Central European Side Dishes

Czech knedlíky are traditional savory and sweet dumplings created with various ingredients. The main savory varieties include houskový, made with soaked bread, bramborové, made with mashed potatoes, syrov... READ MORE

Kopytka are small potato dumplings from Poland that are similar in taste and appearance to the Italian gnocchi. They are made with boiled and mashed potatoes with the addition of flour. The name of the dish can be translated to little... READ MORE

This hearty Hungarian vegetable ragout is made with a base of rendered lard or bacon fat, fried Hungarian wax peppers, tomatoes, onions, ground paprika, salt, and sometimes garlic. Lecsó can be eaten on its own with bread or with a side of ... READ MORE

Refreshing and easy to make, mizeria is one of the most famous Polish salads. It consists of thinly sliced cucumbers that are seasoned with salt and pepper, then mixed with creamy sour cream or yogurt. The essential part of mizeria is a handful of... READ MORE

German potato pancakes are a restaurant staple, a homemade classic, and a popular street food snack. They are prepared with a thick batter that employs grated raw potatoes, flour, and eggs, and are usually shaped into flat, round discs that are sh... READ MORE

Semmelknödel are popular German bread dumplings–nutritious and convenient, they are one of the most versatile side dishes in traditional German cuisine. Even though there are numerous semmelknödel varieties, which come in various s... READ MORE

Characterized by their round shape and a small indentation in the center, Silesian dumplings are created with cooked potatoes that are mashed or riced before they are combined with potato flour or potato starch, and usually egg yolks. As the name ... READ MORE

Pan-fried potatoes are a classic, versatile German dish that is easily adapted with additional ingredients and comes in different flavor combinations. The potatoes are traditionally diced or sliced, buttered and salted, and can be then combined wi... READ MORE

Rösti is a simple, buttery and fragrant national dish of Switzerland, a crispy crusted potato pancake with an appetizing golden color. It is a great side dish to traditional Swiss delicacies such as leberspiesschen (grilled calves' l... READ MORE

Halušky is the incredibly soft variety of potato dumplings, usually associated with Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The dough is created with grated raw potatoes and flour. They are typically cooked so the batter is spread on the wooden bo... READ MORE

Kartoffelklöße or kartoffelknödel are traditional German potato dumplings that are consumed all over the country but are especially popular in Bavaria, Thuringia, and the Rhineland area. Depending on the variation, the dumplings ma... READ MORE

Whether it is prepared with red or green sauerkraut, this creamy and flavorful delicacy is one of the most common side dishes in traditional Polish cuisine. Finely chopped sauerkraut is slowly stewed alongside various spices such as bay leaves and... READ MORE

Rotkohl is a traditional salad and side dish made from red cabbage that is finely shredded and then braised or slow-cooked with ingredients like apples, onions, vinegar, sugar, and various spices such as cloves, bay leaves, and sometimes juniper b... READ MORE

Serviettenknödel are German bread dumplings, or Semmelknödel that derive their name - napkin dumplings - from the way they are traditionally cooked: wrapped tightly and steamed inside a cloth napkin called serviette in ... READ MORE

Főzelék is a thick vegetable stew originating from Hungary. Although it can be prepared with most vegetables, it's usually made with peas, spinach, lentils, potatoes, or cabbage as the main ingredient, along with a combination of onions, bu... READ MORE

A variety of finely chopped vegetables is combined with creamy mayonnaise in order to create this popular Polish salad that is usually enjoyed during Christmastime. Even though it is incredibly versatile and easily adjusted to any taste, sałatka w... READ MORE

Krokiet is a unique Polish dish consisting of a thin crêpe filled with various ingredients. It is then neatly folded in a roll, breaded, and shortly fried until golden and crispy. The fillings are usually based on sautéed meat or vege... READ MORE

Śledzie is a Polish specialty consisting of herrings pickled in various ingredients such as vinegar, oil, sour cream, and onions. Due to the large amount of marinades and flavors, there is also a special variety of sweet herrings. Śledzie is tradi... READ MORE

A combination of grated beetroot and horseradish is an irreplaceable part of every festive meal in Poland. This popular side dish is occasionally enriched with the addition of apples, caraway seeds, wine, and various seasonings. It is recommended ... READ MORE

Pellkartoffeln refers to boiled or steamed potatoes with their skins intact. This traditional German dish can be enjoyed on its own or served as an accompaniment to a variety of different dishes. The potatoes are usually scrubbed to remove any imp... READ MORE

Different versions of apple sauces have been prepared since ancient times—a combination of pork and apples is even mentioned in Apicius, a collection of Roman cookery recipes, while different medieval varieties appear in English as ... READ MORE

