Túrós Csusza (Hungarian Noodles with Cottage Cheese and Bacon)
Local name: Túrós csusza
In short: Wide egg noodles tossed with crispy bacon, creamy túró curd cheese and sour cream, a quick Hungarian comfort dish. It takes about 30 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 30 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 700 kcal
Túrós csusza is Hungarian comfort food at its simplest: broad noodles tossed with fried bacon, crumbled túró (a fresh curd cheese) and a spoonful of sour cream. The bacon fat coats the noodles, the cheese melts into a creamy sauce and the crisp bacon adds texture. It is eaten as a main course at home and in country inns. It is ready in about 30 minutes and uses only a few ingredients. Cottage cheese or ricotta are good stand-ins for túró.
Instructions
- Cook the noodles in a large pot of well-salted boiling water until al dente, following the package time. Drain.
- While the noodles cook, fry the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes until crisp and golden. Lift out a third of the bacon and set it aside for the topping, and leave the fat in the pan.
- Add the drained noodles to the skillet and toss in the bacon fat for 1 minute over low heat.
- Crumble in the túró, add the pepper and toss until warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes. Taste and add salt if needed.
- Divide among plates and top each portion with a few spoonfuls of sour cream, the reserved crispy bacon and chives. Serve immediately.
Tips
- Túró is a dry, crumbly fresh cheese. If you only find wet cottage cheese, drain it in a sieve for 30 minutes first, or use ricotta.
- For a related sweet dish, skip the bacon and toss the noodles with melted butter, túró, sugar and a spoonful of sour cream.
Questions and answers
What is túró?
Túró is a Hungarian fresh curd cheese, similar to dry cottage cheese or farmer's cheese. It is slightly tangy and crumbly. Cottage cheese or ricotta drained of moisture can replace it.
Can I make túrós csusza without bacon?
Yes. Fry onions in butter instead, or skip the meat for a vegetarian dish. The creamy cheese and sour cream still make it satisfying.
What noodles are used for túrós csusza?
Traditionally homemade square noodles called csusza, but wide egg noodles or tagliatelle are common substitutes.
How long does it take to make Túrós Csusza (Hungarian Noodles with Cottage Cheese and Bacon)?
About 30 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Túrós Csusza (Hungarian Noodles with Cottage Cheese and Bacon)?
About 700 kcal per serving, with 30 g of protein, 62 g of carbohydrates and 36 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 700 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 30 g |
| Carbohydrates | 62 g |
| Fat | 36 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 1090 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
