5 Must-Try Hungarian Dishes
If you're looking to expand your palate, you can do no worse than sampling some of the dishes from this Central European nation. Whether you decide to go to restaurants that serve Hungarian food, a Hungarian bakery, or you simply have decided to try your own hand at preparing one of these dishes, you will not be disappointed. Throughout the course of this brief article, you will learn about just a few must try Hungarian dishes.
Lángos
Although American palates are probably used to tasting basic fried dough, this particular dish is generally topped with cheese and sour cream instead of sweet icing or fruit fillings. Occasionally, you will find this common Hungarian street food served with a variety of other toppings, including ketchup or garlic sauce. This dish is a savory treat that is as filling as it is delicious. This dish is generally overloaded with toppings, so prepare yourself for a rich, complex set of flavors.
Nokedli
This dish is often served as a side, much like rice would be served as a side in many other nationalities' dishes. In fact, these noodles are about the size of grains of rice, but are as dense and filling as dumplings. Nokedli is usually not seasoned and is used to absorb and compliment the flavor of the dish that is served with. It also serves to add a bit of depth and heartiness to stews.
Gulyás
You will often find this dish romanized as "goulash." This is an incredibly popular dish, and is probably even known to a good deal of Americans. This is a hearty stew that is chock full of potatoes, beef, and veggies and is seasoned with a variety of spices, including paprika, a spice that is native to Hungary. This dish is incredibly savory, filling, and warm. It is often considered a Hungarian comfort food.
Palacsinta
Essentially, palacsinta are a Hungarian take on crepes. While a crepe is usually favored a dessert dish, the Hungarian take on the dish is a bit heartier, and is often served as a savory entree. There are numerous types of Palacsinta that are available for you to sample. Among the more popular types, you will find gundel, which is a sweet dessert that is filled with raisins, walnuts, and rum and drizzled with a dark chocolate sauce. Hortobágyi is another popular take on the palacsinta; it is a much heavier dish that is filled with fried onion and ground meat, drizzled with sour cream and topped with paprika and other spices.
Lecsó
Although most popular Hungarian dishes are not the healthiest fare, this dish most definitely is. This is a stew that is filled with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and sometimes includes a bit of sausage and egg. It is seasoned, as so many Hungarian dishes are, with paprika. This medley dish often gives off a strong aroma and is generally a deep red color. This dish's presentation and preparation is quite simple, but don't let that fool you. Its taste is complex and rich.
It is highly recommended that you try one or more of these delicious Hungarian dishes next time you pop into a Hungarian restaurant or bakery.