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Sárgaborsó-főzelék

Split pea purée

Sárgaborsó-főzelék: thick Hungarian split yellow pea purée with crispy onions and garlic

In Hungarian homes split yellow peas are winter food, and on New Year's Day many families in Budapest eat this thick purée (or lentils) for luck in the coming year. The peas collapse into a smooth, earthy mash flavoured with bay and garlic, and a crown of onions fried until dark gold gives sweetness and crunch. It is usually served beside sausage, but this version is fully vegan and makes a filling meal with fresh bread and pickled cucumbers. Chef's tip: let the onions go slowly to a deep brown in plenty of oil and pour that oil over the purée too, because it carries most of the flavour. Pale, hurried onions are the usual mistake.
Total time
65 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

For the purée

For the topping

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What you'll need

Fresh ingredients (3)

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Method

0/4 done
  1. Step 1: Put 12 ½ oz yellow split peas, 1.2 litres water and 2 bay leaves in a pan, bring to the boil and skim off the foam. Simmer, partly covered, for 40–45 minutes, stirring now and then, until the peas fall apart when pressed with a spoon. Add a splash of hot water if they catch on the base.

    45 min
  2. Step 2: Meanwhile heat 4 tbsp sunflower oil in a frying pan over a medium-low heat and cook 2 onions for 18–20 minutes, stirring often, until deep golden and crisp at the edges.

    20 min
  3. Step 3: Remove the bay leaves. Add 3 cloves garlic, 1 ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper and 1 tsp dried marjoram to the peas and mash or blend until smooth. Simmer for 5 minutes more; it should be as thick as soft mashed potato.

    5 min
  4. Step 4: Spoon into bowls and top with the onions and their oil, dusted with ½ tsp sweet paprika if you like.

    1 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
380 kcal
Protein
19 g
Carbs
52 g
Fat
11 g
Fibre
18 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does sárgaborsó-főzelék take?
About 65 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 55 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegan?
Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
What can I use instead of bay leaves?
Leave it out, or a pinch of dried thyme (it's a background flavour).
What can I use instead of garlic?
½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.

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