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Plate of pasta covered in white sour cream and grated cheese
Creamy pasta with sour cream and shredded cheese.

Hungarian Mac & Cheese (Cheese & Sour Cream Pasta)

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Main Courses
Sajtos-Tejfölös Tészta is defined by thermal shock and fat layering. Unlike American mac & cheese where the sauce is cooked, this dish relies on the residual heat of the pasta to slightly temper the raw sour cream without breaking its emulsion. The result is a temperature contrast: steaming hot starch coated in cool, tangy fat, topped with semi-melted cheese.
🕒 Prep Time 5 mins
🍳 Cook Time 10 mins
⌛ Total Time 15 mins
🍽️ Servings 5 servings
🔥 Calories 450 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Hungarian

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Large Pot (6+ Quarts): Pasta needs room to swim. A large volume of water maintains the boil when pasta is added, preventing stickiness.
  • Colander: For draining. Shake gently—you want to keep some starch on the noodles to help the sour cream adhere.
  • Wide Mixing Bowl: Mixing in a separate bowl rather than the hot pot prevents the sour cream from breaking/curdling due to residual pot heat.

Allergen Information

⚠️ Gluten (Wheat)
⚠️ Dairy

Instructions

1 ✓

Cook pasta al dente.

Tip: Fusilli (screws) are preferred mechanically as their surface area holds the thick sour cream better than smooth shapes.
2 ✓

Drain and plate immediately.

Tip: Do not rinse. The surface starch is needed to adhere the sour cream to the noodle. Rinsing also cools the pasta, ruining the thermal contrast.
3 ✓

Apply sour cream cold/room temp.

Tip: Never cook the sour cream. Heating it causes the whey to separate from the curd, resulting in a watery, grainy sauce.
4 ✓

Top with cheese.

Tip: Trappista is ideal due to its specific melting point and mild lactic acid flavor profile.

Recipe FAQ

Can I reheat this?
Be careful. Sour cream separates easily when reheated. Reheat slowly on the stove with a splash of milk, never in the microwave if possible.
What cheese works best?
Trappista is traditional, but Edam, Gouda, or mild Cheddar are excellent substitutes. Avoid pre-shredded cheese as the anti-caking agents affect melting.
Is this served as a main dish?
Yes, in Hungary this is often a quick lunch or dinner, frequently topped with fried bacon bits.

Ingredients

  • 10 oz Pasta (Fusilli or Macaroni)
  • 1.5 cup Sour Cream (full fat is non-negotiable)
  • 1.5 cup Shredded Cheese (Trappista, Gouda, or Edam)
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tbsp Oil (for the water)
  • 4 slices Bacon (optional, for topping)