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:
- 2 eggs
- 380 g flour
- 2 dl sparkling water
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 l milk
- the zest of one lemon
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.
- Combine all ingredients, except for sparkling water.
- Pour in sparkling water, do not let it go still.
- Preheat pancake pan, and heat some oil on it. Take the smallest ladle you have, and pour batter into the pan.
- Move the pan quickly in circles so the batter covers it evely in a thin layer.
- 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!