{"id":318227,"date":"2018-07-26T05:00:38","date_gmt":"2018-07-26T04:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/funzine.hu\/?p=318227"},"modified":"2018-07-25T12:02:14","modified_gmt":"2018-07-25T11:02:14","slug":"catfish-stew","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/funzine.hu\/en\/2018\/07\/26\/gastro\/recipes\/catfish-stew\/","title":{"rendered":"Meal of the Month: Catfish Stew with Cottage Cheese Pasta (Restaurants + Recipe)"},"content":{"rendered":"

When it comes to popular Hungarian meals, catfish stew is one you should not miss. The following recipe is surprisingly easy, why wouldn\u2019t you try it at home? Get your taste buds ready for a taste sensation, because coming their way is a rollercoaster party of flavours!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Ingredients (for 4 people)<\/h3>\n

80 dkg of catfish fillet, 1 bigger\u00a0onion, 1 green or red paprika, 1 tomato, 2 teaspoons of Hungarian sweet paprika powder, 8-10 dkg flour, 1 cup of sour cream (15 dkg), salt and pepper to taste, a little oil<\/p>\n

Directions<\/h3>\n

Cut the paprika, the onion and the tomato into smaller pieces, wash the fish fillets (remove the skin if needed, as well as the fat), then chop them into cubes. Season them with salt and pepper. Mix the flour with a teaspoon of paprika powder and coat each pieces. (Hint: If you like spicy food, add a little hot paprika powder too.) Now heat oil in a bigger bowl and fry the fish for about 1 minute on all sides. Once you are ready, take the fish out of the bowl and use the remaining oil to fry the sliced onion (until it becomes soft and golden).<\/p>\n

Add the rest of the paprika powder, pour water into it, and put the fillet pieces together with the chopped tomato and paprika into the bowl. Cook it for about 20-25 minutes before thickening it with the mixture of flour and sour cream. Thickening with flour: use 2 tablespoons of flour, mix it thoroughly with 1\/4 cup cold water. Add the mixture to the soup base while constantly stirring, and cook it until thickened and bubbly (it takes about 5 minutes). Fun fact: the main ingredient, catfish is interspecifically variable in size; many have a maximum length of 12 cm, while just a few months ago a more than 2 metres long specimen got hooked in Baranya county.<\/p>\n

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Cottage cheese pasta: 3 slices of smoked bacon, 2 cups of sour cream (30 dkg), 1 package \u201ccsusza\u201d pasta, 1 container, cottage cheese (25 dkg)<\/p>\n

Bring a large pot of lightly-salted water to a boil. Cut the bacon (smoked fatback) into thin slices, then cook them in a skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. After 8-10 minutes when the pasta is ready (al dente), drain it and stir the sour cream into the bowl. Finally, sprinkle the crumbled bacon over the top. Voil\u00e1! Instead of pasta, go for homemade noodles (galuska)! Ingredients: 40 dkg flour, 1 egg, 3 dl water, a pinch of salt. Directions: mix the ingredients, cut pieces of the mixture to form the noodles (use a tablespoon), and boil them for about 4-5 minutes.<\/p>\n

Wine Advisor:<\/h3>\n

This traditional dish best suits to a white Hungarian variety, a barrel-aged crisp Juhfark from the wine region of Neszm\u00e9ly or Soml\u00f3. Cheers!<\/p>\n

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The City\u2019s Best Catfish Stews<\/h3>\n

Believe it or not, catfish stew is not exclusively a Deep South dish: there\u2019s a whole world of difference between the spicy, tomato and potato based staple of the southern United States course and its Hungarian kin. To start with, Hungarian catfish stew uses grounded pepper instead of tabasco (as all Hungarian stews do), and instead of the starchy vegetable, it is served with t\u00far\u00f3s csusza, aka cottage cheese pasta. The result is a quickly prepared, harmoniously flavoured, gorgeous, unbeatably filling meal. Get ready for our selection of Budapest\u2019s best catfish stew restaurants!<\/p>\n

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Husz\u00e1r Restaurant<\/h4>\n

Our journey to seek out Budapest\u2019s best catfish stews starts at the corner of II. J\u00e1nos P\u00e1l p\u00e1pa t\u00e9r, close to the imposing building of Erkel Theatre. It is here where Husz\u00e1r Restaurant<\/a> awaits guests with their traditional menu of Hungarian classics, a colourful array of local wines, and pleasant live music in the evenings. Whether you drop by for a quick lunch of J\u00f3kai style bean soup and chicken paprikash, or come here with your loved ones for a candle-lit dinner spent in the company of soothing melodies and heart-warming flavours, Husz\u00e1r Restaurant will not disappoint you. As a twist on traditions, Husz\u00e1r\u2019s catfish stew comes with dill-flavoured homemade noodles \u2013 a surprising but rather exciting combination!<\/p>\n

