Cuisine of Hungary

Hungarian or Magyar cuisine is the cuisine characteristic to the nation of Hungary and its primary ethnic group, the Magyars.

General features

Hungarians are especially passionate about their soups, desserts / pastries and stuffed pancakes ("palacsinta"), with fierce rivalries between regional variations of the same dish, (like the Hungarian hot fish soup called Fisherman's Soup or "halászlé", cooked differently on the banks of Hungary's two main rivers: the Danube and the Tisza). Other famous Hungarian dishes would be Paprikash (stew) with "nokedli" (small dumplings), Goulash, Gundel Pancake and Dobos Cake. Two remarkable elements of Hungarian cuisine that are hardly noticed by locals, but usually conjure up much enthusiasm amongst foreigners, are different forms of vegetable stews called "főzelék" as well as cold fruit soups, like cold sour cherry soup ("hideg meggyleves"). Meat stews, casseroles, steaks, roasted pork, beef, poultry, lamm or game and the Hungarian sausages (kolbász) and winter salami are a major part of Hungarian cuisine. The mixing of different varieties of meat is a traditionall feature of the Hungarian cuisine. Goulash, stuffed peppers, stuffed cabbages or "pecsenye" (Hungarian mixed grill on wooden platter) can combine both beef and pork, sometimes even mutton. In very exclusive dishes fruits like plums and apricots are cooked with meat or in piquant sauces/stuffings for game, roasts and other cuts. Various kinds of noodles and dumplings, potatoes and rice are commonly served as a side dish. The Hungarian cuisine uses a large variety of "cheeses", but the most common are "túró" (a fresh curd cheese), cream cheeses, ewe-chese ("juhturó"), Emmentaler, Edam and the Hungarian cheese Trappista.

pices

Hungarian food is often spicy, as hot "paprika" is commonly used; on account of the use of this spice (hot paprika), Hungarian cuisine is arguably the spiciest cuisine native to Europe. Besides hot paprika, sweet (mild) paprika is also used daily. The combination of paprika, lard and red onions is typical for the Hungarian cuisine, [Gundel´s Hungarian Cookbook, Karoly Gundel. ] and the use of the thick sour cream called "tejföl".Other common flavor components are onions (raw, sweated or caramelized), garlic, black peppercorn, parsley, ground black and white pepper, bay leaf, dill, caraway (seeds or grounded), marjoram, thyme, mustard (prepared), tarragon, vinegar, savory, lovage, creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum), chervil, lemon juice and peel (zest), almond, vanilla, poppy seeds and cinnamon. Additional flavor components are wine, coriander, rosemary, juniper berries, anise, basil, oregano, allspice, horseradish, cloves, sesame seeds, mace and nutmeg.

History

The Hungarian cuisine is influenced both by the history of the Magyar people and by the environment found in the Carpathian basin, populated mainly by Slavs and Avars when the Magyars came from western Asia and settled in the late 800s. The importance of livestock is apparent in the prominence of meat in Hungarian food. The nomadic lifestyle of the Magyars may be reflected in traditional dishes cooked over the fire like meat dish Goulash (or "gulyás" in Hungarian) [Gundel´s Hungarian Cookbook, Karoly Gundel. ] , as the old name "gyulyas hus" literally means "herdsman's meat". Goulash, the "pörkölt" stew and the spicy Fishermans soup called "halászlé" are traditionally cooked over the open fire in a "bogrács" (or cauldron). Later (Cumanians) and Jasz settled in Hungary, adding to the local culture. In the 15th century, King Matthias Corvinus and his Neopolitan wife Beatrice were influenced by Renaissance culture, introduced new ingredients and spices like garlic, onion and the use of fruits in stuffings or cooked with meat. [ [http://hungaria.org/hal/culinaria/index.php?halid=2 Hungarian Cuisine, History, Gastronomy, Legend, Memoires, Recipes and Lore] ] At that time and later, considerable numbers of Saxons (a German ethnic group), Armenians, Italians, Jews and Serbs settled in the Hungarian basin and in Transylvania. Elements of the ancient Turkish cuisine were adopted during the Ottoman era, in the form of sweets (for example Nougat called "törökméz", quince ("birsalma") sweets, Turkish Delight), Turkish coffee, the cake called "bejgli" or rice dishes like pilaf (in Transylvania), meat and vegetable dishes like the eggplant, used in eggplant salads and appetizers, stuffed peppers and stuffed cabbage called "töltött káposzta". The Hungarian cuisine was influenced by the Austrian cuisine under the period of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Dishes and methods of food preparation have often been borrowed from the Austrian cuisine and vice versa. Cakes and sweets in Hungary show a strong German/Austrian influence. All total, modern Hungarian cuisine is a synthesis of Ancient Asiatic components mixed with Germanic, Italian, and Slavic elements. The food of Hungary can be considered a melting pot of the continent.

