From the warm waters of the Mediterranean to the frigid Finnish frontier, spanning Spanish plains in the west to Russian steppes in the east, Europe encompasses a dizzying diversity of geography, history, culture and cuisines.
European culinary history, as with many things European, got its start in Greece. The Greeks in turn strongly influenced the Romans, whose cooking was a version of what we call today the Mediterranean diet — olive oil, whole grains, olives, wine, cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables.
In Northern Europe, on the other hand, a settled culture came somewhat later. There the diet centered mainly around cattle and sheep, milk, butter, cabbages and root vegetables. The culinary distinctions between northern and southern Europe remain to this day.
Cuisines and Recipes of Europe
Discover the extraordinary recipes and culinary traditions of the European continent.
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Czechia: Recipes and Cuisine
As Central European as it gets, Czech cooking centers largely around roast meats, dumplings, sausages, potatoes, cabbage, cheese and a variety of pastries, tortes and cakes.
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England: Recipes and Cuisine
The butt of endless jokes over the centuries, British cooking has enjoyed a renaissance in the last decade or so, with many world-class chefs reclaiming traditional dishes and leading a return to an artisan-based food culture.
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France: Recipes and Cuisine
As the creators of what is widely acknowledged to be one of the world’s great cuisines, the French were the first to codify their repetoire of dishes into standard recipes.
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Germany: Recipes and Cuisine
When thinking of German food, many think of heavy dumplings, boiled meats and unpronounceable dishes. But German cooking is incredibly varied, flavorful and quite often light on its feet.
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Greece: Recipes and Cuisine
Iconically Mediterranean, the cooking of Greece is centered around hearty breads and whole grains, green vegetables, fresh fruits, olive oil, wine and fresh fish and seafood.
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Hungary: Recipes and Cuisine
The Hungarians, purportedly descendants of the clan of the Attila the Hun, have a fittingly hearty and solid cuisine. Meats, dumplings, noodles and stews are central to meals.
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Ireland: Recipes and Cuisine
The proud and poetic nation of Ireland has recently turned a new culinary corner.and a reawakening of interest in historical Irish cuisine and a desire to carry Celtic cooking into the future.
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Italy: Recipes and Cuisine
Italian cuisine is all about the freshest, most flavorful ingredients prepared simply yet exquisitely. The food of Italy places a big emphasis on regional specialties and artisanally produced products.
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Poland: Recipes and Cuisine
Both Central European and Slavic in character, Polish cooking centers around braised and roasted meats, homemade noodles and a wide variety of cabbage dishes.
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Russia: Recipes and Cuisine
Russian cuisine is vast and varied, a reflection of the fact that its territory spans thousands of miles and numerous cultures.
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Spain: Recipes and Cuisine
The cuisine of Spain is less well known than that of other Mediterranean countries, but Spanish cooking has the Mediterranean emphasis on local ingredients, regional traditions and artisanal products
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Sweden: Recipes and Cuisine
Swede’s enjoy a simple, elegant cuisine based on meats, fish and seafood, potatoes, cabbage, root vegetables and a variety of fresh berries.
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Turkey: Recipes and Cuisine
Turkey lies at an ancient crossroads of many cultures and empires — Persian, Greek, Roman, Arab, British. All these influences come together in Turkish cuisine, which is both Mediterranean and Central Asian in nature.