Favourite Hungarian ingredients – sour cream

There are certain things all Hungarians know from their childhood. This could be related to foods and tastes or could be just a phrase the parents always repeated. The love most Hungarians have for sour cream usually starts in the early years, and we tend to dollop it onto everything by the time we become adults.

Sour cream is a dairy product and is produced through fermentation. It most probably originated from Russia and is a part of the gastronomy of several European countries. However, it has a uniquely crucial role in Hungarian gastronomy, as it is a favoured topping on noodle dishes, for example, but it is also a core of staple Hungarian dishes like chicken paprikash, where it is mixed with another favoured Hungarian ingredient.

Hungarian stuffed cabbage

Funzine

The Hungarian stuffed cabbage is a traditional dish in Hungarian gastronomy, consumed mostly in the winter period. It is also present in Romania. Cabbage with meat was popular as early as the 17th century. Some even call it “Hungary’s coat of arms”. Stuffed cabbage appeared slightly later and became widespread in the 18th century. Even though sour cream is not part of the core ingredients but rather a garnish, it still complements the dish perfectly, and, mixed with paprika, it definitely elevates the taste.

You can find the recipe to make at home HERE.

Sweet cottage cheese noodle pie / vargabéles

Just like cottage cheese, sour cream can appear in both sweet and salty dishes. It is one of the ingredients of the sweet cottage cheese noodle pie, which is not only tasty but also has a fascinating backstory. Once, the Shah from Iran who happened to be in Kolozsvár specifically asked to try this Hungarian speciality. Preparing it was not easy, but it turned out to be a huge success, and he enjoyed it immensely. Although it is not one of the easiest recipes to make, the end result makes up for all your hard work. Check out the recipe HERE.

Hungarian layered potatoes

Photo: cookta.hu – ZsofiaHamoriPhotography

The Hungarian layered potatoes is a dish that includes all sorts of yummy ingredients, but that can absolutely be altered to fit your own tastes and needs. The main ingredients are potatoes, sausages, eggs and, of course, sour cream. Even though serving this dish in an aesthetically pleasing way is not easy, the preparation does not require many skills, so it is the perfect recipe if you are a beginner or if you want to have something simple but tasty.

You can find the recipe HERE.

Hortobágy-style pancake

Photo: cookta.hu/ZsofiaHamoriPhotography

This dish might surprise you at first. Even though it is a type of pancake, it is not sweet like you might expect it but is filled with meat. Another trick is that, unlike what the name suggests, it actually has nothing to do with the Hortobágy. It was created for the 1958 world exhibition, and naming it after this part of the Great Plain seemed like a good marketing strategy. Whether it was the name, the incredible taste or the combination of the two, it definitely worked – it is one of the most well-known and liked Hungarian dishes.

If you are up for the challenge, try making it at home.

Lángos

Photo: www.facebook.com/langospapa

Even though sour cream is not an essential ingredient when making lángos, one of the most well-known Hungarian dishes, for some, it is absolutely unimaginable to eat it without a good amount of garlic, sour cream and cheese. Lángos is slowly but surely conquering the world. It is gaining fans in New York, Australia and the UK, too. Although often consumed in the summer at the beach, any excuse is good enough to have it or even make it.

Find the recipe HERE.

Featured image: Wiki Commons By I, Themightyquill, CC BY 2.5

https://dailynewshungary.com/five-delicious-hungarian-meals-made-with-potatoes-recipes/

Source: Daily News Hungary