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Vegetarian, European

Káposztás tészta, Hungarian cabbage noodles

Káposztás tészta is a Hungarian dish of pasta tossed with soft white cabbage caramelized in butter and sugar. This very easy recipe takes 40 minutes for 4 people, at €1.40 per person. The key to success is letting the cabbage caramelize uncovered until golden, then finishing with plenty of black pepper.

Tonight, a Hungarian grandmother's dish with káposztás tészta, pasta tossed with soft white cabbage caramelized in butter.

Káposztás tészta, Hungarian cabbage noodles
Total time
40 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€1.40
Calories per person
580 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

White cabbage, usually boiled or lightly steamed, becomes something else entirely here. Slowly caramelized in butter and sugar, it turns golden and slightly sweet, a flavor that plays against the generous black pepper mixed in at the end. Tossed with pasta, it makes a simple dish with real character, far from the bland reputation cabbage sometimes gets.

This is a Hungarian grandmother's dish, the kind made with whatever's in the pantry. Mon Chou suggests it for weeknights when you want something uncomplicated, but also as a family recipe worth passing on, since kids often love its caramelized sweetness.

The ingredients

4 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • White cabbage 1 kg
  • Onion 1

Pantry

  • Square pasta or farfalleoften in the pantry 400 g
  • Sugaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Sunflower oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Black pepperoften in the pantry 2 tsp

Dairy

  • Butter 60 g

Allergens Gluten, Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Remove the core from the cabbage and slice it very thinly, then salt it and let it sit for a while to release water. 10 min

    Squeeze the cabbage with your hands to remove the water, it will caramelize better.

  2. Melt the sugar in a large pan with the oil until it turns golden. 3 min

    Stay by the pan, sugar goes from golden to burnt very fast.

  3. Add the cabbage and sliced onion, then cook over medium heat, stirring, until golden and very tender. 25 min

    Don't cover the pan, the cabbage needs to lose its water to caramelize.

  4. Cook the pasta al dente in salted water, then drain. 10 min

    Save a ladle of cooking water to loosen the mix if it looks dry.

  5. Toss the pasta with the cabbage, butter, and plenty of black pepper, then serve right away.

    The pepper is the dish's signature, don't be shy with it.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick a firm, tightly packed white cabbage, it releases less water and caramelizes more easily.
  • Slice the cabbage as thin as you can, in even strips, so it cooks evenly and catches the caramelization well.
  • Use a wide pan rather than a pot, the cabbage needs room to brown instead of steaming in its own juice.

The variations

  • Swap the butter for margarine for a dairy free version, the taste changes slightly but the texture stays the same.
  • For extra richness, add smoked bacon bits cooked with the onion, the dish becomes less vegetarian but gains depth of flavor.
  • For kids who prefer less pepper, cut the amount in half and serve a milder version on the side.

What to serve it with

  • A cucumber salad with dill
  • A glass of kefir or buttermilk
  • A slice of rye bread

Storage

Káposztás tészta keeps 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It doesn't freeze particularly well since the pasta softens too much once thawed. Reheat in a pan with a little butter to bring back the texture.

Questions about this dish

Can I use a different pasta shape instead of farfalle?

Yes, any short pasta works, like shells or penne. Traditional Hungarian square noodles are ideal since their folds hold onto the cabbage well.

Why salt the cabbage before cooking it?

Salt draws water out of the cabbage, which allows it to truly caramelize instead of steaming in the pan. Squeezing the cabbage by hand speeds up this process even more.

Can I make the caramelized cabbage ahead of time?

Yes, you can cook it the day before and keep it in the fridge. Just reheat it in a pan before tossing it with freshly cooked pasta.

Is this dish good for kids who don't like pepper?

You can easily reduce the amount of pepper for younger kids. The sweet caramelized cabbage is usually a hit with children even without the generous pepper.

How long does it take to make a káposztás tészta, Hungarian noodles with caramelized cabbage?

Count 40 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a káposztás tészta, Hungarian noodles with caramelized cabbage?

About 580 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a káposztás tészta, Hungarian noodles with caramelized cabbage cost?

About €1.40 per serving, or €5.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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