25 Traditional European Recipes

Looking for some easy European recipes?

From soup to salad to strudel, these traditional dishes are the next best thing to traveling abroad.

Europe is known for its castles and churches, stunning artworks, and towering images of nature.

Besides being a feast for the eyes, it’s also home to one-of-a-kind gastronomical experiences. 

From France to Spain to Germany (and every country in between), these dishes will make you want to pack your bags and leave for Europe.

Here’s your chance to go on a European food tour without leaving the comforts of your home. Enjoy! 

1. Chestnut Soup

This silky smooth, creamy soup is a star during holidays. Its earthy flavors warm the heart and soul.

It’s tasty, light, and easy to make, so be prepared when everyone asks for this recipe!

Known as velouté in French, this puréed soup owes its flavors to a delicate mix of spices, chicken broth, carrots, and of course, crumbled chestnuts.

Eat this soup by the fire on a chilly night and serve with a glass of sparkling wine. Ah, how satisfying is that?

2. Cabbage Rolls

Cabbage rolls, or Kohlrouladen, are a classic German comfort food dish discovered 1500 years ago.

If I were to compare it to other comforting dishes, it would be mac and cheese. They have the same satisfaction level!

Cabbage rolls are healthy since the recipe calls for seasoned ground beef, cooked rice, and tomato soup.

Imagine all these simple ingredients rolled inside the cabbage leaves then baked to tender perfection.

In Eastern Europe, cabbage rolls come with chestnuts and walnuts.

The rolls are also considered lucky during New Year’s Eve because the cabbage leaves look like paper money.

3. Greek Fries 

These crisp, hand-cut fries are oh-so-tender on the inside.

Greek fries are thicker than your average French fries and are flavored with feta, garlic, and oregano. 

But that’s not all. Dip them in a homemade tzatziki sauce (Greek yogurt dipping) to complete the burst of flavors.

Want your fries a little more hot and spiced?

Some great seasoning add-ins include cumin, cayenne pepper, fresh thyme, dried dill, and paprika.     

4. Margherita Pizza

Pizza Margherita is a wildly popular Italian classic that carries the country’s flag. Think red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil. 

Because of this pizza’s rampant popularity, you’ll find variations of it served in different restaurants.

Some add a topping of Parmesan cheese, while others include fire-roasted canned tomatoes and garlic powder.

To achieve the authentic flavor, remember that less is more. The best Margherita pizza is simple and fulfilling without too much grease.

5. Ovcharaska Salad

Ovcharaska salad is a salad from Bulgaria that’s upgraded with eggs, ham, and mushrooms. It’s a refreshingly delicious meal idea for lunch or dinner.

Eat this salad by serving it in one bowl with several forks and grilled meat on the side. It’s Bulgarian tradition to put all the forks inside one bowl for sharing.  

6. Keftedakia (Greek Meatballs)

Keftedes, or Keftedakia (smaller Keftedes), refers to traditional Greek meatballs and is a favorite picnic food in Greece.

These tasty, deep-fried meatballs are easy to make. They will hit your table in 40 minutes or less.

Don’t be afraid to make too much of this meaty delight because they taste better the second day. 

Simmer the meatballs in tomato, garlic, and onion marinara. Serve over pasta, and voila! You’ll have a new dish with an Italian twist!

7. Romanian Cheese Donuts

Papanasi, or Romanian cheese donuts, are fried donut-shaped sweets made from soft cheese.

These donuts are topped with a little donut ball and lots of fruity jam and sour cream.

Cheese donuts are among the most favorite desserts in Romania, so you’ll find them in all traditional Romanian restaurants.

8. Bratkartoffeln (German Pan-Fried Potatoes)

You’ll only need one pan, a couple of ingredients, and a cooking time of 30 minutes.

This recipe requires minimum effort but yields maximum flavors. The result is crisp, golden-brown potatoes combined with tasty bacon and caramelized onions.

For extra flavor, green peppers and paprika could be added. Serve with Schnitzel or spicy German sausage for a hearty and satisfying meal.

9. Anglesey Eggs

This dish has its roots in Anglesey, an island off the north-west coast of Wales.

The recipe calls for hard-boiled eggs, mashed potatoes, and a rich cheese and leek sauce.

Anglesey eggs are comfort food for vegetarians! This dish is also a great match for grilled meats and is perfect for a filling brunch meal.

10. Bangers and Mash

Bangers and mash is the ultimate pub favorite and certified comfort food of Great Britain.

To be honest, this savory sausage recipe with creamy mashed potatoes and flavor-packed onion gravy is hard to beat.

Better still, you can use any kind of sausage you like. But thick pork sausages are the best!

For the potatoes, be sure to choose medium-starch ones for a buttery flavor and impressive texture.

The gravy is as vital as the other ingredients, so make yours incredibly rich and caramel-y!

11. Skordalia

I’m sure this recipe will be another hit among potato lovers. Skordalia is a Greek garlic dip with a thick base made of puréed potatoes.

Some use liquid-soaked stale bread, walnuts, or almonds for a bulky base.

Like other Greek dips, Skordalia is hearty, healthy, and full of antioxidants, especially if you add the walnuts.

This dip can accompany any vegetable, meat, or fish dishes.

It’s often served when celebrating Greek Independence Day, along with batter-fried salted cod.

12. Escudella

Escudella is a rich, meaty stew and is referred to as Andorra’s national dish. Traditionally, this dish is served in two-parts every Sunday and Thursday.

