Hungarian cuisine is strongly influenced by Turkish tradition, primarily based on meat dishes, flavored with pepper and paprika and other spices.
Paprika, the emblem of Magyarian gastronomy, is made from peppers related to Mexican chilies. Its level of heat is determined by the type of pepper used, and how it is prepared (milling just the pulp, seeds and pulp, and so on).
Paprika made in Hungary is typically sweet.
Paprika is rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and carotene. It has anti-fermenting, analgesic, and antirheumatic properties, stimulates blood flow, and invigorates the body.
To experience all the benefits of this spice, let’s make chicken paprika (paprikás csirke), and serve it with dumplings (galuska), just as Hungarian tradition demands.
Below are the ingredients to keep on hand:
Ingredients for 4 servings
- 1 chicken
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 onions
- 5 teaspoons Hungarian paprika (sweet)
- 1 teaspoon Spanish paprika (hot)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup sour cream (at room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon Limmi lemon juice
- parsley to taste
- salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
Preheat the oven at 180° C. Cut the chicken into 8 pieces, and season it with salt and pepper.
Melt the butter in a saucepan, place the pieces of chicken in it and brown them on both sides (about 8 minutes total). Thereafter, transfer the chicken to a serving dish, and set it aside.
Now place in the pan your sliced onions, the sweet Hungarian paprika, the hot Spanish paprika, add salt to taste, and stir thoroughly. Cook the onions for about 10 minutes, then add the chicken broth, stir, and place the previously browned chicken pieces back into the pan, and place it in the preheated oven.
Bake for about 25-30 minutes. Once the chicken is ready, transfer it to a serving dish. Using a small pan, make the sauce by mixing some of the broth from the chicken baking pan with the sour cream, Limmi lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Pour the sauce over the chicken, and garnish it with a bit of chopped parsley.
Jó étvágyat!
Thirsty for knowledge? Treat yourself to a limonádé.
Limonádé is a famous lemon juice, sugar, ice, water-based Hungarian drink, sometimes made with tonic water, or club soda. It may also be served in many other ways, with fresh crushed mint or other herbs, all tasty and worth trying. Here is one version we think you’ll enjoy, as it celebrates the union of Limmi lemon juice and paprika. 🙂
Yummy, right?
