European Recipes

European food is diverse. There is no one way you could define it to cover all of Europe, despite many of the common ingredients that are used in the various culinary traditions of the continent. Let’s break down some of the most popular European recipes by country. Below, we examine what makes each of them distinct and perfect for HelloFresh meal kits.

French Recipes - French food hasn’t only influenced many European recipes but has a global standing. French bread and wine are known in every corner of the planet, for example. One of the factors that makes French food stand out is the cooking methods used. Alongside roasting and baking, which are carried out all over Europe, French dishes tend to call for techniques such as flambéing and sautéing. The former uses set-alight alcohol, while the latter is a high-temperature frying technique with little fat. French dishes often use garlic and wine, such as coq au vin, for example.

Spanish Recipes - Spanish food is influenced by the Americas and North Africa. Rice and seafood are both common ingredients in Spanish cuisine, such as this baked prawn and paella recipe, which typically features Spanish chorizo. Spiced potatoes, known as patatas bravas, are another iconic Spanish dish. Saffron is widely used in Spanish cuisine for colour and flavour enhancements.

Many European settlers in both Northern and South Australia have taken their traditional recipes with them. Both pizza and Irish stew are classic examples of dishes that are enjoyed throughout Australia, for instance, but which have European roots. Despite some superficial similarities, there are differences between typical European dishes and those you’ll find being prepared in most Australian kitchens.

For one thing, bread tends to be sweeter in Australia than it does in Europe, where local production methods are still the norm. Cheese production is also much less diverse in both Northern Australia and South Australia. European cheeses, on the other hand, are very diverse.

Australia also has a diverse fast-food culture. Although you can find many convenience food outlets throughout Europe, too, Europeans don’t tend to embrace the culture with quite the same enthusiasm.

In parts of Australia, cattle production means that beef is the primary source of meat. Although European dairy farming still means there are large herds on the other side of the ocean, meat consumption also tends to be more varied, with lamb, pork and poultry all being consumed in greater quantities.