Top 5 summer dishes in Austria that make tourists fall in love

1. Salad with Backhendl

Salad with Backhendl is a refreshing and flavorful summer dish in Austria (Photo source: Collected)

When summer knocks on the door with warm sunny afternoons and gentle breezes, Austrians often choose light meals that are still full of flavor and nutrition. Among them, Salad mit Backhendl is a summer dish in Austria that is both refreshing and rich.

Backhendl is a traditional dish from the Steiermark (Styria) region of southern Austria. In the summer, Austrians often give Backhendl a lighter twist by placing the crispy fried chicken pieces on a refreshing salad. Green lettuce, ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, red onions, and sometimes red radishes are delicately sliced, and served with a light, mustard-flavored Austrian vinaigrette.

The beauty of this Austrian summer dish lies in the wonderful contrasts: crispy golden chicken skin, soft and moist meat inside, combined with cool fresh vegetables and a slightly sour and spicy vinaigrette. A crispy piece of chicken, accompanied by crunchy fresh vegetables, awakens all the senses – especially when enjoyed on a balcony overlooking the vineyards or in a rustic Styrian restaurant. This is not only the perfect main course for a summer lunch, but also an invitation to enter the world of Austrian cuisine – where tradition and modernity blend in every flavor.

2. Eierschwammerl Gulasch

Hungarian-style Gulasch (meat stew with paprika) was originally imported and adapted by Austria (Photo source: Collected)

When it comes to Austrian cuisine , many people will immediately think of Hungarian-style Gulasch (meat stew with paprika) which was imported and adapted by Austria. But in the summer, Austrians have a special version for warm sunny days: Eierschwammerl Gulasch – Gulasch with golden chanterelle mushrooms. This is one of the favorite summer dishes in Austria because it carries the breath of the mountains, the earth and the crops.

Golden chanterelles (Eierschwammerl in German, or chanterelle in French) appear in abundance in early summer in the dense forests of Austria. The mushrooms are orange-yellow like the afternoon sun, gracefully shaped like small trumpets, have a charming forest scent and a naturally sweet taste. Austrians are so fascinated with wild mushrooms that summer is also called Eierschwammerl season.

Eierschwammerl Gulasch is typically cooked with sweet onions, light paprika, and a little fresh cream or crème fraîche for richness. Mushrooms are sautéed until fragrant, then simmered to release their natural sweetness, creating a delicious golden sauce. This dish is often served with Semmelknödel (steamed bread balls) or spaetzle (Austrian egg noodles), which help to soak up the rich mushroom sauce.

3. Marillenknödel

Marillenknödel or apricot dumplings (Image source: Collected)

If you ask Austrians what summer reminds them of, many will smile and say: Marillenknödel – apricot dumplings. This is the Austrian summer dish that brings the sweet taste of ripe fruit, golden sunshine and childhood memories.

Marille is the name given to apricots in the Wachau region, one of Austria’s most famous apricot-growing valleys, where the Danube River winds between hillsides covered with grapes and apricots. In July, the Wachau apricots are ripe, golden as the afternoon sun, fragrant and sweet.

Austrians turn fresh apricots into the delicious Marillenknödel dumpling. Whole apricots (sometimes stuffed with sugar cubes or marzipan) are wrapped in potato dough or Topfen (quark) cheese, boiled, and rolled in burnt butter, sweet breadcrumbs, and powdered sugar. When cut open, the apricots burst open, releasing their fragrant juices, mingling with the soft, chewy crust and the buttery breadcrumbs.

4. Brettljause

Brettljause is basically a large wooden tray displaying all kinds of regional specialties (Photo source: Collected)

On summer afternoons, after long walks through the woods and mountain meadows, there is nothing better than stopping at a Heuriger (local wine bar) or an Alm (mountain restaurant) to enjoy Brettljause. This is the Austrian summer dish that is full of exchange, sharing and bonding.

Brettljause is essentially a large wooden tray filled with all sorts of regional delicacies: smoked sausages, hams, cold cuts, bacon, pâtés, local cheeses, gherkins, pickled onions, sweet peppers, thinly sliced red radishes, grainy mustards and rich rye bread. All generously and colorfully presented, inviting people to gather around and share.

The beauty of this Austrian summer dish is not only in its salty, fatty, sour and spicy flavors, but also in its communal spirit. Austrians invite friends, family and passersby to sit around outdoor wooden tables, together cutting bread, splitting sausages, scooping mustard, and sipping cold white wine or refreshing beer. The sounds of laughter and clinking glasses echo between the mountains and hills. Without fuss or style, Brettljause is the party of the Austrian summer – where flavors and friendship blend in the gentle sunset.

5. Kalte Gurkensuppe

Kalte Gurkensuppe – cold cucumber soup (Image source: Collected)

In the middle of a hot summer afternoon, nothing awakens the taste buds more than a bowl of cold soup. And the Austrians have their own signature dish: Kalte Gurkensuppe – cold cucumber soup. This is a modern Austrian summer dish but still retains its rustic, fresh taste, very popular in restaurants and family kitchens.

Summer cucumbers are crisp, green, juicy and refreshing. To make Kalte Gurkensuppe, fresh cucumbers are blended with light yogurt, sour cream, garlic, dill, lemon and spices. The mixture is chilled so that when eaten, it feels cool and refreshing, like a sip of mountain spring water.

This Austrian summer dish is not only delicious but also beautiful: its pure pale green color, dotted with fresh dill, and sometimes decorated with edible flowers, creates a poetic, elegant impression. It appears in garden restaurants, at picnics in nature, or even at elegant dinner parties on the terrace.

The light sourness of yogurt, the aroma of dill, the sweetness of cucumber blend together to soften the scorching sun, as if sending the cool breeze of the mountains into the bowl of soup. Kalte Gurkensuppe is a testament to the Austrians' delicate creativity in turning local ingredients into the perfect summer dish.

Austrian cuisine is not only Schnitzel or Apfelstrudel which are already famous worldwide. When summer comes, Austria puts on a fresh, vibrant and inspiring culinary coat with rich and charming Austrian summer dishes. Coming to Austria in the summer is not only to admire the deep green mountains, gentle rivers, ancient heritage cities but also an unforgettable taste trip. Hopefully, the suggestions for Austrian summer dishes in this article will be a useful guide for those who are dreaming of a poetic trip to this land of music and majestic mountains.

Source: https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/mon-an-mua-he-o-ao-v17447.aspx