Hungarian meals

In Hungary people usually have a large breakfast. Hungarian breakfast generally is an open sandwich with fresh bread or a toast, butter, cheese or different cream cheeses, "túró" cheese or or "körözött" (Liptauer cheese spread), cold cuts such as ham, "véres hurka" (similar to Black pudding), liver paté (called "májkrém" or "kenőmájas"), bacon, salami, beef tongue, mortadella, "disznósajt" (head cheese), sausages like kabanos, beerwurst or different Hungarian sausages ("kolbász"). [Gundel´s Hungarian Cookbook, Karoly Gundel, page34] Even eggs, (fried, scrambled or boiled), French toast called "bundáskenyér" and vegetables (like peppers, bell peppers, tomatoes, radish, scallion and cucumber) are part of the Hungarian breakfast. Sometimes breakfast is a cup of milk, tea or coffee with pastries like a bun, a "kifli" or a "strudel" [Gundel´s Hungarian Cookbook, Karoly Gundel. ] with jam or honey, cereal like muesli and perhaps fruit. Children can have rice pudding (tejberizs) or Cream of Wheat (tejbegriz) for breakfast topped with cocoa powder and sugar. Hot drinks are preferred for breakfast.

"Villásreggeli" (litterally breakfast with fork) is a more luxurious big breakfast given on special occasions or holidays. Often guests are invited. Deviled eggs, cold steak, cold salads, salmon-omelette, pancakes, "körözött", caviar, foie gras, fruit salads, compote, fruit yoghurts, fruit juices, champagne and pastries, cakes and cookies may be served.

Lunch is the major meal of the day, usually with several courses. Cold or hot appetizers [Gundel´s Hungarian Cookbook, Karoly Gundel] may be served sometimes (for example fish, egg or liver), then soup. Soup is followed by a main dish. A main dish can be a sweet pastry dish or dish including meat and salad, which precedes the dessert. Fruit may follow. In Hungary pankakes are served as a main dish, not for breakfast. Salad is always served with meat dishes, made of lettuce with tomatoes, cucumbers and onions [Gundel´s Hungarian Cookbook, Karoly Gundel] or a simple thin sliced cucumber salad in vinaigrette. Salads like Salade Olivier or potato sallad are made of boiled potatoes [June Meyers Authentic Hungarian Heirloon Recipes Cookbook] , vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, mushrooms, fried or boiled meat or fish, ih vinaigrette, aspic, or mayonnaise. These salads are eaten as appetizers or even as a main course.

Some people and chidren eat a light meal in the afternoon, called "uzsonna", usually an open sandwich. Dinner is a far less significant meal than lunch. It may be similar to breakfast, usually an open sandwich, yoghurt or "virsli" (hot dog sausage) with a bun, more seldom a cake, pankakes ("palacsinta"), and it consists of only one course.

