29 Oct

Makos Guba – Hungarian Poppy Seed Bread Pudding

Posted by: Vanillicious  /  Dessert type: Quick and Easy Desserts
Magos Guba

Magos Guba

Hungary has a special place in my heart. So does its cuisine, especially the desserts.

I was introduced to the Makos Guba (Pronounced: Makosh Gooba. Translation: poppy seeds dough. Not literally, though) during one of my visits in Budapest. I fell in love with it immediately (Just like other Hungarian desserts I’ve had). I decided to replicate it in my kitchen, and after checking several recipes, I created my own version of it. I was already told by certain Hungarians mine was the best Makos Guba ever.

This dessert is not only for the poppy seed lovers! Let me put it this way: even if you had bad experience with poppy seeds (like me), have no experience or you’re not too sure about your feelings, you must give it a try.

Maoks Guba is a sweet, warm bread pudding with poppy seeds, served with vanilla cream on top. Custard can be a sufficient substitute if you can’t find vanilla cream at the nearest store (or too lazy to prepare it yourself). It is very easy to prepare and will consume very little of your time.

Ingredients tip: if you’re living in Ireland or the British Isle, I recommend the M&S brioche rolls (8 mini rolls per pack should be enough to serve 2-3) and their Madagascan Vanilla Cream to serve with. In Ireland (Dublin), poppy seeds can be found in Nourish (the health food stores) or Fallon & Byrne.

For a Makos Guba for 2, you’ll need:
  • 20cm*20cm tin or oven proof dish, serves 2-3
  • 40g poppy seeds
  • 40g icing sugar
  • 300ml milk
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 4 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla or seeds from 1/3 vanilla pod
  • 20g (approx) unsalted butter
  • Sliced bread rolls (6-8 mini rolls or 4 rolls, 250-300g approx.), preferably sweet

How to:

(1) Preheat the oven to 180c

(2) In a small bowl, mix the poppy seeds and icing sugar together and set aside

(3) In another bowl, mix the caster sugar and egg yolk until pale

(4) Heat the milk with the vanilla. If you’re using a vanilla pod, divide it lengthways, scrape out the seeds and add to the milk

(5) Add the sugar-egg mixture and cook until the sugar is dissolved. The mixture might thicken just a little. The texture should remain liquidy, though.

(6) Place the bread slices in the tin and form 1 layer

(7) Pour some of the warm mixture until it’s soaked a little

(8) Sprinkle with the poppy seeds-icing sugar mixture, and scatter some butter flakes on top

(9) Repeat steps 6-8 with the remaining bread and mixture

(10) Place the tin in the oven for 15-20 minutes

Serving: must serve with vanilla cream on top!

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3 Responses to “Makos Guba – Hungarian Poppy Seed Bread Pudding”

  1. Marta Says:
    October 30th, 2009 at 12:34 am

    Thanks a lot for the recipe, I love Makos guba! :)

  2. Denya Says:
    December 27th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

    Just discovered that poppy seeds are available at Polish stores as well :)

  3. Kaviar Sevruga Says:
    January 18th, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    Flavorful recipe! ;-) . I like reading your web log. Where did you buy this gorgeous website template from? Remembrance from russia.

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