Ingredients
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3 pcs bell peppers roughly choppedpreferably yellow
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2 pcs tomatoes roughly chopped
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2 pcs onion peeled roughly chopped
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3 pcs Garlic cloves chopped
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2 tablespoons paprika
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2 tablespoons Oil
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1/2 tablespoon Salt
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a pinch Black pepper
Directions
What is the Hungarian Lecso?
Lecso is one of the trademarks of traditional Hungarian cuisine. It is a stew made of pepper, tomato, onion and paprika.
The authentic lecso recipe contains lard or bacon fat. However, as with other traditional dishes, it is also made with oil, so it is suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
Lecso is a very specific dish, and it is not easy to define it. We could describe it as something between a stew, side dish and appetizer.
Apparently, the origin dates to the 17th or 18th-century countryside villages. The ingredients, people could grow in the garden and make from them fast, cheap and healthy meal.
Lecso vs Ratatouille
Some would say that it is a Hungarian version of ratatouille. Similar to lecso, ratatouille can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It can be the main course, side dish or appetizer. However, the main difference is that ratatouille is a somewhat richer dish, with a French twist. Unlike lecso, it includes courgettes and aubergines as well as herbs characteristic for French cuisine (herbs de Provance). Also, the recipe for lecso is unthinkable without paprika, while it is not common in ratatouille.
What Do You Serve with Lesco?
It is most often served for lunch or dinner as a side dish, with a pork chop or roasted chicken. However, very often you will find it served as the main course. In this case, it is quite common in a combination with sausages. In addition to sausages, often you can find steamed rice or potatoes, or both.
It also goes well with eggs, so you can often find it served for breakfast, with fried or scrambled eggs. This is especially common in Hungarian hotels and restaurants.
Traditionally lecso is made in summer and autumn when peppers and tomatoes ripen. However, today it is common to make throughout the year.
The popularity of lecso has crossed the borders of Hungary. It is well known in the cuisines of neighbouring countries. It is common in Romania (ghiveci călugăresc), Czech and Slovakia (lecho), Germany and Austria (letscho) Poland (leczo) and Russian (lecho). In Serbian and Croatian cuisine it is called lešo.
Also, other Mediterranean cuisines have similar dishes. Let us mention peperonata in Italy, pisto and samfaina in Spain, tourloú in Greece, türlü in Turkish and zaalouk in Morocco. However, unlike in Central Europe, these stews contain both eggplant and zucchini.
I received the recipe for lecso, as well as other traditional Hungarian dishes, from my friend Robert. Apart from being a foodie like me, he is an excellent connoisseur of traditional Hungarian cuisine. According to him, this lecso recipe, his family has used for generations.
Steps
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1
Done
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Heat the oil (or fat) in a frying skillet and sauté the onion on it for a few minutes until it becomes translucent. While the onion is sauteing, you can occasionally pour little water. |
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2
Done
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Add the peppers tomato and garlic. Simmer all together for another 10 minutes until the vegetables are tender. |
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3
Done
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Now add the paprika, salt and pepper to taste and let it simmer on low heat for another 10 minutes until the vegetables start to fall apart. |
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4
Done
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That's it. Your lecso is done. The great thing about this dish is that there are countless options for how you will serve it. Whether as a main course, side dish, appetizer, for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack. It's up to you. |
