Hungarian Recipes

Hungarian food is built around paprika, which reached the country in the 16th century and became its signature spice. It goes into nearly every stew, usually after onions have melted slowly in lard or oil. Pork, beef, poultry and freshwater fish from the Danube and Lake Balaton are the main proteins, and sour cream finishes many dishes. Soups and thick vegetable stews called főzelék are everyday fare, and Sunday lunch often begins with a bowl of soup. Dumplings (nokedli), noodles and potatoes fill out the plate. The cuisine shows Turkish, Austrian, Slavic and Jewish influences, plus the cattle-herding traditions of the Great Plain. Sweet dishes include palacsinta, strudels filled with poppy seed, walnut, curd cheese or sour cherry, and layered cakes such as dobos torta. Pickles, preserved peppers and cured sausages fill the winter pantry, and Christmas brings fish soup and sweet poppy seed rolls.

Staple ingredients

• paprika
• onions
• lard and sunflower oil
• sour cream
• pork and beef
• freshwater fish
• poppy seeds and walnuts
• curd cheese (túró)

• Soups 4
• Salads 1
• Main Dishes 7
• Side Dishes 1
• Breads 1
• Desserts 7
• Snacks 1

Soups

• Gulyásleves (Hungarian Goulash Soup)HU2 h 55 minEasy
• Bableves (Hungarian Bean Soup with Smoked Pork)HU2 h 10 minEasy
• Halászlé (Hungarian Fisherman's Soup)HU1 h 20 minMedium
• Meggyleves (Hungarian Cold Sour Cherry Soup)HU40 minEasy

Salads

• Uborkasaláta (Hungarian Cucumber Salad)HU15 minEasy

Main Dishes

• Csirkepaprikás (Hungarian Chicken Paprikash)HU1 h 15 minEasy
• Pörkölt (Hungarian Paprika Meat Stew)HU2 h 50 minEasy
• Töltött Káposzta (Hungarian Stuffed Cabbage)HU3 h 5 minMedium
• Lecsó (Hungarian Pepper and Tomato Stew)HU1 hEasy
• Rakott Krumpli (Hungarian Layered Potato Casserole)HU1 h 30 minEasy
• Rántott Hús (Hungarian Breaded Pork Cutlets)HU45 minEasy
• Túrós Csusza (Hungarian Noodles with Cottage Cheese and Bacon)HU30 minEasy

Side Dishes

• Nokedli (Hungarian Egg Dumplings)HU30 minEasy

Breads

• Pogácsa (Hungarian Savory Cheese Scones)HU1 hMedium

Desserts

• Almás Rétes (Hungarian Apple Strudel)HU1 h 40 minChallenging
• Dobos Torta (Hungarian Caramel Sponge Cake)HU2 h 30 minChallenging
• Kürtőskalács (Hungarian Chimney Cake)HU1 h 15 minChallenging
• Palacsinta (Hungarian Crêpes)HU35 minEasy
• Beigli (Hungarian Poppy Seed and Walnut Roll)HU1 h 45 minMedium
• Somlói Galuska (Hungarian Sponge Trifle with Chocolate Sauce)HU1 h 40 minMedium
• Túrógombóc (Hungarian Sweet Curd Cheese Dumplings)HU50 minMedium

Snacks

• Lángos (Hungarian Fried Flatbread)HU50 minMedium