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What to eat in Europe? Top 35 European Dips

Last update: Fri Mar 21 2025
Top 35 European Dips
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01

Dip

GREECE
4.4
Tzatziki
Tzatziki infographic
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Tzatziki is a Greek concoction made from yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, and numerous herbs and spices such as dill, mint, or parsley. It is usually served as a sauce accompanying many meat dishes, as a simple dip, or an appetizer. Its name is derived from the Turkish word cacik, denoting a very similar dip, although some suspect that tzatziki was derived from the Indian raita dip.


Tzatziki is always served cold, and it is especially popular to serve it with dishes such as gyros and souvlaki. Often, it is served with pita bread as part of the first course of a big meal. With its huge popularity, and the fact that it is one of the best summer dips, it is not strange that there are many regional variations of tzatziki, in countries such as Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Serbia.

MOST ICONIC Tzatziki

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02

Sauce

CANARY ISLANDS, Spain
4.3
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This pungent, acidic sauce is a specialty of the Canary Islands. It can be used as a sauce, baste, marinade, or dip. Traditionally, mojo sauce is made with a base of vinegar, hot peppers, sea salt, cumin, garlic, and olive oil. The sauce can be either red (mojo rojo) or green (mojo verde), depending on whether it is flavored with coriander or paprika.


The red version is usually served with meat and potatoes, while the green one is paired with fish dishes. The name of the sauce is derived from the Portuguese word molho, which means sauce.

VARIATIONS OF Mojo
03

Sauce

CANARY ISLANDS, Spain
4.3
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Mojo rojo or red mojo is a flavorful Spanish sauce that is especially popular in the Canary Islands. It is believed that it has origins in Spanish cuisine, which was heavily influenced by the Moors. The sauce usually consists of olive oil, vinegar, sea salt, garlic, chili, cumin, and pimentón paprika.


It is typically consumed with meat dishes and boiled potatoes.

04
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This creamy Greek dipping sauce is usually prepared with a combination of feta cheese, milk or yogurt, hot peppers, garlic, and olive oil. Although it is a traditional dish, it is regionally influenced and may contain anything from roasted red peppers to other types of cheese.


Tirokafteri is a standard Greek appetizer and a typical meze dish that is usually accompanied by warm pita bread.

MOST ICONIC Tirokafteri

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05
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Urnebes is an authentic Serbian spread consisting of salty cheese, garlic, sour cream, roasted peppers, paprika, oil, and cooked egg yolks. It is traditionally served as a side dish accompanying numerous grilled meat dishes, although it can also be used as a topping for hamburgers or as a dip.


In Serbia, urnebes can be found at almost every fast food stand.

MOST ICONIC Urnebes

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06
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Ispanakhis pkhali is a traditional dip. It is prepared with a combination of spinach, walnuts, garlic, scallions, cilantro, fenugreek, and red wine vinegar. The ingredients are combined into a homogeneous mixture that's refrigerated before serving.


The mixture can then be served on a platter or shaped into smaller, individual balls. It is recommended to garnish this specialty with pomegranate seeds or whole nuts and serve them with mchadi or khachapuri.

07

Sauce

TARRAGONA, Spain
4.2
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Romesco is a savory Spanish sauce consisting of red peppers, tomatoes, onions, and a variety of roasted or raw nuts such as pine nuts, hazelnuts, and almonds. The sauce is extremely versatile, so it can be served with fish, seafood, salads, vegetables, and meat dishes, although it can also be used in stews, giving them a savory richness.


Romesco is also traditionally consumed as a dipping sauce for grilled spring onions, which is another Catalan delicacy.

08
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Skordalia is a flavorful Greek dish made from a combination of mashed potatoes, olive oil, vinegar, raw garlic, and almonds. The dish is usually served as a spread or a dip, either at room temperature or chilled, when it is typically paired with warm pita bread.


Due to its intense garlicky flavors, skordalia is also often served as an accompaniment to various fish or vegetable dishes.

MOST ICONIC Skordalia

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09

Dip

POLAND
4.2
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The basic version of this traditional Polish spread consists of fresh cottage cheese, yogurt, milk, and chives, while some varieties occasionally incorporate radish, onions, or hard-boiled eggs. The seasonings and the texture of gzik are easily adjusted to taste and preference, and even though it can be used as a dip or a sandwich spread, it is traditionally served alongside boiled potatoes.

10

Dip

ABKHAZIA, Georgia
4.2
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Ajika is a hot and spicy Georgian paste made with hot peppers, garlic, walnuts, and fresh herbs and spices such as coriander, basil, dill, and marigold petals. It is most commonly used as a flavoring for various meat and fish dishes, although it can also be used as a fiery hot dip.


Ajika is usually red in color, but it can also be green if prepared with unripe peppers.

MOST ICONIC Ajika

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13
Dip
GREECE
4.1
14
Dip
GREECE  and  8 more regions
4.1
15
Sauce
CANARY ISLANDS, Spain
4.1
16
17
Dip
PIEDMONT, Italy
4.1
18
19
Spread
PROVENCE, France
3.9
20
21
Sauce
SICILY, Italy
3.9
22
23
24
Appetizer
PROVENCE, France
3.8
25
Spread
ŽILINA REGION, Slovakia
3.7
26
Spread
BULGARIA
3.7
27
Dip
NORTH MACEDONIA
3.6
28
29
Dip
BOLOGNA, Italy
3.3
30
Spread
CYCLADES, Greece
3.2
31
Dip
PROVENCE, France
2.9
32
33
34
Spread
EASTERN GERMANY, Germany
n/a
35

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 35 European Dips” list until March 21, 2025, 4,011 ratings were recorded, of which 2,587 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.

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European Dips