Mákos Tészta (Hungarian Poppy Seed Noodles)
Buttery noodles tossed in sweet ground poppy seeds with lemon zest, a quick Hungarian classic that doubles as dessert.
- Time25 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.80 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 410kcal
- 28.9gcarbs
- 23.1gof which sugars
- 26.9gfat
- 8.9gsaturates
- 15.1gprotein
- 3.1gfibre
- 0.7gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Grind the poppy seeds with the caster sugar in a spice grinder or small blender, in batches, until they look like damp dark sand. This releases their flavour. Stir in the lemon zest.
- 2
Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the salt and cook the noodles for 8 to 10 minutes, or as the packet says, until tender.
9 min - 3
Drain the noodles, keeping a small cup of the cooking water.
- 4
Return the noodles to the hot pan with the butter and toss until melted and glossy. Add the poppy seed mixture and toss well, adding a splash of the cooking water if it seems dry.
- 5
Serve straight away in warm bowls, dusted with icing sugar.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
