Skip to content

Túrós csusza

Hungarian pasta with curd cheese and sour cream

Túrós csusza is a simple dish of wide pasta squares tossed with crumbly túró curd cheese and sour cream, loved across Hungary and especially in the Danube villages, where it is served as a filling main after a bowl of fish soup. At home it is a Friday or end-of-the-month supper made from what is in the fridge. Traditionally it is topped with crisp pork crackling; here, fried onions and a little smoked paprika give the same crunch and savouriness. The flavour is mild, tangy and comforting. Chef's tip: toss the cheese into the pasta while it is still steaming so the túró warms through, but serve the sour cream cold on top for contrast.
Total time
30 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
One step at a time, big text, timers, read-aloud. Your screen stays on.

Ingredients

Serves4

Method

0/5 done
  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp sunflower oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Fry 1 onion for 12–15 minutes, stirring often, until deep golden and crisp at the edges. Stir in ½ tsp smoked paprika off the heat and keep warm.

    15 min
  2. Step 2: Meanwhile bring a large pot of water to the boil with 1 tbsp salt. Cook 14 oz wide flat egg pasta squares (csusza) or broken lasagne sheets until just tender, about 1 minute less than the packet says.

    10 min
  3. Step 3: Drain the pasta, return it to the hot pot and toss with 1 ⅜ oz butter until glossy.

  4. Step 4: Crumble in 14 oz túró, quark or farmer's cheese with ½ tsp salt and fold gently for 1 minute until the cheese is warm and clings to the pasta. Common mistake: stirring hard over the heat; the curd turns rubbery and stringy instead of soft and crumbly.

    1 min
  5. Step 5: Divide between warm plates, spoon over 1 cup sour cream (20%), top with the crisp onions and 1 tbsp dill and serve straight away.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
610 kcal
Protein
30 g
Carbs
80 g
Fat
19 g
Fibre
3 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does túrós csusza take?
About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 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 butter?
The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
What can I use instead of onion?
2 shallots per onion.

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to cook it.

Rate this recipe

Sign in to rate and review this recipe.

Boiled pasta

The basic method for any dried pasta, from penne to spaghetti. A large pan of salted boiling water keeps the pasta from sticking, and you cook it only until just done, with a little bite left. Use it in salads, bakes or with any sauce.

by KrazyBadal 2 views

Pasta and eggplant

Rigatoni tossed in a thick tomato sauce with soft aubergine, celery and garlic, with an optional splash of brandy for depth, and topped with grated cheddar.

by KrazyBadal 1 views

Traditional macaroni cheese

The classic comfort dish: elbow macaroni in a smooth, rich cheddar sauce, topped with more cheese and grilled until golden and bubbling. Serve it with a green salad.

by KrazyBadal 0 views