Translated as lazy pierogi, these simple dumplings do not share many similarities with the traditional pierogi. They are made with fresh cottage cheese, eggs, and flour, shaped into a soft dough that is either cut into uniform shapes or c... READ MORE

Kartofle gotowane, or boiled potatoes, is a versatile Polish staple dish consisting of salted boiled potatoes, tossed with chopped dill and parsley, then served whole or cut into larger pieces. The potatoes are first boiled in salted water until t... READ MORE

Himmel und Erde is a traditional dish originating as far back as the 18th century. Literally translated, the name of the dish means Heaven and Earth, derived from the old word for potatoes – Erdapfel. The dish consists of m... READ MORE

One of the most popular meals in Belgium is a potato-based side dish known as stoemp. It consists of mashed potatoes enhanced by the addition of other vegetables such as carrots and leeks. They are boiled or fried, mixed, and then puréed wi... READ MORE

These rustic, crispy potato pancakes belong to the traditional Slovak cuisine. They consist of a thick batter made with grated potatoes, eggs, flour, and a variety of spices. Pan-fried for a short period of time until golden-brown in color, these ... READ MORE

Spinatknödel is a spinach dumpling from Tyrol that is usually served as a side dish. It provides an inventive way of using up leftover stale bread, which is combined with a combination of spinach, eggs, butter, garlic, onions, and cheese, pre... READ MORE

Cremespinat, also known as creamed spinach, is a classic side dish popular in German-speaking countries. It consists of spinach that is cooked and blended with a creamy sauce made from ingredients like butter, milk, flour, onions, and garlic. The ... READ MORE

Even though the star of Polish sałatka ziemniaczana are cooked potatoes, this traditional salad is incredibly versatile and can incorporate various fresh or pickled vegetables, boiled eggs, and smoked meat. All of the ingredients are usually blend... READ MORE

A quintessential specialty hailing from Thuringia, Thüringer klöße is a simple potato dumpling that consists of a mixture of grated raw potatoes and mashed cooked potatoes filled with crunchy cubes of bread. The dumplings are typic... READ MORE

Sataraš is a vegetable stew made with a combination of tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, and parsley. The ingredients are first fried, then seasoned with salt and pepper and gently stewed. It is recommended to use a wide pan while preparin... READ MORE

Andijviestamppot is a traditional, old-fashioned Dutch side dish consisting of mashed potatoes combined with mashed, raw endive and flavorful bits of bacon. The dish is additionally flavored with onions, vinegar, salt, and pepper, while milk is so... READ MORE

Krpice sa zeljem is an old Croatian dish that is traditionally prepared in the northern parts of the country. It is prepared by combining cabbage, onions, and seasonings (especially black pepper) with a type of pasta known as krpice orREAD MORE

Huzarensalade is a Dutch take on the Olivier salad. What belongs in this salad and what doesn't is a controversial issue, but it's usually prepared with a combination of potatoes, tart apples, gherkins, gherkin juice, carrots, shallots, ham or coo... READ MORE

Stoofpeertjes is a traditional dessert originating from the Netherlands. It consists of stewed pears. The list of ingredients usually calls for stewing pears (often the Gieser Wildeman, Brederode, or St. Remy variety), cinnamon, sugar, red wine, l... READ MORE

As the name suggests, this German specialty hails from Leipzig, and it is typically based on a mix of vegetables. The dish usually consists of a combination of young vegetables, crayfish tails, morel mushrooms, and bread dumplings which are doused... READ MORE

Traditionally associated with Christmastime, this Czech casserole consists of precooked barley and a combination of various dried forest mushrooms. Typically seasoned with caraway and marjoram, houbový kuba is baked until crispy and served ... READ MORE

Dödölle is a traditional peasant dish originating from Hungary. These filling and inexpensive potato dumplings are made with a combination of floury potatoes, flour, lard or vegetable oil, onions, and salt. The potatoes are boiled, mashe... READ MORE

Berner rösti is a traditional variety of rösti originating from Bern. This type of rösti differs from the standard rösti due to the addition of diced bacon, and the potatoes are coarsely grated. It's made with a combination of ... READ MORE

Boerenkool stamppot is a traditional wintertime dish consisting of mashed potatoes and kale. It is usually enriched by the addition of bacon, onions, and freshly ground black pepper. The dish is typically served piping hot, with rookworst sausages... READ MORE

Deeply rooted in the canton of Vaud as one of its signature dishes, papet Vaudois is a delicious hotpot of leeks and potatoes which are cooked together for hours until they reach the consistency of a papette, meaning mash. This h... READ MORE

Blitva na lešo is one of the most popular Dalmatian side dishes. It is extremely simple to prepare – blanched swiss chard is combined with boiled potato cubes, salt, and olive oil. Finely chopped garlic is also commonly added to blitv... READ MORE