Top 10 culinary specialities in Luxembourg

Yum-yum! You can already hear your stomach crying out, wondering what to put in its mouth during your stay.

You may be wondering what Luxembourg cuisine has to offer: the dishes are fairly simple, but hearty, most of them coming from the region’s strong farming tradition. However, there is also a certain cultural mix of countries, of which Luxembourg is a neighbour. As a result, it’s not uncommon to eat a meal where the taste reminds us of European, Belgian or even German flavours. Partly made up of quality drinks and tender meats, here are the essential dishes to keep in the back of your mind if you’re passing through Luxembourg. Ready to whet your appetite?

What to eat in Luxembourg

1. Bouneschlupp

This home-made soup may be difficult to pronounce, but it’s no less delicious for being so easy to enjoy. Meaning “bean soup”, “Bouneschlupp” is a warm, comforting dish best eaten in winter when the climate is harsh. It invigorates the body and fills you up with vitamins. What does it consist of? The famous beans, of course, plus potatoes, bacon, carrots, leeks and onions. Cooked in a large pot, this soup with a few slices of bread will delight your stomach.

2. Kuddelfleck

Kuddelfleck”, or “double fat” if you want to call it Luxembourg-style, is considered by many to be the Grand Duchy’s national dish. Behind its crispiness lies beef that has been cooked and fried in oil or fat to delight your taste buds. The base used? Either the tripe or the organs that make up the beef stomach are used to prepare this dish. Luxembourgers like to sprinkle it with tomato sauce before eating, which brings out the tender flavour of the meat.

3. Traïpen

What do you get when you combine minced pork with lungs, giblets, tongue and kidneys? The legendary Luxembourg sausage known as boudin noir! Seasoned with salt, pepper and other traditional herbs, cooks like to add what’s known as ‘Bounekräiichen’, a variety typical of the region that adds a special flavour that we really don’t know how to describe. What we do know, however, is that traïpen is a big hit with Luxembourg restaurateurs.

4. Fierkelsjelli

There’s no doubt about it! Only in Luxembourg can you eat a dish like this. The “Fierkelsjelli” has a special feature of its own: it serves frozen piglet (yes, you read that right). With an egg and a few slices of tomato, this meal comes straight out of Luxembourg’s farming culture. It remains popular with the city’s inhabitants, who like to eat it with fresh bread and a good glass of wine – Luxembourg’s secret.

5. Fritür vun der Musel

Meat isn’t the only thing eaten in Luxembourg. Fish is also regularly celebrated, much to the delight of pesco-vegetarians. These small fish, generally caught in the Moselle, are fried in boiling oil and are therefore particularly crispy. With a fresh, crunchy salad on the side, this is a dish that can also be eaten as a starter. Just be careful with the bones!

6. Riesling pâté

This is a must-try, a great classic of Luxembourg cuisine. Depending on your preferences, you can try it with veal (for some the best version), salmon or beef. With a golden crust and a rather tempting smell, it’s the kind of starter we like to serve on special occasions and feast days.

7. The Questschentaart

Savoury is nice to eat at mealtimes, but what about sugar for desserts? If there’s one sweet dish that, when whispered into the ears of Luxembourgers, sends shivers down their spines, it’s the “Questschentaart” tart. It’s made from plums called quetsches, which have a slightly tart taste and can only be picked in August. At first glance, this dessert deserves a place in a museum, so much so that it resembles a work of art, with its pieces of plum finely placed one after the other.

8. The Beer

We know you’ve been looking forward to this one. Luxembourg, like Germany, is known as one of the countries with the best varieties of beer in the world. But which one should you try first? We recommend the “Bofferding” and “Battin” brands. The smooth golden nectar that will run down your throat with the usual divine white foam will make you want to stay in Luxembourg for life! Enjoy in moderation!

9. Judd mat Gaardebounen

For many, this is a gourmet and convivial dish. After a day spent sightseeing around the country, you’ll be happy to sit down at the table with your family to enjoy this pork neck smoked with bog beans. With a few chopped onions, bacon and potatoes, this dish is served piping hot. As you savour it, your taste buds will be lightly tickled by the bay leaf, cloves, savory, and finally…the fava beans.

10. Stollen

This dessert is well known throughout the world and has its roots in Germany. It was later introduced to Luxembourg and Belgium. After all, everyone loves sultanas wrapped in a cake batter made from flour, milk and eggs covered in icing sugar, don’t they? Although you can eat them at any time of year, it’s at Christmas that they come into their own. Paired with a good glass of wine, it’s a real treat!