Tejbegríz
Tejbegríz: creamy milk semolina with cocoa or cinnamon sugar
Ask Hungarians what they ate in the nursery or at the school canteen and tejbegríz comes up again and again: semolina cooked slowly in sweet milk until it is thick, smooth and comforting, then dusted with cocoa sugar or cinnamon sugar while it is still steaming. It is a supper for small children, a quick breakfast on a cold morning and the thing grown-ups make when they feel unwell. Some families add a spoon of jam or a knob of butter on top. Where most people go wrong is tipping the semolina in all at once, which makes lumps; rain it in slowly while you whisk. Chef's tip: take it off the heat when it is still slightly looser than you want, because it keeps thickening as it cools in the bowl.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 3 ¼ cups whole milk
- 1 ⅜ oz caster sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 ⅞ oz fine semolina
- ½ oz unsalted butter
For the topping
- 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp caster sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)instead of cocoa
- 4 tsp apricot jam (optional)
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the 3 ¼ cups whole milk with the 1 ⅜ oz caster sugar, 1 pinch salt and 1 tsp vanilla extract in a heavy pan over a medium heat until it just starts to bubble at the edges.
5 minStep 2: Rain in the 2 ⅞ oz fine semolina slowly, whisking all the time, then turn the heat to low.
1 minStep 3: Cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring often with a spoon and scraping the base, until thick and creamy and the grains no longer feel gritty.
6 minStep 4: Take it off the heat and stir in the ½ oz unsalted butter.
1 minStep 5: Mix the 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (or 1 tsp ground cinnamon) with the 2 tbsp caster sugar.
1 minStep 6: Spoon into bowls and sprinkle generously with the flavoured sugar, adding a spoon of 4 tsp apricot jam if you like. Serve warm.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 260 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 37 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tejbegríz take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 13 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 vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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