Here is a traditional Hungarian PALACSINTA recipe — thin, soft crepes that can be filled with sweet or savory fillings. This is the classic version used throughout Hungary.
PALACSINTA (Hungarian Crepes)
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup sparkling water (optional but makes them lighter)
- 1 tablespoon sugar (optional for sweet palacsinta)
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon melted butter or oil (plus more for the pan)
Instructions
Step 1: Make the batter
- In a bowl, whisk eggs with half the milk.
- Add flour gradually and whisk until smooth.
- Add remaining milk, sparkling water, sugar (if using), salt, and melted butter.
- Batter should be thin and pourable.
- Let rest 15–30 minutes for best texture.
Step 2: Cook the palacsinta
- Heat a lightly oiled nonstick or crepe pan over medium heat.
- Pour in a small amount of batter (about 1/4 cup) and swirl to coat the pan thinly.
- Cook 30–60 seconds until edges lift and bottom is lightly golden.
- Flip and cook another 15–30 seconds.
- Repeat with remaining batter, stacking finished palacsinta on a plate.
Traditional Fillings
Sweet Fillings:
1. Sweet Cottage Cheese (Túrós Palacsinta)
- Mix cottage cheese, sugar, sour cream, and a bit of vanilla.
2. Jam (Lekváros Palacsinta)
- Spread with apricot, plum, cherry, or strawberry jam.
3. Cocoa Sugar (Kakaós Palacsinta)
- Mix cocoa powder with sugar and sprinkle over buttered palacsinta.
4. Nut Filling (Diós Palacsinta)
- Ground walnuts mixed with sugar.
5. Cinnamon Sugar
Savory Fillings:
1. Meat-filled (Hortobágyi Palacsinta)
- Ground meat simmered with onions and paprika, rolled, then baked with paprika sauce.
2. Cheese and Herbs
- Soft cheese mixed with dill or chives.
Tips
- Add more milk if batter becomes too thick.
- Use a very thin layer of oil to keep them soft, not crispy.
- Batter improves after resting.
If you want, I can give you the recipe for Hortobágyi meat-filled palacsinta, túrós (cheese) palacsinta, or Hungarian Gundel palacsinta (walnut–rum–chocolate).