Good food and skiing go hand in hand in Austria. After all, you need enough fuel to whizz down the slopes all day. There is no shortage of good mountain huts on the slopes, and there are plenty of restaurants in the villages too. You can start your day with a typical Semmel with delicious meats, continue with a Heiße Schoko mit Apfelstrudel during coffee break, and enjoy an XXL Schnitzel at lunch. So what dishes should you not miss during your winter sports holiday in Austria? In this article, we'll present you the top 10 tastiest Austrian winter sports dishes.
1. Kaiserschmarrn
Children love it, but adults love it too! A winter sports holiday in Austria is not complete without a pan of Kaiserschmarrn. Not for nothing, the number one on this list. A delicious airy pancake, cut into pieces, with sultanas, icing sugar and often jam and/or apple sauce. Perfect for sharing as a dessert or enjoying on its own. Can't wait any longer?
2. Wiener Schnitzel mit pommes
Golden yellow, crispy and with a generous helping of fries. Sometimes affectionately called a doormat, but you won't hear us complain about the size. A perfect remedy if you've had a little too much to drink the night before or are really hungry. How many Wiener Schnitzels will you order during your winter holiday in Austria?
3. 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. Order a homemade Krautsalat on the side, and your lunch (or dinner) will be complete. This Austrian winter sports dish also tastes great at home.
4. Käsespätzle
If you love cheese, this dish will put you in seventh heaven. A long string of melted cheese will pull out of your plate with every bite. Heavy but incredibly delicious! Will you finish a pan of Käsespätzle on your own? Or will you share it with your tablemates?
5. Apfelstrudel (with vanilla sauce)
If you started your skiing day early, you might be ready for a short break with a hot chocolate and an Apfelstrudel with vanilla sauce by 11 o'clock. Refuel on a terrace of a mountain hut, so you'll be good for a few more hours of skiing until lunch - a great tip for avoiding the busy lunch rush! Can't get enough of this delicacy? Apfelstrudel is also easy to make at home.
6. Goulashsoep
In Austria, you can order the most delicious soups. Even on top of the mountain, there is often an extensive soup menu. One soup that is almost always on offer is Goulash soup. Officially this is a Hungarian dish, but it became integrated into Austrian cuisine. It is filling, spicy, tasty and hot. A perfect dish to order when it is cold and nippy outside or snowing hard.
7. Bratwurst mit Sauerkraut
Stewed sauerkraut, a typical Austrian sausage and a blob of mustard - a great winter dish! It can often be ordered with a portion of fried potatoes or fries.
8. Germknödel
A dish similar to a bapao bun but filled with a sweet plum compote and often served with vanilla sauce and poppy seed sugar. You can also order knödels in a savoury version.
9. Speckplatte
If you feel like something other than a greasy and heavy dish, order a Speckplatte or Brettljause. A board filled with delicious cold cuts, cheeses and pickles, with fresh bread on the side! Just watch out for that tuft of 'grated cheese' that often accompanies it; this is not cheese but grated horseradish. An ideal remedy for a cold, but slightly less so if you don't expect it.
10. Curryworst mit pommes
If you spent a bit too much time in après-ski or love sausages, this is a dish you shouldn't skip. A thick bratwurst topped with curry sauce, curry powder and a mountain of fries on the side. Heaven on earth!
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.