Central & Easteuropean Cuisine

Deep-fried doughnuts filled with jam or custard, dusted with powdered sugar. Ingredients (Serves 6–8, makes about 12–14 pączki) For the dough: 500 g all-purpose flour 50 g sugar 20 g fresh yeast (or 7 g active dry yeast) 250 ml warm milk 3 egg yolks 50 g butter, melted 1 pinch of salt Zest of 1 lemon (optional) For frying and filling: Vegetable oil, for deep frying Jam, custard, or sweet cream for filling Powdered sugar, for dusting Preparation Prepare the dough: Dissolve yea

Crispy potato pancakes served with sour cream or mushroom sauce. Ingredients (Serves 4) 500 g potatoes, peeled and grated 1 small onion, grated 1 egg 2–3 tbsp all-purpose flour Salt and black pepper, to taste Vegetable oil, for frying To Serve: Sour cream or applesauce Optional: sugar for sweet version Preparation Prepare the batter: Grate potatoes and onion. Squeeze out excess liquid using a clean cloth or paper towel. In a bowl, combine potatoes, onion, egg, flour, salt, an

Stewed peppers, tomatoes, and onions, often served with bread or boiled eggs. Ingredients (Serves 4) 3–4 large bell peppers, sliced 3–4 medium tomatoes, peeled and chopped 2 onions, sliced 2–3 cloves garlic, minced (optional) 2 tbsp vegetable oil or lard 1–2 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste Optional: smoked sausage or bacon, sliced To Serve: Fresh bread or rolls Eggs (fried or poached) or boiled potatoes Preparation Cook the base: He

Fried cheese served with tartar sauce and potatoes or fries. Ingredients (Serves 2–4) 200–250 g semi-hard cheese (Edam, Gouda, or similar), cut into 1–1.5 cm thick slices 2 eggs, beaten 4–5 tbsp all-purpose flour 6–8 tbsp breadcrumbs Salt and pepper, to taste Vegetable oil, for frying To Serve: Tartar sauce or mayonnaise French fries or boiled potatoes Optional: lemon wedges and pickles Preparation Prepare the cheese: Slice cheese into even pieces about 1–1.5 cm thick. Season