Lángos - Hungarian fried dough

Lángos is one of the most famous Hungarian dishes that may as well be called Hungarian fast food. Every tourist traveling around this country must have tasted it at least once. It is extremely easy to prepare and allows for the surprising possibility of diversifying with additions.

Langos is actually a deep-fried flatbread that is prepared with yeast dough. This flatbread got its name from the place where it was prepared - right next to the 'láng', or flame. Because the dough was initially baked in the front of the oven. In the part where the flames were the hottest.

How was Lángos created?

Langos was originally created as a flatbread. It is a traditional Hungarian delicacy, whose history dates back to the times when bread was made in bread ovens. The process of producing langos was thus related to kneading bread. The bread was kneaded on a baking tray, and the remains of the bread dough stuck to the sides were formed into pancakes. Which, after baking the bread, was baked in a still-hot oven.

In the old days, they usually baked bread every 5-7 days because it required a lot of time and energy. Just kneading the bread dough took many hours. So, on the day the bread was baked, langos were eaten, and loaves on the following days. Often the 3-5 kilogram loaves were cut only on the second or third day. In the southwestern region of Hungary, wealthier residents added onion and bacon to langos. This became the inspiration for today's varieties of this delicacy. In Eastern Hungary, langos were eaten alone or served with sour cream.

Over time, the tradition of home-baking bread disappeared, and the place of traditional langos was taken by industrially produced pastries. Fried langos appeared in the late 1950s, mainly in the offer of small artisans. But, it gained its greatest popularity in the 1970s. Nowadays, it is a delicacy that can be found at food stands all over Hungary and beyond. Sometimes you can also find a version where mashed potatoes are added to get a version called 'krumplis lángos'.

How to make Lángos?

The basis for the preparation of Langos is yeast dough. They are kneaded into a uniform mass and formed into pancakes, which are then deep-fried. We can choose a lot of ingredients for the base, for example, spread with garlic, and cream and sprinkle with grated cheese. We can also choose a sweet version with jam or chocolate. Yet, the most popular are langos with cream or without any additions.