Dear Travelers,

With the arrival of autumn, my thoughts naturally gravitate towards soup—particularly the rich flavors of Hungarian cuisine. One of the top ingredients being Paprika, of course. In telling the story of one of our first visits to Hungary, Ari shared:

There’s a Hungarian saying that “One who has salt and paprika has all the spices necessary.” Paprika is ubiquitous in Hungarian cookery, used to add flavor, color, and depth to all sorts of dishes. Fish dishes, meat, poultry, potatoes, mushrooms, soups, and stews. “Every restaurant in Hungary, you see it on the table,” one Hungarian related to us during that initial visit. “But,” she added, “you may not see black pepper.” To give you a sense of how important it is, the average Hungarian family consumes about a kilo of paprika a year.

The Hungarian product is very particular, and not really interchangeable with the also wonderful paprikas of Spain. Its deep aroma and complex flavor are completely different, almost meaty in its taste. Without it, it’s impossible to do authentic Hungarian cooking. To release the full flavor of the paprika, you need to add it to hot fat, (not too hot, though, or the sugars in the paprika will burn). Without the heat, the full flavor of the paprika won’t be realized. Take note that paprika is also added at the end of the cooking and at the table, not just in the recipe preparation. On an even simpler level, you can put Hungarian paprika on potatoes, rice, fried eggs, toast, or salad. Sprinkle it onto deviled eggs or omelets, or onto pasta dishes. I’ve taken to leaving a tin on my table so that I can add it at will. Per the great George Lang, Hungarian paprika is a “very special flavor.”

It is widely recognized that Zingerman’s holds a profound admiration for all things Hungarian, while also acknowledging Austria’s significant role in shaping Hungary’s culinary traditions. In light of the upcoming New Year’s Eve, we have meticulously designed an exclusive holiday celebration food tour encompassing both Vienna and Budapest. This extraordinary journey promises to exude a joyous ambiance, embracing the genuine hospitality found in the heart of central and eastern Europe.

There is still an opportunity to secure your spot for the New Year’s Eve celebration with Zingerman’s Food Tours, but we urge you not to delay any further!

Sincerely,

Kristie, Zingerman’s Food Tours

TAKE ME TO HUNGARY!