Palacsinta (Hungary)

World-Bites (60) / Palacsinta

The best-known ingredient in Hungarian food is the red-powdered spice called paprika. It is used to flavor many dishes. Other staples of Hungarian cooking include onions, cabbage, potatoes, noodles, and caraway seeds. Both cream and sour cream are used heavily in Hungarian food. Dumplings (dough wrapped around different kinds of fillings) are very popular as are cabbages or green peppers stuffed with meat and rice. Another favorite is the pancake called Palacsinta. It is often rolled or wrapped around different kinds of fillings.

INGREDIENTS

4 eggs
1/2 cup milk or light cream
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar
4 tbs. oil
Jams (such as strawberry, raspberry, apricot, peach, plum, blackberry, etc.)

INSTRUCTIONS

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Whisk in the salt, granulated sugar, vanilla. Add flour slowly constantly whisking until mixture has a thickness that can be described as coating the spoon. Add more flour if necessary until you have this thickness. Set aside for 30 minutes.

Put the oil in a soup bowl and use the back of a large soupspoon to apply when cooking.

Take a nonstick 10-inch skillet and add 1½ tsp. of oil to the skillet, coat base of skillet while heating until very hot. When the oil shimmers pour or ladle in about 1/8 cup (2-3 tbs.) of batter. Remember to use as little batter as possible to coat the skillet. Palacsintas are supposed to be very thin. Using your arm in a circular motion to swirl the pan so the batter coats the bottom of the pan. This is a trick that you will get use to doing. If the batter leaves holes in the batter, just ladle a little batter to cover the holes. Replace the pan on the burner and cook just until set and bubbles begin to form and the underside is lightly browned. [At this stage don't forget to apply a little oil using the back of your pre-oiled soupspoon.]

Using a knife or spatula, flip and cook until the other side is lightly browned. Transfer to the warmed platter. Repeat until the batter is used up. Remove the palacsinta's (crepes) from the oven. One by one, spread each crepe with a thin layer of jam and roll up like a cigar.

Place 2 rolled crepes on each of 4 serving plates. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and serve.