Hungarian Cottage Cheese Pasta (Túrós Tészta), also known as “túrós csusza”

This pasta dish is my daughter Viki’s favorite. If someone asked her what her favorite food is that I make for her—or just her favorite food in general—there’s a 99% chance she’d say this dish.

In Hungary, it’s typically made with square-shaped pasta (in some regions called “tailor’s collar” pasta), cow’s curd cheese or sheep’s curd cheese, finely chopped fried bacon, and sour cream. In some areas, it’s also enjoyed sprinkled with dill.

Túrós csusza can be served as a main dish, as a dessert at the end of a meal, or even as a side dish.

Hungarian Cottage Cheese Pasta (Túrós Tészta)

Also known as "túrós csusza"

Leaving the bacon out gives you the option to prepare this dish as a vegetarian meal.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Hungarian

Servings 4 people

Equipment

• 1 Large pot
• 1 Large mixing bowl
• 1 Frying pan
• 1 Sharp knife

Ingredients

  

• 500 g 1.1 lbs sour cream
• Salt
• Pepper
• A little oil
• 200 g 7 oz bacon
• 1 teaspoon paprika optional

Instructions

 

• Cut the bacon into small cubes and fry in a pan with a little oil over medium heat until crispy.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling salted water.
• Once the bacon is crisped to your liking, transfer it to a plate but leave the rendered fat in the pan.
• Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the pan with the bacon fat, tossing it around until the pasta is well coated.
• Add half of the sour cream and half of the cottage cheese, season with salt and pepper, and mix everything thoroughly.
• Spoon the remaining sour cream and cottage cheese over the top, sprinkle with the crispy bacon bits and a pinch of paprika (optional).
• Dig in and enjoy!

Notes

Leaving the bacon out gives you the option to prepare this dish as a vegetarian meal.

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