Typical Hungarian dishes

oups

* "Gulyásleves" (goulash soup. It is possible to cook gulyas like a stew as well, for example "Székelygulyas").
* "Halászlé" (a famous hot and spicy fish soup with hot paprika)
* "Húsleves" (clear chicken or veal meat soup with soup vegetables and thin soup pasta called "csipetke")
* "Hideg meggyleves" (chilled sour-cherry soup)
* "Jókai bableves" (a bean soup named after the author Mór Jókai)
* "Vadgombaleves" (wild mushroom soup)
* "Borleves" (wine soup)
* "Palócleves" (named after the Palóc, an ethnic group of Northeastern Hungary)
* "Köménymagleves" ( caraway seed soup)

Main courses

* "Töltött káposzta" (stuffed cabbage)
*"Töltött paprika" (Stuffed peppers - ground meat, rice and spices are used for the filling)
* "Töltött tojás" (Deviled eggs, cold in mayonnaise or warm, baked in the owen with sour cream)
* "Főzelék" (thick vegetable stew)
* "Lecsó" (mixed vegetable stew) [cite book |first=Karoly |last=Gundel |title=Gundel's Hungarian cookbook |publisher=Corvina |location=Budapest |year=1992 |pages= |isbn=963-13-3600-X |oclc=32227400page 100]
* "Szüz tekercsek" (literally "Virgin roulade" filled with minced meat)
* "Pecsenye" (thin pork steak served with cabbage or the dish "fatányéros", a Hungarian mixed grill on wooden platter [cite book |first=Karoly |last=Gundel |title=Gundel's Hungarian cookbook |publisher=Corvina |location=Budapest |year=1992 |pages= |isbn=963-13-3600-X |oclc=32227400page 83] )
* "Székelygulyás" (Goulash stew, made with three kinds of meat)
* "Pörkölt" (meat stew - similar to ragú)
* "Chicken Paprikash" called "Csirkepaprikás" (a stew with a lot of sweet paprika, cream or sour cream called "tejföl")
* "Wiener schnitzel" (called "Bécsi szelet")
* "Stefánia szelet" or Stefania slices (Hungarian meatloaf with hard boiled eggs in the middle. Makes decorative white and yellow rings in the middle otf the slices)
* "Paprikás krumpli" (paprika-based stew with spicy sausage and potatoes)
* "Rakott Krumpli" (potato casserole, se [http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Rakott_Krumpli recipe] on Wikibooks Cookbook)
* "Túrós csusza". (dumplings called galuska baked with quark cheese called túró - served savoury with bacon or sweet)
* "Palacsinta" (stuffed pancake, usually filled with jam. Other fillings are sweet quark cheese with raisins or meat)
* "Császármorzsa" (sweet pancake crums)
* "Hortobágyi palacsinta" (pancake filled with veal stew)
* "Rántott sajt", (flat cheese croquette, cheese rolled in breadcrumbs and, deep fried)
* "Gundel palacsinta" (Gundel pancake, stuffed with walnuts and served in chocolate sauce, often flambéed)
* " [http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Silvash_Gombotz Gombotzen] " or "Szilvásgombóc" and "nudli" (sweet plum dumplings and small noodles, rolled in sweet fried brescrums or streusel)
* "Turósgombóc" (Hungarian sweet quark cheese dumpling)

ausage and cold cuts

* "Hurka" (sausage, two types: liver sausage called "májas hurka", made of pork liver, meat and rice and black sausage called "véres hurka", which is equivalent to the black pudding)
* "Téliszalámi" - (or Winter salami, salami made of spiced meat, cold smoked, and dry ripened, the most famous brand made by Pick Szeged)
* "Herz Szalámi" from Budapest
* "Csabai szalámi" and "kolbász" (spicy salami and smoked sausage, made in the town Békéscsaba)
* "Gyulai kolbász" (spicy sausage)
* "Debreceni kolbász" (Debrecener sausage)
*"Disznósajt" (head cheese, meat jelly, meat slices in aspic with additional gelatin)
* "Bacon" called "szalonna" (Hungarian bacon, fatback, back bacon rind, has more fat than usual breakfast bacon)
* "Virsli". (a Frankfurter-like long and thin sausage, cosumed boild with bread mustard)