1081 Budapest, II. J\u00e1nos P\u00e1l p\u00e1pa t\u00e9r 22.<\/p>\n

M\u00e1kos Guba Bistro<\/h4>\n

Situated right outside the western exit of the Buda Castle Tunnel, the laid-back M\u00e1kos Guba Bistro<\/a> is a local favourite, thanks to their first-rate pizzas, retro-contemporary interior design, and their neatly assorted menu of authentic Hungarian fare and a few international superstars. Dishes include chicken burger, steak with brown sauce, duck liver medallion and mushrooms, Hortob\u00e1gyi meat pancakes, vegetarian options like grilled goat cheese and spinach crepes, and the specialty of the house: oven-baked poppy seed bread pudding. Naturally, M\u00e1kos Guba Bistro wouldn\u2019t have made it onto our list if they didn\u2019t serve amazing catfish stew: here it\u2019s made of gray catfish, and is served with cottage cheese pasta wrapped in bacon.<\/p>\n

1016 Budapest, Krisztina k\u00f6r\u00fat 65-67.<\/p>\n

Harap\u00f3 M\u00f3kus Vend\u00e9gl\u0151<\/h4>\n

The not-so-idyllic location of Harap\u00f3 M\u00f3kus Vend\u00e9gl\u0151<\/a> (\u201cBiting Squirrel Restaurant\u201d) makes it one of the best-kept culinary secrets of the \u00d3buda area. Thankfully, you won\u2019t be paying too much attention to the commieblocks surrounding you, as you\u2019ll be busy getting lost in the delicious flavours of Hungarian cuisine. Guests praise Harap\u00f3 M\u00f3kus for the restaurant\u2019s attentive staff, its friendly atmosphere, and copious portions. During the warmer months, you can spend your meal sitting on the venue\u2019s summer terrace, munching on a variety of meat dishes, from breaded pork chops and rib eye steak to fried chicken legs filet, while sipping on special wines. As for their catfish stew, chef J\u00f3zsef Fraunberger serves the nutritious, tender dish with curded ewe-cheese dumplings. C\u2019est magnifique!<\/p>\n

1032 Budapest, Z\u00e1por utca 69.<\/p>\n

K\u00e9hli Restaurant<\/h4>\n

At the foot of \u00d3buda\u2019s huge housing project, right next to \u00c1rp\u00e1d bridge, there lies a small architectural remnant of the 19th century, a time when Jews, Hungarians and Swabs lived side by side in the neighbourhood, which survived the havoc wreaked by socialism on the area. It is here where K\u00e9hli<\/a>, one of the best Hungarian style restaurants of the country resides, right next door to the home of the bohemian writer Gyula Kr\u00fady, who only loved good Hungarian wine more than good food. At K\u00e9hli, you\u2019ll find plenty of both. The menu includes all the classic dishes of the past couple of centuries of Hungarian cuisine, from hot-pot with marrow bone and frog legs fried in breadcrumbs to lamb goulash and catfish stew with cottage cheese pasta. The turn-of-the-century ambience is made complete with live gypsy music every day from 8 PM.<\/p>\n

1036 Budapest, M\u00f3kus u. 22.<\/p>\n

N\u00e1ncsi N\u00e9ni Vend\u00e9gl\u0151je<\/h4>\n

Situated in Buda Hills high above the city, N\u00e1ncsi N\u00e9ni Vend\u00e9gl\u0151je<\/a> is a favourite summer destination of Budapesters, thanks to being surrounded by lush greenery on all sides, having a spacious terrace, being furnished like your grandmother\u2019s house in the countryside, and offering a wide range of dishes from the cookbook of Hungary\u2019s traditional gastronomy. In short, N\u00e1ncsi N\u00e9ni is the perfect place for an uplifting outing – both in the physical and the culinary sense! Their catfish stew is always freshly cooked for maximum flavours: the dish comes doused in a wonderful sauce of paprika and sour cream, and is served with pasta squares mixed with curd cheese. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city for a couple of hours, then pay N\u00e1ncsi N\u00e9ni a visit!<\/p>\n

1029 Budapest, \u00d6rd\u00f6g\u00e1rok \u00fat 80.<\/p>\n

<\/u>Rosenstein<\/h4>\n

What started as a simple buffet in 1996 is now one of the last, as well as one of the most popular family-owned restaurants in Budapest. Rosenstein<\/a> serves the creme de la creme of traditional Jewish and Hungarian cuisines: a meal at Rosenstein feels more like Sunday supper at your grandma\u2019s house, rather than a hearty culinary experience at Budapest\u2019s most distinguished Jewish restaurant. Here, at this self-professed \u201cisland of tranquillity\u201d (the words of the venue\u2019s legendary owner, Tibor Rosenstein), you can recharge your spiritual batteries while feasting on their nostalgic paprika-flavoured catfish stew, offered with homemade Hungarian pasta topped with curd cheese. Complement the dish with a glass of nice Hungarian wine from their extensive list to make your evening even more unforgettable!<\/p>\n

