The Latin name of “non plus ultra,” means excellent, unrivalled, and unmatched – and these little cookies truly live up to it! The traditional recipe is made with two thin shortbread biscuits sandwiched together with a thin layer of fruity apricot jam encased in a…
Christmas in Hungary is the most important holiday and amongst many things means a time for bejgli! Families are busy making their own and they are stack high in the shops and markets too. By far the most popular are the walnut and poppy-seed paste…
These aromatic honey-ginger cookies are easy to make, ideal for tree decorations, make nice presents and good to eat on their own. The dough could be made days ahead and stored in the fridge until use. In Hungary shop bough spice mixes are a popular…
Kocsonya [ˈkot͡ʃoɲɒ] is an Eastern European festive dish, that truly defines the “nose to tail” eating that entails using the less fashionable cuts. “If you’re going to kill the animal it seems only polite to use the whole thing.” as the often quoted Fergus Henderson said in…
These classic little cookies from a few ingredients are forever collecting compliments. They are crumbly in texture and delicate in flavour, not complicated and keep well for a couple of days in an airtight container. One of the easy entertaining recipes to impress your guests…
There are quite a few regional differences in the ways to cook fisherman’s soup in Hungary. The three main known versions are from the region of Lake Balaton, from the southern town of Baja by the Danube or perhaps the most famous if from the…
A true winter warmer, made with soured cabbage and tender stewed meat, often seen on the Christmas table too. Usually prepared in large quantities then reheated thoroughly with a bit of water the next day(s) again. Custom says the more you reheat this dish the…
New Years Eve is fast approaching when lentils are a popular choice on the menu as it would bring wealth and money according to one of the many traditional beliefs. This is a lighter lentil based party salad with cooked carrots, speckled with cheese cubes,…
Perfect party snack or weekend nibble. These scones are incredibly soft and light even the next day thanks to the mashed potato in the dough. Could be made to use up any mashed potato leftovers (adjusting the butter content accordingly if the ready-made mash is…
A typical winter dish that could be made with pork, beef or a mixture of both. There are slight differences preparing the dish across the regions of Hungary and according to family traditions. Some stuff savoy cabbage leaves instead of white cabbage, some use dill…
A Hungarian Christmas classic. The apricot jam and walnut filling is encased in crumbly pastry layers, finished with a smooth chocolate top. My whole close and extended family expects these at Christmas since I first made them a couple of years ago. My very first attempt is…
Delicate filled Christmas cookies with a generous dusting of icing sugar. They keep very well for days or even over a week so can be made ahead of the festivities and stored in a tin for friends and visitor drop ins, they are lovely with…
Sauerkraut is naturally fermented cabbage that taste refreshingly sour and bears many health benefits especially for the digestive system. A popular dish in Hungary during the overindulging Christmas festivites and also affectionatley known as the hangover soup. Ingredients 300 g sauerkraut (shredded fermented cabbage) 2…
This lovely Hungarian dessert is made of the crescent shaped Hungarian bread-roll “kifli”, but can be substituted with plain bread rolls, brioche buns or sliced milk loaf. It is a favoured pudding at the Christmas festivities as the plentiful poppy seeds traditionally were believed to…
These scones are fluffy and light and make a pretty good party snack or weekend treat. The recipe could be extended or changed easily, could use extra sliced olives, chopped herbs, maybe finely chopped sun dried tomatoes for a Mediterranean feel. Ingredients (makes about 40…
This heavenly family dessert is living a bit of a renaissance these days in Hungary even appearing on the dessert list of some posh restaurants. Made with milk eggs sugar and vanilla, it is a chilled crème anglaise with a fluffy meringue top. Similar dishes…