weets and cakes

* "Dobos torta" (sponge cake layered with chocolate paste and glazed with caramel and nuts)
* "Linzer torta" (a tart with criscross design of pastry strips on top)
* "Rigó Jancsi" (Cube-shaped sponge cake with dark chocolate glaze)
* "Gesztenyepüré" (cooked and mashed sweet chestnuts with sugar and rum, topped with whipped cream).
* "Bejgli [June Meyers Authentic Hungarian Heirloon Recipes Cookbook] " (cake roll eaten at Christmas and Easter.)
* "Kürtőskalács" Stove cake or Chimney cake, cooked over an open fire -- a Transylvanian specialty, famous as Hungary's oldest pastry
* "Csöröge" (crispy, light Hungarian Angel Wing fry cookies [June Meyers Authentic Hungarian Heirloon Recipes Cookbook] with powdered sugar)
* "Vaníliás kifli" (vanilla croissant,small, crescent shaped biscuits)
* "Rétes" (strudel)
* "Kuglóf" (Kuglóf cake)
* "Lekváros Bukta" or "Bukta" (a baked dessert filled with jam, túró or ground walnuts)
* "Lekváros tekercs" (Rolled up soft sponge cake filled with jam)
* "Lekvár (Thick Hungarian jam)
* "Túró Rudi" (sweet quark cheese - called "túró" - filled chocolate bar)

* "Szaloncukor" (flavoured candies eaten at Christmas)

Other

* "Lángos" (fried bread dough)
* "Pogácsa" (a type of bun, round puffed pastry with bacon, traditionally cooked on the fire)
* "Fánk" or ‎Bismarck Doughnuts
* "Kifli" (crescent-shaped pastry, see picture)
* "Perec" (Pretzel, salty crispy pasty)
* "Tarhonya" (a kind of large Hungarian "couscous", big pasta grain)
* " Vinetta " or "padlizsán krém" (Transylvanian mashed eggplant salad made of grilled, peeled and finely chopped eggplants)
* "Körözött" or "Liptai túró" (cheese spread with ground sweet paprika and onions)
* "Libamájpástétom" (Hungarian delicacie: foie gras - goose liver pâté)
* "Májgaluska" (small liver dumplings used in different soups, for example liverball soup)
* "Grizgaluska" (Hungarian boiled semolina dumplings used in soup).
* "Bundás kenyér" (literally, "coated bread" or "bread with a fur", French toast or Gypsy toast, a breakfast food or eaten with spinach)
* "Bread" (Hungarian bread -"kenyér"- is baked fresh every morning in the bakeries. The bread is big, round and with a hard thick crust)
* "Vekni" (The other freshly baked bread type. Long loaves with crispy crust, thicker or thiner, like the baguette)

Drinks

Hungarian wines dates back to at least Roman times, and that history reflects the country's position between the Slavs and the Germanic peoples. The best-known wines are the white dessert wine called "Tokaj" (North-Eastern region of Hungary) (Tokaji) and the red vines from Villány (Southern part of Hungary). Famous is also the vine called Bull's Blood ("Egri Bikavér"), a dark, full-bodied red wine.

Though not as famous as the country's wines, Hungarian beer has a long history as well. Hungary's most notable liquors are "Unicum", a herbal bitters, and "Palinka", a fruit brandy.

Also notable is "Traubi" or "Traubisoda", a Hungarian soft drink produced in Balatonvilágos.

ee also

*Hungarian Festival

Recipes

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://dmoz.org/Home/Cooking/World_Cuisines/European/Hungarian/ From the Mozilla Open Directory]
* http://lingua.arts.klte.hu/hungary/konyha.htm
* [http://www.cp-pc.ca/english/hungary/eating.html Eating the Hungarian way]
* [http://foodgeeks.com/recipes/type/10,12,all,title,0,hungarian.phtml Magyar Recipes]
* [http://indorecipe.com/archives/list.php?pagenum=0&categoryid=53 Anyu Receptjei]
* [http://www.cooks.com/rec/search?q=hungarian Hungarian Foods]