Hungarian Haluski Recipes

CABBAGE AND NOODLES - HUNGARIAN HALUSKI

Steps:

• Heat water in a large pot and cook the pasta according to directions. See recipe note #1 regarding different pasta choices. The pasta should cook while you prepare the other ingredients in next step. But watch the timing on the pasta if using gluten-free noodles as they'll be done before you're ready to add them into the cabbage mixture. NOTE: Save about one cup of your pasta water when you drain the noodles!
• In a large skillet, heat one tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat. Add sliced mushrooms and saute' until golden, about 5 minutes. If needed, add ½ tablespoon butter to help with browning. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft, about 3 minutes. Add chopped garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds.
• Start with half of the cabbage and stir into the mushroom, onion mixture. Add one tablespoon of the butter and cook until the cabbage begins to brown. See recipe note #2 if wanting to add less oil. Add remaining cabbage and additional tablespoon butter. Add the granulated garlic and onion at this time and continue to cook, stirring until the cabbage has softened and browned around the edges.
• Once the noodles are al dente and drained (remember to save some of that pasta water), add the noodles a little at a time until you are happy with the ratio of noodles to cabbage. Add 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper, less if desired, taste and add more if needed. Add the peas and stir to combine. If you want the dish to be a little "creamy", add some of the pasta water, about ¼ cup at a time until desired wetness is achieved.
• At this point, the recipe is delicious and may be served right out of the skillet. The cabbage and noodles are tasty for sure but to infuse even more flavor, place the mixture into a buttered large casserole dish or roasting pan, add up to ½ cup of the pasta water, cover with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 300F degree oven for 10 minutes, remove the foil and continue to bake 15 minutes more. Baking in the oven helps to tenderize the noodles and cabbage a little more and infuses the onion and garlic flavors into the noodles. I highly recommend the baking step.
• Just before serving, whether you serve from the skillet or after baking in the oven, drizzle extra olive oil over the dish and sprinkle with the parsley just before serving. See recipe note # 4 regarding leftovers.

HALUSHKI WITH PAP'S DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Combine the flour, eggs, milk and some salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Mix by hand until incorporated, making sure not to overmix. Place in the refrigerator, covered, and let rest for 1 hour.
• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cut penny-size dumplings into the water by hand and let boil for 5 minutes. Drain the dumplings and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large pan. Add the onions and cook until translucent. Add the cabbage and paprika and cook until tender. Toss with the dumplings and smoked ham and serve.

TRADITIONAL SLOVAK HALUSKI

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on paper towels. When bacon is cool, crumble and set aside.
• Place potatoes into a food processor and process until pureed, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and stir in flour, eggs, baking powder, and salt to make a sticky dough. Set dough aside.
• Fill a large pot about half full of lightly salted water and bring to a boil. Ladle large spoonfuls of the sticky dough to a small cutting board and use a knife to chop the dough into tablespoon-size pieces; as you cut off a piece, drop it into the boiling water. Let the dumplings boil over medium heat until they float, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove dumplings with a slotted spoon to a large serving bowl.
• Sprinkle bacon crumbles and a handful of shredded brick cheese over each batch of dumplings; continue to make, boil, and transfer dumplings to the bowl, sprinkling each batch with bacon and brick cheese. When all dumplings are made, gently stir the haluski to mix all ingredients.

HALUSKI (PAN-FRIED CABBAGE AND NOODLES)

Steps:

• Cook egg noodles according to package directions, then drizzle with a bit of oil to prevent the noodles from sticking together and set aside.
• While noodles are cooking, melt butter in large deep skillet over medium-low heat.
• Add onion, sprinkle with brown sugar and saute, stirring occasionally for about 5 to 10 minutes, or until softened and just beginning to turn golden.
• Add cabbage to skillet, stirring well to incorporate with onion, and saute for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in caraway seeds if using, then cover, reduce heat to low, and let simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Turn heat back to medium, add cooked noodles, salt and pepper, and stir well until noodles are heated though.
• Adjust seasoning if necessary and serve hot.

HALUSKI - CABBAGE AND NOODLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in egg noodles and return to a boil. Cook noodles uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender but still slightly firm, about 5 minutes. Drain well.
• Melt 1/2 cup butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat; cook and stir onions until translucent, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Cook and stir remaining butter and cabbage into onions until cabbage is softened but not browned, 5 to 8 more minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.
• Place cooked noodles and cabbage mixture in a large roasting pan and stir gently to combine. Sprinkle with more salt and black pepper if desired.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown on top, 30 to 40 minutes.

HALUSKA, HUNGARIAN POTATO DUMPLINGS WITH COTTAGE CHEESE

Steps:

• boil, peel, and grate a large starchy potatoe.
• Combine with flour, egg, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Drop by 1/2 teaspoon into a large pot of boiling water.
• Dumplings are done when they float.
• Remove from pot and drain well.
• Empty water from pot and return dumplings to it.
• Sprinkle dumplings with dill weed then combine with cottage cheese (I prefer small curd but either works).
• Re-warm dish to eating temperature (cottage cheese will reduce temperature) and serve.
• Alternatively combine with boiled cabbage instead of cottage cheese (also very tasty).