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, Salat 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 lighten up Backhendl by placing the crispy fried chicken pieces on a fresh 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: the golden crispy chicken skin, the soft and moist meat inside, combined with the cool fresh vegetables and the slightly sour and spicy vinaigrette. A crispy piece of chicken, accompanied by fresh and crunchy 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 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 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 yellow chanterelle mushrooms. This is one of the favorite summer dishes in Austria because it carries the breath of the mountains, the land 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, with an attractive forest scent and a naturally sweet taste. Austrians are so fascinated with wild mushrooms that summer is also known as Eierschwammerl season.
Eierschwammerl Gulasch is typically cooked with sweet onions, light paprika, and a little cream or crème fraîche for a rich, creamy texture. Mushrooms are sautéed until fragrant and then simmered to release their natural sweetness, creating a delicious golden sauce. The dish is often served with Semmelknödel (steamed bread balls) or spaetzle (Austrian egg noodles), which help to blend the rich, aromatic 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 winds its way 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 a 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, mixing 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 a long walk through the woods or through the alpine meadows, there is nothing better than stopping at a Heuriger (local wine tavern) or an Alm (mountain restaurant) to enjoy Brettljause. This is the Austrian summer dish that is full of socializing, sharing and bonding.
Brettljause is essentially a large wooden tray filled with all manner of regional delicacies: smoked sausages, hams, cold cuts, bacon, fatty pâtés, local cheeses, gherkins, pickled onions, sweet peppers, thinly sliced red radishes, grainy mustards, and flavorful 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, cut bread, slice sausages, scoop mustard, and sip cold white wine or fresh beer. The sound of laughter and clinking glasses echoes across the hills. Without fuss or style, Brettljause is the feast 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 cool, refreshing soup. And Austrians have their own signature dish: Kalte Gurkensuppe – cold cucumber soup. This is a modern Austrian summer dish that still retains its rustic, fresh flavor, and is very popular in restaurants and home 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 thoroughly chilled so that when eaten, it feels cool and refreshing, like drinking 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, and the cool sweetness of cucumber blend together to soothe 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
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