Hungarian Palacsinta

Staurdays simply call for pancakes. The whole weekend is still stretching ahead of you, full os possibilities and sweet summer lazíness. In an ideal world, you've just woke up after a long night of restful sleep, and have no inclination to leave the bed just yet, so you need a recipe which is simple and does not include going to the shops.

You need palacsinta.

Everybody knows the thick American pancakes, stacked on each other, forming a tower of deliciousness.

And of course, a lot of people also know the light and airy French pancake, crepes.

The first thing, however, that you need to learn how to make in the kitchen, is the Hungarian version: palacsinta! This is somewhat similar to crepes, except for the fact that instead of being served in triangles, Hungarians usually roll it up.

You might be dazzled by the fact that the batter is very thin. Making palacsinta requires a bit of practice, but it's very easy once you've got the hang of it. And of course, you can eat all your failed attempts while you're learning the method. Just sayin'.

So here's what you'll need to make wonderfully tasty pancakes for a perfect Saturday:

This is not too difficult, right? And the greatest thing about it is that these all ingredients you usually have in your kitchen. So, in theory, you could make pancakes every day!

You'll also need something to put on your pancakes. Toppings can vary from sweet to savory, so you can think up as many combinations as you'd like. The traditional favorites are, however: sweet cottage cheese, known as túró, jam, and chocolate. These provide a good start for any beginner, and later you can experiment with spinach and mushroom, onion and bacon, or basically anything you can dream of. but first of all, let's see what you need to do with the batter.

Note: a pancake pan is basically a thin pan that makes it easier to flip pancakes. If you think you'll be a palacsinta connoisseur, you can get one in most stores, otherwise, a regular pan will do just fine.

  1. Combine all ingredients, except for sparkling water.
  2. Pour in sparkling water, do not let it go still.
  3. Preheat pancake pan, and heat some oil on it. Take the smallest ladle you have, and pour batter into the pan.
  4. Move the pan quickly in circles so the batter covers it evely in a thin layer.
  5. Once the batter is not sticking to the pan, flip it. You can either do this by tossing it in the air, or by using a spatula.

And voilá, you've got palacsinta! Roll up those bad boys with your favorite filling and enjoy!

Beginner's Food Guide

 Once you arrive in Hungary, you’ll be bombarded by strange gastronomic concoctions to try. Of course, everybody thinks that their national cuisine is the best, but Hungarians tend to overdo it sometimes 😀 There are a number of foods we have which seem to be strange at first glance, but it’s quite easy to get addicted to them. This list tries to gather the most important things that you have to try:

#1 Túró Rudi

Without a doubt, this is the Hungarian national dessert. Although the combination of túró (something along the lines of cottage cheese, but not quite) and chocolate might seem a bit daunting at first, a lot of people are completely addicted to the taste. Quite a number of Hungarian expats receive care packages from their families which consist of nothing else, but túró rudi.

#2 Kürtöskalács

The best literal translation here would be chimney cake, which stands for a sweet pastry that you can buy from vendors on the street. Some people make i tat home, but you need special equipment for it, so it’s easier to buy it than to make it. The flavors can appear in any combination, but the most popular are sugar-vanilla, cinnamon, coconut, and almond.

#3 Halászlé

Most cultures have a sort of traditional fish soup, and Hungary is no exception. Halászlé, or fisherman’s soup is prepared in a number of ways and all families have their own sacred recipe. The basic idea is that you don’t overcomplicate the whole thing, and you don’t leave out the most important spice, paprika.

#4 Túrós csusza

This is not the fanciest dish, but still a big favorite. Good comfort food should have lots of carbs, and this dish doesn’t fail in that regard. The base is pasta with túró and a bit of sour cream, and you can eat it either sweet or sour. The sweet version, with sugar, is considered by some as the kid’s edition, while the ’regular’ túrós csusza is served with crispy bacon.

#5 Töltött káposzta

Stuffed cabbage is a staple dish, especially around Christmas time. The cabbage leafs are filled with rice and ground meat and cooked in a paprika sauce. It is served really hot with bread and sour cream. Don’t expect to move for a while after you’ve tried it, it’s pretty filling.

#6 Lángos

Lángos is the typical beach food, and most people start salivating immediately when they sell it. It’s cheap, very filling, and reminds everyone of childhood summers. The base is savory dough which is fried and then topped with a combination or garlic, sour cream, and cheese.

 

#7 Rakottkrumpli

Another comfort food, rakottkrumpli is basically a casserole consisting of potatoes, eggs, sausages, and sour cream. People often add their own ingredients or leave out others, as it’s easily modified to suit your taste (and since it’s a pretty cheap meal, your budget).

#8 Dobos-torta

This cake was created by Joseph Dobos in the 19th century, and since then, have become a must-have in all pastry shops. The cake alternates layers of chocolate buttercream and sponge cake, and is topped with caramelized sugar.

#9 Lecsó

If you’ve ever had ratatouille or peperonata, you have the basic idea: this is a thick vegetable stew, which can be customized any way you want. The main ingredients that all Hungarian lecsós have though are onion, pepper, and tomato. A lot of people add eggs, sausages, barley, or rice, there is no end to the possible combinations!

#10 Pálinka

No matter what people say, it’s a meal.