European Cuisine
As Varied as the Countries Are

This page about European Cuisine is just a summary of the Top Dishes of some of the countries. In further articles we will be more specific of each country or province.

Here I am mentioning the most known cuisines in Europe and please understand that these countries have regions or provinces with different recipes.

French Boeuf Bourguignon Beef Stew braised in red wine

French Cuisine

French Cuisine is perhaps the most internationally recognized from all of them. There is no city in the planet that won’t feature a French Restaurant. Here are a few of the most renowned dishes

Soupe à l'oignon – Traditional French Onion Soup
Cheese – The greatest diversity in the world
Boeuf Bourguignon – Beef Stew braised in red wine
Chocolate soufflé – Nobody should miss this ndessert
Flamiche – Pie filled with cheese and vegetables
Salade nicoise – Salada of lettuce, fresh tomatoes, boiled eggs, canned tuna,.
Confit de canard – Tasty duck legs meal
Tarte tatin – Apple pie
Ratatouille – Consist of tomatoes, garlic, onions, zucchini, eggplant, carrots, bell peppers, basil, marjoram, thyme and other green herbs.
Wine – French wine is served with your meal, with cheese, or just sitting down and enjoying the moment.

Croatian Međimurska Gibanica fruit and fresh cheese layered cake

European Cuisine

Croatian Cuisine

There are big differences between the recipes of the mainland and the ones in the Dalmatian Coast and islands. The mainland ones have a Slavic influence and from the neighboring Hungary and Austria, while the coastal cuisine has a definite Italian and more specific Venetian influence.

Pršut – Is a dry-cured ham, famous in any kind of celebration in Croatia
Paški sir – This is a special sheep cheese
Ispod peke – Is a special stone oven cooking, the ingredients are left to cook slowly
Pašticada – Is a traditional Dalmatian meat dish
Crni rižot – Also called Black Riceor black risotto with cuttlefish and squid
Riba na gradele i blitva – Mixed grilled fish paired with chard boiled with potatoes
Brudet – is a fish stew traditionally made in Istria and Dalmatia.
Tartufi – Rare mushrooms said to have Aphrodisiac powers
Fuži i pljukanci – This is a homemade pasta traditional from Istria.
Janjetina s ražnja – Lamb on the spit, is the most popular method of preparing lamb in Croatia.
Međimurska gibanica - Fruit and fresh cheese layered cake from Medjimurje county, northern Croatia

Typical British Fish and Chips

British Cuisine

There are many varieties according to the region they come from, like England Scotland and Wales. Some of the most recognized are:

Fish and Chips
Roast Beef
Steak and Kidney Pie
Shepherd’s Pie
Bangers and Mash
Cornish Pasties
Yorkshire pudding
Arbroath Smokie
Welsh cakes
Cullen Skink
Sausage and Mash
Rhubarb and Custard
Fish Pie
Trifle

Moussaka - The most widely recognized of all Greek dishes

European Cuisine

Greek Cuisine

This is the best example of the typical Mediterranean Cuisine so well imitated by many countries including my home country Israel. Some dishes here are called different names but many come from Greek influence

Moussaka - The most widely recognized of all Greek dishes, this oven-baked casserole of layered eggplant and spiced meat filling
Tiropites - Phyllo Cheese Triangles
Baklava – Classic Greek pastry made with flaky phyllo dough layered with a cinnamon-spiced nut filling, and bathed in sweet syrup.
Horta Vrasta - Boiled Leafy Greens, packed with nutrients and flavor, these greens will compliment any meal. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Chicken Soup Avgolemono - Traditional chicken soup finished with a creamy egg-lemon flavor
Tzatziki - Creamy Cucumber-Yogurt Dip
Pastitsio - Pasta, meat filling, and a creamy béchamel sauce
Galaktoboureko - Custard Phyllo Pie
Fassolatha - Classic White Bean Soup
Spanakopita - Spinach Pie

Italian Ossobuco – Leg of lamb or pork served with pasta or vegetables

Italian Ossobuco – Leg of lamb or pork with pasta or vegetables

Italian Cuisine

In my humble opinion this food is the most delicious of all. Who doesn’t like pasta accompanied with any other plate. I am sure that it is eaten in any home in the world. The Italian influence in food is great.

Chicken parmigiana - Anything breaded and deep-fried with melted cheese is going to be a hit.
Ossobuco – Leg of lamb or pork served with pasta or vegetables
Fettuccine alfredo - One of the heavier Italian sauces, sticks best to wide noodles like fettuccini.
Lasagna - The best lasagnas include plenty of ground beef, sausage, ricotta, mozzarella and parmesean cheeses.
Linguine with clam sauce - The best examples of this dish come in a garlic and oil sauce and use whole clams
Veal Marsala - Wine sauce is loaded with mushrooms and scallions.
Chicken Saltimbocca - combines a meat, such as chicken, with prosciutto ham, spinach, and mozzarella cheese.
Pasta primavera - Includes any combination of vegetables over pasta in a variety of sauces.
Shrimp fra diavolo - Red sauce relies on crushed red pepper and garlic.
Penne alla vodka - A mixture of marinara and a cream sauce with basil and a shot of vodka
Spaghetti with tomato sauce - This dish is simple, has a number of options to add, including meatballs, mushrooms, broccoli, sausage, or ground beef.

European Cuisine

Cochinillo Asado or Roast Suckling Pig is eaten everywhere in Spain

European Cuisine

Spanish Cuisine

It has influenced the dishes of all Latin American Countries. Like in any big countries the dishes vary by region sometimes with big differences. We have to remember that the Iberia Peninsula was populated by tribes from very different origins coming from the north like the Basque or the south like the Andalusian. Here are the most known dishes

Tortilla Española - Spanish Omelet and if it is made of potatoes it is called Tortilla de patatas.י
Gazpacho - Andalusian Cold Tomato Soup made of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, oil and vinegar. It can be served in a bowl as a soup or a tall glass as a beverage
Paella de Marisco - Spanish Seafood Rice Recipe is the most nenowned dish of Spain. It has many variations according to regions including the vegetarian one.
Alioli Sauce - Garlic Mayonnaise sauce
Empanadas - Galician Turnover or Pasties when small they are called Empanadillas. Very popula also in Latin America
Gambas al Ajillo - Shrimp in Garlic
Cordero Asado - Roast Lamb this is the favorite dish in the central region of Castilla
Cochinillo Asado or Roast Suckling Pig is eaten everywhere in Spain, but Segovia is famous for this dish.
Fabada Asturiana - Simple Asturian Bean and Sausage Casserole
Spanish Tomato Sauce - Sofrito – Made of tomatoes, onions, garlic, green peppers and olive oil sautéed in a frying pan.

For more information go to Food.com

The Kalops a Classical Swedish Dish

In following pages of European Cuisine we are elaborating the following:

Lithuanian Cuisine
Swedish Cuisine
Albanian Cuisine
Czech Cuisine and many more…

European Cuisine is much more than these few countries mentioned. I will elaborate many more as this site grows. If you want to help me sending me a recipe of your country I will gladly publish it.

Image credits for European Cuisine

cochinillo by tamonlann
medimerska by silverije
boeuf by veronique pagnier
mussaka by saintfevrier
ossobuco n/a

courtesy of wikimedia commons