruit brandy with an alcohol content of up to 60%, often made with apricots, rowanberries, gentiana roots, herbs, or flowers.
- Beer: the most popular types are pale lager, cloudy Zwicklbier, and wheat beer.
- Wine: principally cultivated in the east of Austria, with notable white wines made from the Grüner Veltliner grape and red wines made from the Zweigelt grape.
