Rakott Krumpli (Hungarian Layered Potatoes)

I have been eating this dish since I was a child. I have started to make it even more sinful by adding American cheese slices in between the layers - so yummy! Although if you use the cheese, it doesn't need the butter or salt, so I guess it's not that much worse than the original version. The cheese melts and runs together with the sour cream, creating a scrumptious gooey "sauce". True comfort food, even when made with reduced fat sour cream! If there are ever any leftovers, I refrigerate and rewarm in the microwave for lunch the next day, and it's just as delicious. My family loves this - we eat a lot of it on Passover! It never occurred to me that you would put meat in here, it is so delicious this way.

This recipe is really nice, a good foray into easy to make typically Hungarian type of fair - very starchy, hearty, layered with nice fats (sour cream, butter). Typically this is made with a lot of meats; bacon, sausage, etc. but I like it a LOT as is, and I don't eat pork or milk and meat, and I think the dish was terrific as is! Split it with a friend and she thought it was really good too. I made one addition the recipe - I added green olives in. It works, if you like olives. I am sure you can add/subtract things as you like, but the base recipe is great (and simple, cheap, easy, etc.)!

This recipe is one of those over-the-top-heart-attack-risk-in-a-dish kind of things. It is SOOOOO rich that it is scary. My husband and guests gobbled it up. I was almost afraid to try it, floating as it was in layers of butter and sour cream. Eventually I couldnt resist. While I forced myself not to eat the whole casserole (not easy), even a small serving was delicious. While it is too fatty for everyday fare, it is a magnificent rare treat. Thanks!