Vanillicious.com – Easy Desserts

Poppy Seed Tart

Sadly, I grew up in a country with no real poppy seed tradition, and the only traditional poppy seed pastry contained a relatively disgusting poppy seed mix. Also, as a kid, the sight of that dark and unfamiliar filling inside my favourite shortbread-like filled cookie didn’t really help. So I gave poppy seeds up for almost 30 years! How sad! Luckily, my mom’s cheese cakes and vanilla roulades made up for it and I didn’t feel deprived, haha.

I re-discovered the poppy seeds and the great flavour, scent and crunchy texture they add to pastries and desserts, when I first visited Hungary, and ever since I’m trying to get more and more of it every time I visit. I’m Looking forward to the next visit, so I can try some more local poppy seed delicacies. In the meantime, I’m trying every recipe I find in order to make up for the lost years. Click here to read up this recipe!

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.