Spaghetti Bolognese

Bolognese sauce originated in Bologna, Italy and was traditionally used as dressing for tagliatelle. The dish that it has developed into, known as Spaghetti Bolognese, is a tomato sauce prepared with meat, usually beef or pork, and served on a bed of spaghetti with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese over the top. Although you will see this dish on the menu in Italian restaurants the world over, you are unlikely to find it in Italy.

Spaghetti Bolognese / Photo by admin

Greek Moussaka

This version of the eggplant based dish is thought to be a creation of Nikolaos Tselementes, the most influential Greek cookery writer of the twentieth century. It is a baked dish with layers of minced beef and aubergine, topped with a Béchamel sauce. The original dish can be traced back to 10th Century Baghdad, where it was served to the Caliphs.

Photo of Greek Moussaka by avlxyz

Fish and Chips

Created in London in the 19th Century, this staple of the British diet is comprised of a fillet of battered deep-fried fish served with chips. The fish is usually cod, or haddock, and the batter is a simple combination of flour and water. It is usually garnished with salt and vinegar. There are over 11,000 Fish and Chip shops in the UK, selling almost 260,000,000 meals every year.

Photo of Fish and Chips by edera

Paella

This is a very popular Spanish dish that originated from Albufera in Valencia. There are many different varieties of paella including seafood, valencian and mixed. The dish consists of rice which is cooked in a pan with saffron over an open fire. A variety of additional ingredients are added as part of the cooking process. The word ‘paella’ comes from the Latin word for ‘pan’ or ‘dish’.

Photo of Paella by dgies

Beef Stroganoff

Originating from 19th Century Russia, Beef Stroganoff consists of sautéed pieces of beef served in a sour cream sauce. It is normally served with rice or pasta, although the traditional Russian variety is served with potato chips. Stroganoff is a very popular dish in Sweden where the beef is replaced with a traditional Swedish sausage known as a Falukorv.

Photo of Beef Stroganoff by Rendy

Black Forest Gateau

Originating from the mountain range in the Southwest Germany this cake is known locally as Black Forest Cherry Torte. It consists of several layers of chocolate cake with cherries and whipped cream in between each layer. The cake is topped with more whipped cream, maraschino cherries and chocolate shavings. This is a popular dessert in the US, Canada and Australia where it is known as Black Forest Cake.

Photo of Black Forest Gateau by PetitPlat – Stephanie Kilgast

Boeuf Bourguignon

Coming from Burgundy, in the East of France, Boeuf Bourguignon was originally a peasant dish. It is a stew made with beef, braised in a Burgundy red wine, slow cooked to seal the flavour, and garnished with a variety of onions, garlic and mushrooms. From its humble beginnings this dish has been transformed over time and is now considered haute cuisine by French restaurateurs and culinary experts.

Photo of Boeuf Bourguignon by jstuppy

Irish Stew

This is a traditional Irish dish, dating back to the early 1800′s, made from lamb which is boiled slowly in a pot with a variety of vegetables including potatoes, carrots, onions and parsley. One of the earliest known references to ‘Irish Stew’ is in Lord Byron’s poem; ‘The Devil’s Drive: An unfinished Rhapsody’ written in 1813.

Photo of Irish Stew by SaucyGlo

Doner Kebab

The literal translation for the Turkish phrase ‘doner kebab’ is ‘rotating grilled meat’. This is a traditional dish made with shaved goat, lamb, turkey, chicken, beef, or mixed meats, which have been roasted on a spit. It is generally served in a flatbread pitta. It is a very versatile dish and there are a wide range of toppings which can be used as an accompaniment including; tomato, onion, lettuce, tabbouleh, parsley, cabbage, and cucumber. There are also a range of sauces that can be used on a kebab including; yogurt, tahini, hummus, tzatziki, salsa, and garlic mayonnaise, to name but a few.

Photo of Doner Kebab by Graham Holliday

Pizza

Originating in Naples, Italy, this is a flat round bread oven-baked and typically topped with tomato sauce and cheese. It is then layered with a variety of other toppings and is probably Italy’s most famous export. Nowhere is it more popular than in the US where approximately 100 acres of pizza are eaten every day!

Photo of Pizza by admin

So, if you’re lucky enough to get yourself on one of those travel tours around Europe, make sure you try some of the local cuisine! No matter which country you go to, they will have a wonderful variety of traditional dishes so don’t be scared to try something different!

Written by Kat Kraetzer, a passionate traveller and experienced travel writer

The post Top 10 European Dishes appeared first on Best of European Union.

Spanish cuisine
Spaniards have a great fondness for food, so they put the care in its preparation. Spanish cuisine is a tasty and colorful. The basic food-stuffs which they use are fish and other seafood, beef, mutton, pork, but they use also poultry, rice, potatoes, beans, various vegetables and white bread. Spaniards also use to add their typically piquant spices and herbs that make their dishes come unmistakable taste. Their kitchen is divided into Catalan, Basque, Galician, Castilian, Andalusian, and more. Each of them is something typical and special. However in all of them you can find lots of garlic and olive oil. The best known Spanish dish is certainly “paella” which is a mixture of rice, vegetables, meat or seafood and spices. Furthermore, gazpacho – cold vegetable soup. National food is tortilla – raw potato omelette with eggs and onions. Typical Spanish cuisine is tapas – small savory snacks that are served before a meal during the day and especially night.

Spanish restaurants
In Spain, all restaurants are legally obliged to offer a “menu del Día“, which includes appetizer, main course, dessert and beverage. This dish is served only at lunch time and it is a popular and inexpensive way to eat well. Expensive restaurants sometimes offer a tasting menu, where you can taste the little bits of several courses. It is common that during the bank holidays, the restaurants are closed.

Spanish drinks
A typical drink in Spain is wine. It is usually served with both lunch and dinner. The oldest and best known wine cellars in Spain are in La Rioja. These wines can be compared with the quality of French wine from Bordeaux. They have also classic wine Jerez and popular Spanish sparkling wine Cava. The perfect complement to all the dishes is a sweet Sangria, which consists of a mixture of fruit with sweet red wine, a little liquor, fruit juice or sparkling wine. It is best chilled and with ice.

Accommodation
In Spain you can find a wide range of accommodation of all kinds. From humble “fondas” or guest houses to luxury five-star hotels. Great interest is enjoying rural accommodation, located on farms, in cabins or in the restored palaces. It is possible to do a variety of outdoor activities, horse riding, cycling or hiking.

Spanish unique accommodation is the “Parador” which is a chain of hotels which are located in different historic buildings or in national parks, with a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside. It is also possible to stay in a bungalow or apartment, they are located mainly in the coastal tourist resorts. There are also youth hostels, which can be found throughout the country. It’s a cheap way of accommodation. In Spain there are also over 1400 camps of various categories.

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