Mountain recipes
13 May 2023
Top 10 tastiest Austrian winter sports dishes
As far as we are concerned, winter sports and good food are inseparable. A ski day is incomplete without a delicious lunch in a cosy mountain hut or on a sunny terrace. It doesn't matter if the food on the slopes isn't always healthy: you'll exercise all day and burn many calories! You can eat well in all Alpine countries. But which specialities are not to be missed? In this article, we mention 15 dishes you absolutely must order on a winter sports holiday.
1. Wiener Schnitzel mit Pommes
A skiing holiday is incomplete without an XXL schnitzel with a big pile of fries. Add a dollop of mayo and ketchup, and you have a perfect lunch! Except in France, this dish is on most menus in the Alps. In Italy, you will find this crispy piece of meat under the name Cotoletta Milanese.
2. Kaiserschmarrn
Kaiserschmarrn is a kind of pancake but in Austrian style. This deliciously sweet dish is actually a dessert, but many people order it as a main course. Sharing a portion as a snack is also a must.
3. Kaasfondue
A cheese fondue always tastes good. What can be better than a pan full of cheese and a fresh baguette in a cosy mountain hut or outside on a sunny terrace? A glass of white wine on the side, hmmmm. This dish is especially popular in France and Switzerland.
4. Croque Monsieur
Croque Monsieur is similar to a toastie but so much tastier! The combination of bread, ham, mountain cheese and béchamel sauce is simply amazing. On some menus, you might see a dish called Croque Madame. It's basically the same dish embellished with an egg sunny side up.
5. Alpenmacaroni
A typical dish from the Swiss Alps - Alpenmacaroni or Älpler Makkaroni. This is a pasta-potato dish from the oven with lots of cheese, bacon and ham. After this hearty meal, you can ski for hours.
6. Rösti
Rösti is a Swiss potato pancake that comes in all shapes and flavours. They serve it with onion, mountain cheese, bacon, vegetables, smoked salmon and other variants. It is a delicious and filling meal!
7. Curryworst mit Pommes
This delicious dish can be ordered in many German and Austrian mountain huts and tastes perfect after a long night of après-ski. It's a thick bratwurst with golden fries and a scoop of curry sauce.
8. Spaghetti Bolognese
Whether you are in Italy, Austria, France or Switzerland, this dish is almost certainly on the menu. It's pasta with a delicious ragu topped with parmesan cheese. The best spaghetti Bolognese you can try in Italy, of course!
9. Tiroler Gröstl
Tiroler Gröstl was originally a leftover meal. Nowadays, it is impossible to imagine Austrian cuisine without it! A perfect combination of fried potatoes, bacon, onion, beef, fresh herbs and a shiny fried egg. Ideal if you are pretty hungry after a morning of skiing.
10. Goulash soup
Goulash soup is a perfect meal to warm up. It's filling, spicy, tasty and hot. An excellent choice when it is cold and nippy outside or snowing hard.
11. Croûte au Fromage
Croûte au Fromage is on the menu in both Switzerland and France. This typical mountain dish consists of bread with cheese and wine. Hearty, but so delicious!
12. Käsespätzle
Cheese, cheese and more cheese. That's the best way to describe Käsespätzle. Hearty and filling, perfect for sharing and heaven for any cheese lover. Käsespätzle is a kind of pasta with onion and mountain cheese, also called Kasnocken. You can order this in almost every Austrian mountain hut.
13. Canederli (Knödels)
Canederli is the Italian version of Knödels. They're made from stale bread, bacon, parsley, milk and flour. When cooked, canederli are served in broth or melted butter with grated Grana (cheese).
14. Tartiflette
Tartiflette is a typical French dish - a hearty casserole consisting of potato, Reblochon (cheese), bacon, onion, wine and cream. Whether you can still ski after eating it remains to be seen, but at least you'll be full!
Tartiflette
15. Raclette
Raclette is a delicious cheese dish from Switzerland. The cheese is melted and eaten with bread, boiled potatoes and pickles.
About Nina Jan
I grew up in Slovenia, close to the Julian Alps. Early on, my parents put me on skis and skates, and the winter sports enthusiasm hasn't left me since. I also enjoy cross-country skiing and have been a keen snowboarder for the past 20 years.