Palascinta Recipes

HUNGARIAN CREPES: PALACSINTA

Steps:

• Mix eggs, flour, milk, sugar and salt to make a smooth pancake dough. Let the dough rest for 1 to 2 hours.
• Stir in the carbonated water at the last moment, just before cooking the pancakes.
• Heat an 8-inch frying pan. When the pan is hot, add 1/4 teaspoon of the butter. Let butter melt and swirl to cover the bottom of the pan.
• Pour a ladle of the batter into the pan and gently tip and twist the pan so that the batter covers the entire bottom of the pan. When the top of the batter bubbles, turn the pancake over and cook for 4 or 5 seconds longer. Remove the pancake. Continue until the batter is all cooked; add butter before cooking each pancake.
• Serve by spreading raspberry jam, cocoa mix, or your favorite filling and roll up the pancake, serve with fresh berries.

HUNGARIAN CREPES WITH PEANUT BUTTER AND JAM: PALACSINTA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Whisk in the salt, granulated sugar and flour. Set aside for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and put a platter in the oven to heat.
• In a nonstick 8 to 10-inch skillet, melt about 1/2 teaspoon butter over medium heat. When it foams, pour or ladle in about 1/8 cup (2 tablespoons) batter. Lift and swirl the pan so the batter coats the bottom. Replace the pan on the burner and cook just until set and the underside is lightly browned. Using a spatula or your fingers, flip and cook until the other side is lightly browned. Transfer to the warmed platter. Repeat until the batter is used up.
• Remove the crepes from the oven. One by one, spread each crjpe with a thin layer of peanut butter and jam and roll up like a cigar. Place 2 rolled crepes on each of 4 serving plates. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and serve.

PALACSINTA

Steps:

• Separate the yolks from the whites. Whisk the egg whites until soft peaks. In a different bowl, whisk flour, salt, yolks, and one cup of milk until you get a smooth batter. Then, gradually whisk in the rest of the milk. After you've added about 1/2 cup of milk, scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl to catch any clumps of flour. To finish, gently whisk in the whipped egg whites.
• Heat a 1/2 tsp of oil in a pancake pan over medium heat. Pour a 1/4-1/3 cup of the batter, then swirl the pan to coat it with batter. Once the pancake starts pulling away from the sides of the pan, flip it and cook about 5 seconds, then transfer to a plate. Cook pancakes until you're out of batter.
• Fill the pancakes while still warm with the filling of your choice, and roll.

GRANDMA IRENA'S PALACSINTA (HUNGARIAN CREPES)

Steps:

• Combine the flour and eggs and mix until smooth. Add the milk, soda water, vegetable oil, and salt and mix to combine; refrigerate the batter overnight.
• To make the pancakes, heat a lightly greased frying pan over medium heat. Remove the batter from the refrigerator and mix well. Pour 1/4 cup of the batter into the pan and cook the pancake for about one minute. Flip it over and cook for another minute, or until golden brown. Remove the pancake from the pan and place it on waxed paper. Repeat with the remaining batter, stacking the pancakes while keeping them separate with waxed paper.
• To make the filling, combine the chopped almonds, 1/2 cup sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and rum (if desired) in a saucepan. Cook and stir over low heat until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is creamy. Allow it to cool slightly before filling the pancakes.
• For the chocolate topping, combine the water, 1/2 cup sugar, and chocolate in a saucepan and cook over low heat just until the chocolate melts. Remove the pan from the heat and add the margarine, stirring until melted and combined.
• Spread 1 heaping tablespoon of almond filling onto each pancake, rolling them up and placing them on a platter. (You will have 10 to 15 total, depending on their size.) Pour the chocolate topping over the platter of rolled pancakes. If desired, warm the platter in a microwave for about 30 seconds before serving.

HUNGARIAN PANCAKES (PALACSINTA)

Steps:

• Beat eggs well.
• Add milk, salt, sugar, and vanilla, Gradually add sifted flour beating until smooth a a thin batter.
• Heat small frying pan (or crepe pan).
• Spray lightly with Pam.
• Pour in enough batter to cover pan with very thin layer.
• Tilt pan with circular motion with wrist so mixture spreads eveny.
• Pancakes cook very quicly, about 30 secs on each side.
• Spread cheese filling, or grape jelly, or lekvar, or any jelly you like on the pancake and roll.
• You can also eat plain with a little powdered sugar sifted on top.
• Cheese filling: mix all ingredients well, adding sugar to taste.

HUNGARIAN PALACSINTA (CREPES)

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk the eggs with 1/2 cup of the milk and the salt. Whisk in the flour until smooth, then whisk in the remaining milk and the butter; the batter should have the consistency of cream. Let the batter rest for 1 hour.
• Heat a 7-inch crêpe pan and brush with butter. Pour 1/4 cup of batter into the pan and rotate it immediately to coat the bottom evenly; pour any excess batter back into the bowl. Cook the crêpe over moderate heat until lightly browned on the bottom, about 30 seconds. Flip the crêpe and cook the second side until brown dots appear, about 10 seconds longer. Transfer to a large plate. Repeat with the melted butter and remaining batter to make 18 crêpes.
• In a saucepan, melt the apricot jam with the lemon juice; stir until smooth.
• Preheat the oven to 400°. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Spread each crêpe with 1 teaspoon of jam and 1 tablespoon of walnuts. Fold it into quarters and transfer to the baking dish. Repeat with the remaining crêpes. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 10 minutes, or until hot. Sprinkle with the remaining walnuts and sift confectioners' sugar on top. Serve the crêpes warm, with chocolate sauce if you like.

PALASCINTA

Steps:

• Pancakes:.
• Beat 3 eggs lightly.
• Add salt, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1 tablespoon milk, and flour.
• Mix until it forms a smooth batter.
• Add the balance of the milk and water, gradually, mixing well.
• Melt a small amount of butter in a 10 inch frying pan over medium low heat. Pour a little less then 1/2 cup batter into pan then swirl to cover bottom in a thin layer.
• Lightly brown pancake on one side then flip to brown the other . Remove and set aside. Continue this process until you have used up all the batter adding more butter as needed. I usually stack the pancakes on a plate.
• Filling:.
• Separate the yolks and whites of 2 eggs. Slightly beat the whites.
• Combine the egg yolks with the cottage cheese, generous 1/3 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
• Add slightly beaten egg whites.
• To fill:.
• Place about 2 tablespoons of filling in a pancake.(It will be very runny but will firm up and expand when baked). Fold the bottom in, then the sides so that the filling is contained. Then roll toward the unfolded end into a packet like a small burrito. Place seam side down in a greased oven proof rectangular dish. You can put all the palascinta in one layer or you can make several layers, depending on how large your dish is. Repeat until all pancakes are filled then cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 45 minutes.