Budapest, Hungary is heaven for people who really love food.
Even the simplest dishes here burst with flavour.
Hungrians have had centuries to get their traditional cuisine just right
and in this video Marc and I are trying some of the most popular Hungarian foods.
Things are about to get tasty.
Do you like potatoes?
Do you like potatoes fried in oil in various forms?
I thought so!
Well it might not be something to eat every day
but tócsni is a Hungarian food that’s typically sold at festivals and fairs
and definitely at Christmas markets in Budapest.
Tócsni goes by dozens of different names, including the ‘Hungarian hashbrown’,
and its exact origin is unknown.
People in different parts of Europe make it differently
but it’s made with the same cheap ingredients
that were available during times when people had to get creative:
raw grated potato, flour, and eggs.
You fry it up in oil and put some toppings on.
There you go.
Thank you.
We chose a creamy paprika sauce with chicken.
This one’s for all my fellow sauce people.
Marc and I cut up the potato part and dipped it in the sauce on top.
I promise this was just as rich, indulgent, and satisfying as you’d guess.
Tócsni is a total win.
Next up is the dish that has become synonymous with Hungary: goulash.
Specifically beef goulash with Hungarian dumplings also known as nokedli on the side.
Goulash is a soup made of meat and vegetables.
The name comes from the word that means shepherd
because back in the 9th century this dish was traditionally eaten by cattle herdsmen
as they travelled around.
Nowadays it’s seasoned with paprika, which is a major staple ingredient in Hungarian cooking.
You’ll see it everywhere in practically everything and you’ll be glad for it.
Nokedli is a dense pasta dish usually served with goulash.
Our order came served in a bread bowl
and this goulash was more like a thick stew than a soup.
Goulash and nokedli are both deeply comforting foods
that are perfect when the weather is chilly or your soul just needs a little TLC.
And, of course, being served occasionally in a bread bowl doesn’t hurt either.
I’m curious what you’re going to think of the dumplings.
Oh, why ‘cause there’s sour cream?
Yeah.
Ok.
It actually…it just really tastes like Mac and cheese.
And I love mac and cheese so…
Who doesn’t?
Yeah.
We wanted to try more foods
so we got a few different ones on a shared plate so we could sample them.
Large cabbage leaves are packed with meat and rice,
rolled up, and then smothered in sour cream.
The cabbage in Hungary is often pickled as well, which gives the flavour a nice tang.
Growing up, my Dad made cabbage rolls so, Dad, this one’s for you.
Of all the things I’ve eaten on this trip I think this dish would make him the most jealous.
So let’s dig in.
That’s so, so good.
I haven’t had a cabbage roll in ages.
I forgot how much I love them.
Growing up I always avoided the actual cabbage and I just went for the stuff inside.
Things haven’t changed.
You know what?
Since the camera’s rolling I’m even going to try it with cabbage.
Mama would be proud.
Not so bad.
It’s good.
Yeah.
You’ll find all sorts of different sausages in Hungary.
The one we tried was juicy and packed some mild heat.
Oh yeah.
Oh my god, that’s good.
Nice and salty?
Salty but just really flavourful - and juicy.
Not dry at all.
Oh my god.
That’s one of the best sausages I’ve ever had.
We also came across a man selling cheese and he offered us some to try.
We tried a goat cheese with green onion and garlic that tasted super fresh.
He also had homemade camembert which was insanely creamy.
I’ve never had homemade camembert before.
Wow.
My favourite was the smoked cheese that was shaped kind of like a croissant.
It’s really good.
Oh wow.
Really good, wow.
That was this one?
Yes.
Wow.
Back at our Airbnb, Marc tried a chocolate treat he’d picked up at a corner shop
that’s popular in Hungary.
He thought it tasted like custard but it’s actually a sweet cheese filling.
Should I go in?
Yes.
Cheese shaped like a croissant and cheese in chocolate?
That is a good day.
I could happily eat Hungarian foods on a regular basis
and it was really fun to try some of the traditional fare during our time in Budapest.
I hope you guys enjoyed this video
and I’d love to know if one of these foods stood out to your taste buds.
Give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed it
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Thanks for watching!