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Meat, European

Túrós csusza with bacon

Túrós csusza with bacon is a Hungarian pasta dish made with flat pasta, drained cottage cheese, sour cream, and crispy bacon lardons. It comes together in 30 minutes for 4 people, at a very easy skill level, for about €1.80 per person. The key to success is draining the cottage cheese well, otherwise the dish turns watery.

Tonight it's a little Hungarian treat, pasta with cottage cheese and cream, topped with golden crispy bacon bits.

Túrós csusza with bacon
Total time
30 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€1.80
Calories per person
800 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Túrós csusza plays on the contrast between the soft creaminess of cottage cheese and the salty crunch of golden bacon. Flat pasta, broken into irregular pieces, gets coated in a light sauce that's never heavy, just enough cream to bring everything together without drowning the flavors. Softened onion adds a subtle sweetness that balances the fresh cheese.

This is the kind of dish you make on a weeknight when you're short on time but still want comfort food. Kids generally love this combination of pasta and cheese, and crispy bacon always wins them over. For a calmer Sunday, double the bacon and serve with a well dressed green salad to cut through the richness.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Flat pasta (broken lasagna sheets or tagliatelle)often in the pantry 350 g
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Butcher

  • Smoked bacon lardons 200 g

Dairy

  • Well drained cottage cheese 400 g
  • Heavy sour cream 15 cl

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 1
  • Chives 1 bunch

Allergens Gluten, Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the pasta in salted water, then drain it, keeping a ladle of cooking water aside. 10 min

    Break lasagna sheets into irregular squares, that's the traditional shape.

  2. Meanwhile, fry the bacon lardons in a dry pan until crispy, then set them aside with their rendered fat. 8 min

    Cook over medium heat so the fat melts slowly without burning.

  3. Brown the sliced onion in the bacon fat. 5 min

    A few well caramelized onions bring the dish's touch of sweetness.

  4. Mix the hot pasta with the cottage cheese, sour cream, and onion, adding a bit of cooking water to bind everything together.

    Mix off the heat, the residual warmth melts the fresh cheese without curdling it.

  5. Scatter crispy bacon, chopped chives, and pepper on top, then serve right away.

    Save a few bacon bits for the end, they stay crispier on top.

Our tips to get it right

  • Choose bacon lardons that aren't too fatty, they'll still render enough fat to brown the onion without excess.
  • Always keep a ladle of pasta cooking water on hand, it helps loosen the sauce if the mixture seems too dry.
  • Serve this dish as soon as it's ready, cottage cheese loses its creaminess as it cools.

The variations

  • Swap the cottage cheese for sheep's milk curd cheese if you can find it, closer to traditional Hungarian túró.
  • For a vegetarian version, skip the bacon and soften the onion in a bit of butter, then add a pinch of smoked paprika for that smoky note.
  • For kids in a hurry, cut the bacon into smaller pieces and mix everything directly in the pasta pot to save time.

What to serve it with

  • A well dressed green salad
  • Pickles for a tangy crunch
  • A glass of sparkling lemon water

Storage

Keep leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 2 days, cottage cheese doesn't hold up well longer than that. This dish doesn't freeze well, the fresh cheese turns grainy. Reheat gently in a pan with a splash of water or cream to bring back the creaminess.

Questions about this dish

Can I use regular fresh cheese instead of cottage cheese?

Yes, drained ricotta or farmer's cheese works well too. The important thing is to drain it thoroughly so the dish doesn't turn watery.

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

It's better to cook the pasta and bacon ahead separately, then assemble at the last minute. Cottage cheese loses its creaminess if it sits mixed with hot pasta too long.

What pasta can I use if I don't have lasagna sheets?

Wide tagliatelle or pappardelle broken into pieces work very well. The key is using flat, wide pasta that holds the sauce nicely.

How do I get the bacon extra crispy?

Cook the bacon dry, with no added fat, over medium rather than high heat. Save a few pieces to scatter on top right before serving, they'll stay crispier.

How long does it take to make a túrós csusza, Hungarian pasta with cottage cheese, sour cream, and crispy bacon?

Count 30 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a túrós csusza, Hungarian pasta with cottage cheese, sour cream, and crispy bacon?

About 800 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 túrós csusza, Hungarian pasta with cottage cheese, sour cream, and crispy bacon cost?

About €1.80 per serving, or €7.20 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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