1087 Budapest, Mosonyi u. 3.<\/p>\n

Kiscsillag<\/h4>\n

The pride of Csillaghegy, one of the green neighbourhoods located in the city\u2019s \u00d3buda district, has only been in business since December 2016, but when you step inside the minimal, rustic-chic restaurant it feels like it\u2019s been there at least for a hundred years. The family-run venue serves homely dishes, sampling mainly from the cuisines of Hungary and Transylvania: the menu includes favourites such as potato casserole, oven-baked pork knuckles, and poppy seed bread pudding, as well as a few international dishes, like lasagne or Italian tomato soup. Every dish is freshly prepared, made with seasonal ingredients. Their version of catfish stew is made of the waist of the fish, and is served with cottage cheese pasta and homemade sour cream. To round off your meal, don\u2019t forget to order a bottle of white wine from Kicsillag<\/a>\u2019s fine Hungarian wine selection!<\/p>\n

1039 Budapest, Szentendrei \u00fat 317.<\/p>\n

Pest-Buda<\/h4>\n

Situated on a small, cobbled street in a World Heritage environment, Buda Castle\u2019s Pest-Buda<\/a> Restaurant has been going strong for more than 50 years, in a building which dates back all the way to 1696. The popular venue offers a spectacular gastronomic experience for those looking for traditional Hungarian cooking, preserving every flavour of its three centuries long history. The polite and cheerful staff, the warm and friendly interiors, and the captivating view of Matthias Church from the terrace complement flawlessly the excellent dishes served at Pest-Buda Restaurant. For the perfect pescetarian culinary experience, start off your meal with a fisherman\u2019s soup \u00e1 la Baja, and follow it up with a catfish stew, served with cottage cheese pasta topped with pork cracklings, and down it with a nice glass of white wine – once you\u2019re finished, you\u2019ll be ready to explore all the wonders of the Castle District!<\/p>\n

1014 Budapest, Fortuna utca 3.<\/p>\n

Csal\u00e1nosi Cs\u00e1rda<\/h4>\n

Another \u00d3buda restaurant from the golden days, Csal\u00e1nosi Cs\u00e1rda<\/a> is located north of \u00c1rp\u00e1d bridge, just a couple of minutes from K\u00e9hli. Surrounded by the late Baroque buildings of \u00d3buda\u2019s main square, Csal\u00e1nosi Cs\u00e1rda is a treasured remnant of \u00d3buda\u2019s small-town past, when instead of huge housing projects, hundreds of small pubs, taverns and restaurants dotted the landscape. Consume your hearty catfish stew (garnished with a filling portion of cottage cheese pasta) in the charming Cs\u00e1rda\u2019s garden, or if you feel like hiding from the scorching August weather, take a seat inside the restaurant\u2019s ancient cellar (used for storing wine barrels in the olden days), and enjoy the live music!<\/p>\n

1033 Budapest, H\u00eddf\u0151 utca 16.<\/p>\n

Gett\u00f3 Guly\u00e1s<\/h4>\n

Found on one of the main streets of Budapest\u2019s Jewish District, the homely Gett\u00f3 Guly\u00e1s<\/a> offers an unpretentious selection of classic Hungarian dishes, with a menu focusing on the heartier, meaty side of Magyar cooking. You\u2019ll find a colourful variety of p\u00f6rk\u00f6lt (stew) here, with veal, chicken, rooster testicles, beef, deer, catfish, beans and mushrooms as the main components. The stews are usually served with nokedli (a kind of dumplings) and the pickles of your choice. Their catfish (which is a true sight to behold) is fatty in a good way, the sauce is addiction-inducing, and the bacon-wrapped cottage cheese pasta is unlike anything other you\u2019ll ever taste. Don\u2019t say you don\u2019t love catfish until you\u2019ve tried it here!<\/p>\n

1077 Budapest, Wessel\u00e9nyi utca 18.<\/p>\n

Baricska Cs\u00e1rda<\/h4>\n

This Balatonf\u00fcred restaurant offers homely Hungarian dishes and the area\u2019s best noble wines in a cozy, unrivalled location. Being located near Central Europe\u2019s largest lake, Baricska<\/a> cs\u00e1rda takes pride in having a wonderful panorama from its terrace to Lake Balaton and the Peninsula of Tihany. The inn\u2019s main objective is to make their catering unit a sanctuary of gastronomy, wine culture and\u00a0culture in general, with excellent fish dishes and other traditional meals on their mouth-watering menu. Catfish stew with cottage cheese noodles is on top of the list of customer favourites, but you can find here the usual fare as well, with all the popular chicken, pork and beef dishes of Hungarian cuisine.<\/p>\n

8200 Balatonf\u00fcred, Baricska d\u0171l\u0151<\/p>\n