Lecsó

Lecsó opened a door into a cuisine I'd previously known almost nothing about. The creamy and savoury flavours are unlike anything in my usual rotation and I mean that positively. Hungarian cuisine was shaped by nomadic Magyar traditions mixed with Ottoman and Habsburg influences. Understanding that …

I grew up eating Lecsó and have strong opinions shaped by memory. The version here triggered that recognition in the first bite — the creamy and savoury was right, sweet paprika was handled the way it should be. Hungarian cuisine was shaped by nomadic Magyar traditions mixed with Ottoman and Habsbu…

What sets Lecsó apart is the handling of Hungarian wax peppers. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the creamy and savoury result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience. paprika only entered Hungarian cooking in the 17t…

I had never tried Lecsó before this visit and I wasn't sure what to expect. The creamy and savoury taste hit immediately and made sense of the dish in a way descriptions never quite do. onion is an ingredient I'd not encountered used quite like this before. The a Budapest csárda tavern setting adde…

I've now had Lecsó prepared traditionally and in a modern interpretation. Both are interesting. The traditional version emphasises onion in the way paprika only entered Hungarian cooking in the 17th century but now defines the cuisine. The hearty and warming character is more pronounced and direct. …

Lecsó at this place was fine. The hearty and warming flavour was there but not distinguished. sour cream was present in the right quantities but without the care that makes the difference. You can taste when something is being made to a formula. Hungarian cuisine was shaped by nomadic Magyar tradit…