The first part is a meat broth with pasta or rice, and the second one is all the meat used in the broth along with vegetables.

Another version of this dish, Escudella de Nadal, is commonly served on Christmas day.

It has memorable flavors that are sure to warm your belly and soul.

13. Apple Strudel

Apple strudel is a favorite European dessert from Germany to Croatia with a flaky, butter crust and spiced apple filling.

Top this dish with a cinnamon glaze, and you’ll wake everyone up with a tasty, aromatic breakfast in the morning.

But to be honest, apple strudel is delicious any time of the day, with a hot cup of coffee!

Want to turn it into a dessert? Top it with vanilla ice cream or homemade vanilla sauce, and you’re done.

14. Scottish Tablet

Scottish tablet is often confused with fudge, but it has a brittle, grainy, and medium-hard texture. It’s not as soft as fudge and not as hard as candy.

The tablet is made from sugar, condensed milk, and butter. If you want to add extra flavors, feel free to mix in some vanilla, whisky, or nut pieces. 

Warning: this treat is addictive. Although it lasts for a few weeks, I doubt that’ll happen when the kids are around.

15. Belgian Waffles

These light and crisp waffles have deep pockets You might see little pools of delicious syrup if you peek inside! 

Unlike American waffles, the Belgian version has a lighter batter with larger squares. Everyone loves getting these waffles at breakfast restaurants.

But why go out when you can make this classic dish at home?

Belgian waffles aren’t as easy to make as pancakes. But the extra effort and cooking time are all worth it.

For the toppings, you can’t go wrong with classic butter and maple syrup.

Every once in a while, I like my waffles topped with caramelized bananas or cinnamon roll icing. It’s so good!

16. Traditional Welsh Cake

Welsh cake has been a tea-time favorite in Wales since the 19th century. Traditionally, this dish is cooked on a bakestone.

But making it in a heavy frying pan works just as well.

Think of Welsh cakes as a cross between scones, pancakes, and cookies.

They have ingredients similar to scones but are cooked like pancakes on a griddle. In terms of size, they’re like chubby cookies.

17. Croque Monsieur

Treat your taste buds with a French delight and make this classic ham and cheese sandwich — Croque Monsieur.

Because the recipe requires simple pantry ingredients, you can make this delightful sandwich in a couple of minutes!

The result is a single layer of ham and Gruyere pressed between two slices of toasted bread.

Don’t forget to top the sandwich with béchamel sauce to make the whole thing creamier and better.

18. Kaiserschmarrn

It’s not the best-looking pancake out there, but Kaiserschmarrn will definitely take your breath away. This dish is also known as Emperor’s Mess.

It got its name from Austrian emperor Kaiser Franz Joseph I, who adored the shredded pancake.

This pancake is packed with rum, raisins, and sugar. Dust it with powdered sugar or serve with a fruit compote for a mouthwatering dessert or light lunch.  

19. Swedish Meatballs

IKEA made these Swedish meatballs famous, but nothing beats the homemade version.

The secret to achieving authentic Swedish flavors is to add allspice and nutmeg to the ground beef mix.

You can also include Worcestershire sauce and mustard to the sauce to create an explosion of flavors.  

20. Cornish Pasty

Cornish pasty is a hand-held pie filled with meat and vegetables. This dish looks unassuming on the outside but is loaded with flavors inside.

This slow-baked pie has a rich history, which started as a portable lunch for farmers, tin miners, and fishers in Cornwall.

The pie is compact, filling, and can be eaten without utensils. 

According to historians, thoughtful wives would sometimes make a Cornish pasty that was divided into two sections.

The one half of the pasty would have a savory filling while the other had a sweet filling. It was a complete meal!

21. Risalamande

Risalamande is a traditional Danish dessert served every Christmas Eve after dinner.

It has a base of creamy rice pudding infused with almonds and topped with cherry sauce.

Risalamande indeed looks elegant, but it’s pretty easy to make. All you have to do is make the rice pudding extra special.

Fold in the vanilla-flavored whipped cream, add the chopped almonds, and drizzle the sweet sauce. 

Garnish with fresh mint, and your glass serving dish will start to look like Christmas! 

22. Danish Red Berry Pudding (Rødgrød Med Fløde)

Four different red berries — strawberry, raspberry, blackcurrant, and redcurrant — are transformed into a silky pudding topped with heavy cream.

In Denmark, this dish is traditionally made by the end of the summer when berries are in season.

Of course, you can use just one variant of berries if you like.

If you go for strawberries, you may want to reduce the amount of sugar, so the result is a dessert that isn’t overly sweet.

23. Italian Brownie Cake

If you love Italian recipes and you’re a fan of brownies, this decadent dish is definitely worth the try. Italian brownie cake uses no yeast and very little flour.

It’s light and tender, and it resembles a soft and fudgy brownie.

Enjoy this sweet Italian delight by adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. This pairing is unbeatable in my book!

24. Eton Mess

Macerated strawberries, crunchy meringue, and whipped cream are all you need to create this quintessential English dessert.

Eton Mess originated from Eton College, where it was served at the school’s annual sports event.

Known as one of the most-loved desserts in England, Eton Mess is heaven in a bowl and a joy to eat.

It’s possible to create other variations of this recipe by using raspberries or apricots instead of strawberries.  

25. Spanish Flan

Spanish flan is milky and sweet with a hint of slight bitterness. The consistency of this flan is like a firm jelly or custard that melts right in your mouth. 

With a rich caramel sauce that melds with the flan’s intense vanilla taste, this Spanish flan is delicioso!