I was also lucky enough to have Eva, Emily’s girlfriend, cook me supper while I was staying with them. She also made me a Hungarian recipe: Turos Teszta, or as Eva translates it, Cheesy Noodles.
(In case you are wondering, Eva is Hungarian … these dishes didn’t just fall randomly from the sky.)
Turos Teszta is one of the easiest suppers to make ever, and also one of the most delicious. Also one of the most fattening. There, I said it.
It’s basically an excuse for a meal that’s sort of a combination of breakfast and supper and is prime comfort food: a blend of noodles, bacon and cheese.
You could dress up this dish in lots of ways, and as I ate it my mind started wandering to fresh herbs and sun-dried tomatoes and green onions. But really, it’s perfect in all its bare simplicity too.
You start by cutting up a whole bunch of bacon into small pieces. I’m not sure how much exactly. I’d guess about a half a package. Or maybe a whole package, what the hell.
Fry the bacon in a big frying pan. While it’s frying, put a pot of water on to boil for the noodles. Then cut up your cheese. What’s used here is pressed cottage cheese, also called Turo. It tastes like cottage cheese – very mild – but has a consistency more like feta. I think feta could also work, but it would make it much saltier.
Add the noodles to the water once it’s boiled. The noodles we used were thin, flat egg noodles. I don’t know if they’re particularly Hungarian or not, but I really think any kind of egg noodle or Italian-type noodle would do here. A chunky shape like rottini or shells might work well.
Fry the bacon until it’s dark and crisp. Drain the noodles and put them in a big bowl. Add the bacon and the cheese and mix well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Dig in!
8 comments:
Sounds amazing! And also very similar to pasta carbonara, which calls for egg yolk and cream, on top of noodles, cheese, and bacon. I guess the Hungarian version is a much more health conscious choice!
Bacon is the meat I crave the most - and eat when I'm away from home, sometimes. This sounds like a wonderful dish. For me a salty cheese would make it inedible; this combo sounds perfect.
I just would like to add that traditionally we would also top every plate full of turos teszta with a table spoon of sour cream. Some people in Hungary does others doesn’t but I think it makes the dish even better.
That sounds delicious Noresz! I'll have to tell Eva.
My parents came from Hungary so I grew up on this dish. As an adult I tried making healthier versions of this adding veggies etc., and all I could say is that is just wrong! The dollop og sour cream however is divine. My son and now granddaughter swear by this dish!
My parents came from Hungary so I grew up on this dish. As an adult I tried making healthier versions of this adding veggies etc., and all I could say is that is just wrong! The dollop of sour cream however is divine. My son and now granddaughter swear by this dish!
Definitely! And my mom used Farmers Cheese....for the"turo"
Mine too. Farmers cheese. And we liked to add spoonful of cold sour cream after it was plated. Yum!
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