Viennese Cuisine: Feed's All You Need Guide

When it comes to food, there is truly an infinite abundance of cuisines to choose from. No matter what mood you find yourself in, there exists a culture chockful of dishes you’re bound to enjoy, even if you may not have even tried it before! One cuisine you may not necessarily be familiar with is Vienesse cuisine, hailing from the magical country of Austria. Characterized by dishes like Wiener Schnitzel, apple strudel, Tafelspitz, and more, Viennese cuisine is a special way to enjoy the wonders of this incredible country. Today, we wanted to take a look into the history of Viennese cuisine and explore three famous dishes that make this cuisine as notable as it is today (likely you may have already heard of some of these dishes already!). Interested in learning more? Read on!

History of Viennese Cuisine

While Austria is quite a small country on the map, its reign and influence throughout Europe for centuries has been a notable one of large proportions. Austria’s Habsburg Monarchy, during its peak, stretched from Imperial Russia to the Adriatic Sea over seven centuries, according to Taste of Austria. Interestingly, like all other countries, Austria experienced large bouts of influence from other cultures throughout their time in power, leading to many of the special dishes that the country has become famous for today.

For instance, Austria’s infamous coffee culture so many travel to the country to enjoy is all thanks to the coffee bean's introduction to the Habsburg Empire when Turkey tried to invade Austria. Additionally, foods like the Apfelstrudel (or apple strudel) are interpretations of a Turkish delicacy known as Baklava eaten during the Turkish occupation of Europe (and have become a staple in Viennese cuisine). Today, millions of tourists travel to Austria to try the delicious tastes of Viennese cuisine, and it makes for a wonderful introduction to a cuisine you may not have been familiar with.

Three Famous Viennese Dishes Worth Tasting 

Wiener Schnitzel:

Also known as Viennese cutlet, wiener schnitzel is a notable and traditional Austrian staple within the cuisine (and one you may have already heard of). This dish is made of veal dipped in breadcrumbs and deep-fried in either lard or clarified butter; it’s not a heavy dish, despite being fried, but rather tender and delicious to enjoy. Additionally, wiener schnitzel is often served with a lemon wedge and either cucumber salad, potato salad, or fries, depending on the restaurant you visit or your mood! Even if you can’t make it to Austria to enjoy some wiener schnitzel, you can, fortunately, make this tasty dish in your own kitchen! All you’ll need to make Wiener Schnitzel is some veal, chicken, or pork cutlets (depending on your preferences), a quarter cup of all-purpose flour, half a teaspoon of kosher salt, two large eggs, half a cup of breadcrumbs, oil for frying, and some lemon slices for garnish to round the dish off!

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Wiener Melange

If you’re a coffee fan, you’ll most definitely enjoy Wiener melange! This traditional Viennese coffee is reminiscent of an Italian latte, although it is a lot lighter with less milk used to make it. You’ll likely find Wiener Melange served with whipped cream on top, depending on the coffee house or barista who makes your coffee, although many prefer to enjoy it alone served hot (and it makes for a delicious pairing with Apfelstrudel or Sacher-torte cake!).

Sacher-torte Cake

When it comes to sweets, Austria has it all. From delicious apple strudel to our next mention, Sacher-torte cake, there is much to love about Viennese desserts. Sacher-torte cake is a globally recognized cake whose recipe is kept secret (but hasn’t dissuaded anyone from trying to recreate it!) created in 1832. At the time, the Austrian State Chancellor had asked his staff to make a unique cake to wow his guests, but unfortunately, the head chef had fallen ill and left the task to 16-year-old apprentice chef Franz Sacher. His concoction ended up becoming a crowd-favorite and has now become a Viennese specialty that’s famous all over the globe! Fortunately, you can make this delicious cake in your own kitchen, and it is sure to become a crowd-favorite in your home. If you’re looking to make Sacher-torte at home, try out these recipes for yourself - this authentic Sacher-torte cake, this delicious Sacher-torte cake recipe, or this beginner-friendly Sacher-torte cake recipe!

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