Halušky with Cream Cheese and Bacon
4 servings Halušky with cream cheese and bacon is a delicious Slovak pasta made from potatoes. Even if it is close to German Spaetzles, it is very original. This recipe covers a delicious Americanized version utilizing cream cheese that everyone will love. Also, try my more traditional version with a Bryndza cheese... Read more ... substitution. Read less x saved Tom the Chef Founder January 21, 2024 30 min.301/5 30 min. 30 1/5 Ingredients: Halušky batter: 2 LB of potato (Amount before peeling, I usually round up the number of potatoes and end up using a couple of OZ more in order to prevent food waste.)2 eggs (large)½ TSP of salt2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour 2 LB of potato (Amount before peeling, I usually round up the number of potatoes and end up using a couple of OZ more in order to prevent food waste.) 2 eggs (large) ½ TSP of salt 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour Optional final touch: chives - fresh and finely chopped parsley - fresh and finely chopped salt pepper - ideally freshly ground chives - fresh and finely chopped parsley - fresh and finely chopped salt pepper - ideally freshly ground Tools: 1x Measuring Cups1x Measuring Spoons1x Chef’s knife1x Cutting Board1x Peeler1x Box Grater of Food Processor wt Shredder Attachment (fine openings)1x Immersion Blender or Food Processor or Blender1x Large Mixing Bowl (8 QT +)1x Kitchen Mixer with Whisk Attachment1x Large Pot (8 QT or more)1x Large Fry Pan or Sauté Pan1x Wooden Spoon or High-Temperature Silicone Spatula1x Halusky/Spaetzle Press or colander with 1/4″ holes1x Strainer1x Colander in the mixing bowl (to let water from halušky drip in after cooking) 1x Measuring Cups 1x Measuring Spoons 1x Chef’s knife 1x Cutting Board 1x Peeler 1x Box Grater of Food Processor wt Shredder Attachment (fine openings) 1x Immersion Blender or Food Processor or Blender 1x Large Mixing Bowl (8 QT +) 1x Kitchen Mixer with Whisk Attachment 1x Large Pot (8 QT or more) 1x Large Fry Pan or Sauté Pan 1x Wooden Spoon or High-Temperature Silicone Spatula 1x Halusky/Spaetzle Press or colander with 1/4″ holes 1x Strainer 1x Colander in the mixing bowl (to let water from halušky drip in after cooking) Directions: 1. Potato preparation: 1.1. Briefly rinse the potatoes under cold water and then peel. 1.2. Shred the potatoes into a large mixing bowl. Use the fine-sized holes for shredding. 2. Halušky batter: 2.1. Add: 2 large eggs ½ TSP of salt Thoroughly stir together with a spatula until nicely combined. 2.2. Process until smooth with an immersion blender. Important: Make sure that the batter is well-processed). 2.3. Add into the larger mixing bowl: 2 ½ cups of flour Thoroughly stir together with a spatula until nicely combined. Tip:| If the batter is too thick to be comfortable to stir, consider stirring in a little bit of water. 2.4. Let it rest on the counter for about 15 minutes. 3. Set water to preheat: 3.1. Put water to preheat in a large pot with a lid (fill to ½ capacity) for cooking halušky in later steps. 4. Cream cheese and sour cream mixture: 4.1. Place into the kitchen mixer with whisk attachment: 8 OZ of cream cheese 1 cup of sour cream ½ TSP of salt ½ TSP of ground pepper Process on high speed until combined and smooth (usually about 1 – 3 minutes). 4.2. Leave it in a mixing bowl for later steps. 5. Optionally prepare bacon: 5.1. Preheat a sauté pan on medium-high heat with 1 TBSP of frying oil and add: 1 LB of bacon – chopped into small pieces Sauté with constant stirring until it is cooked as you like. 5.2. Leave it in the pan and put aside for a later step. 6. Cook the halušky: 6.1. Right before you start cooking the halušky, stir the batter thoroughly once again to make sure that it is nicely combined. Important: The batter should have the consistency of the thick porridge. If it is too thick, consider stirring in some water; if it is too runny, consider stirring in some extra flour. It is important to process halušky through a halušky press (or strainer) fast. To make the whole process comfortable, cook halušky in batches. To make sure that your batter is correct (not falling apart while cooking), start cooking a very small amount first to be able to adjust the remaining batter if needed. The batter should have the consistency of the thick porridge. If it is too thick, consider stirring in some water; if it is too runny, consider stirring in some extra flour. It is important to process halušky through a halušky press (or strainer) fast. To make the whole process comfortable, cook halušky in batches. To make sure that your batter is correct (not falling apart while cooking), start cooking a very small amount first to be able to adjust the remaining batter if needed. 6.2. Place the halušky press on the top of the pot with boiling water (or place the colander with ¼” holes on the top of the pot). 6.3. Process halušky in the boiling water: A. Halušky press: Process the halušky batter quickly with a front and back motion into the boiling water until all the batter is in. B. Colander with ¼” holes: Press the batter through the strainer utilizing a silicone spatula. Tip: If you have a hard time processing batter in the water (the batter is too thick), consider stirring in a little bit of water. 6.4. Let it cook for about 1 – 2 minutes (the halušky needs to rise to the top before you finish cooking). Tip: If the halušky falls apart during cooking, add more batter into the remaining mixture. 6.5. Using a fine strainer, collect the halušky from the boiling water and place into the colander in the mixing bowl to let the water drip off. 6.6. When an entire batch is in the colander, place it immediately (while still hot) into a large mixing bowl with cream cheese and stir. 6.7. Cook all the remaining batter into the halušky and always place in the mixing bowl with cream cheese and stir. 7. Assemble & Serve: 7.1. When the entire halušky batter is cooked, stir the bigger part of the sautéed bacon in (leave part of the bacon for the final touch). Tip: Feel free to also stir in part of the bacon fat (or even the entire bacon fat) based on your flavor preferences. This will make the entire meal more earthy and filling. 7.2. Thoroughly stir it all together. 7.3. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed. 7.4. Place halušky on the plate and decorate with the remaining sautéed bacon and optionally with finely chopped chives or parsley. About the Author: Tom the ChefFounder # 1 120 Followers Published Recipes: 268Av. Recipe Evaluation: Location: Iowa, USAMember since: 2023-02-02 Published Recipes: 268 Av. Recipe Evaluation: Location: Iowa, USA Member since: 2023-02-02 Disclaimer All content and information (including recipes, articles, and other materials) on CookingHub.com are the opinions of the authors and are not intended to provide dietary, medical, legal, or political advice. 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