Lángos

Lángos is a traditional Hungarian dish, often consumed as a street food. It is a deep-fried flatbread made of a dough with flour, yeast, salt and water (a kind of bread dough). Lángos can be served with a variety of toppings, including garlic, sour cream, and grated cheese, or simply sprinkled with sugar.

History

The name Lángos comes from 'láng', the Hungarian word for flame. The dish was originally baked in the front of the brick oven close to the flames. This is what gives lángos its characteristic crispness on the outside and soft, chewy texture on the inside.

Preparation

The dough for lángos is made by mixing flour, yeast, salt and water together and letting it rise. The dough is then divided into balls and flattened before being deep-fried until golden brown. The traditional method of cooking lángos is over an open fire, but it can also be cooked in a deep fryer or a frying pan.

Serving

Lángos is typically served hot and is often accompanied by a variety of toppings. The most traditional toppings are garlic, sour cream, and grated cheese, but modern variations may include ham, sausage, cabbage, mushrooms, eggs, or even sweet toppings like jam or powdered sugar.

Nutritional Information

As a deep-fried food, lángos is high in calories and fat. However, it can be part of a balanced diet when consumed in moderation and paired with healthy toppings like vegetables or lean proteins.

Cultural Significance

Lángos is a popular street food in Hungary and is often sold at fairs and carnivals. It is also commonly consumed during the Christmas season. In recent years, lángos has gained popularity in other countries as part of the global street food trend.