HUNGARIAN CUISINEHUNGARIAN PAPRIKA AND DISHES

The most characteristic element of Hungarian dishes, paprika was used as a medicinal and ornamental plant until the 18th century. Its name spread from Hungarian language to a number of other European languages, indicating that this immigrant plant from America received a special importance in Hungary.

The famed ground paprika of Kalocsa and Szeged (they are towns in the South of Hungary) is perhaps the most important element of Hungarian dishes and it became an indispensable ingredient of meat stews, gulys, fish soup and other paprika-based dishes. It might look red hot, but good paprika doesnt taste violently hot. Its a unique spice and not hotter than commonly used black pepper.

We would like to talk about some of our national dishes which are complemented with ground, red paprika. Cooking traditionally, the use of pig fat and frying onions in fat is still the basis of a number of Hungarian dishes. Many of them are enriched with a diary product little known and used in Europe: sour cream. Originally, this cream was skimmed from the top of sour milk while sweet cream is from the top of fresh milk.

Gulys: Its a rich soup-like dish. Outside Hungary most dishes which are prepared with paprika are called gulys, but in Hungary its entirely different. Prepared with paprika and onion containing cubed meat and potatoes with small bits of dough.

Prklt: Its more like a meat stew made from red meat. Beside pork or beef cubes, a lot of chopped onion is used which makes the gravy thicker. Its usually garnished with Hungarian noodles galuska or tarhonya.

Papriks: In this dish white meat (mainly chicken or hare) is used instead of red one and less onion and paprika flavour it. Its quite often eaten with sour cream which smooths the gravy. On menu lists in Hungarian restaurants you should look for the English translation of Paprika chicken with noodles as its also eaten with a kind of fresh noodle. For a side dish its a good idea to order some cold cucumber salad which can go well with the food.

Halszl: Hungarian Fish Soup or Hungarian Fishermens Soup. Its made with fish caught from one of the rivers in Hungary; Tisza, Duna or Lake Balaton. Fish soup usually takes one of the courses on the Christmas menu. Its typically but not only eaten on Christmas Eve.

Actually, there are two kinds of peppers grown in Hungary. One for spice weve just talked about and the other one for eating fresh. These fresh, green or yellow vegetables have a very refreshing taste and they are consumed either raw or in salads. Beside tomato its the other basic ingredient of lecs which is similar to French Ratatouille. In contrast to the French version Hungarian lecs has slices of Hungarian sausages instead of zucchini and aubergine. Eaten with fresh bread is very refreshing in summer.

If the weather is fine, all these dishes can be made in couldron (bogrcs) hung over an open-air fire and cooked until theyre ready to eat.

Shepherds and herders, who spent most of the year away from their homes always kept dried meat with them, which allowed them to prepare a delicious stew. One of the most important celebrations of rural farms was the killing of pigs. The meat of these fattened animals was preserved and portioned carefully, which led to the development of modern sausages. The most famous brands of traditional Hungarian sausages are Csabai and Gyulai. There are types of smoked and flamed, thick and thin, slightly hot or hot sausages. HUNGARIAN SAUSAGES AND SALAMI

Pick salami is also an internationally renowned product and a protected Hungarian brand. Its reputation is partially enhanced by the mystery of producing the salami: its recipe is still a closely-guarded secret.

TOKAJ WINE REGION AND HUNGARIAN WINE OF TOKAJ

And here now we would like to talk about one of our products we are proud of; and its the wine of Tokaj. It grows on the sides of about 400 inactive volcanoes. The regions microclimate is due to the vapours of the river curling along the feet of the mountains whilst the autumn fog is favourable for the spread of botritys fungi which is responsible for the noble rot of asz grapes. Although there are only 5.500 hectares left of the former 14.000 hectares of vineyard, the asz wine of Tokaj still achive internal acclaim.

The production of the asz of Tokaj requires a lot of delicate, yet hard work. Late harvest, proper selection and traditional production are also crucial factors. This fine substance was already highly regarded in the middle ages. Later, Louis XIV of France was so delighted that he called it Vinum regnum, rex vinorum- which means Wine of Kings, King of Wines. Pope Gregory XIII called it talia vina (wine fit for the pope) But it also served as an inspiration for numerous artists such as Voltaire, Schumann, Anatole France and Heinrich Bll. The name of Tokaji asz is a protected Hungarian brand now.

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