Hungarian Green Pea Soup with Pinch Noodles ðŸ‡ðŸ‡º
Zöldborsóleves — A Light, Comforting Taste of Hungarian Home Cooking
There is something wonderfully comforting about a bowl of Hungarian Green Pea Soup, or Zöldborsóleves. Made with sweet green peas, tender vegetables, a light paprika-flavored broth, and tiny homemade pinch noodles, this traditional Hungarian soup is simple, colorful, and full of homemade character.
Unlike heavy cream-based pea soups, Zöldborsóleves is a clear, vegetable-rich soup. The natural sweetness of the peas pairs beautifully with carrots, parsley, and Hungarian paprika, while the little pieces of dough—known as csipetke or pinch noodles—make the soup hearty enough to serve as a satisfying first course or light meal.
It is especially popular as a comforting family soup because it doesn’t require complicated ingredients. A few humble vegetables, good paprika, and homemade noodles are enough to create something memorable.
🥣 What Is Zöldborsóleves?
Zöldborsóleves literally means green pea soup in Hungarian.
It is a classic home-style Hungarian soup traditionally made with green peas, carrots, parsley, and a paprika-seasoned broth. Depending on the family and region, the recipe may vary slightly. Some versions include potatoes or other vegetables, while others keep the soup beautifully simple.
One of its most recognizable features is the addition of tiny hand-pinched noodles.
These little noodles are often called csipetke, from the Hungarian word associated with pinching. Small pieces of dough are pinched off by hand and dropped directly into the simmering soup.
The result is a soup that is:
Light but satisfying
Naturally sweet from the peas
Fragrant with paprika and parsley
Full of tender vegetables
Comforting and inexpensive
Perfect for a family dinner
🛒 Ingredients
For the Soup
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or lard
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 parsley root, peeled and sliced, optional
3 cups fresh or frozen green peas
1 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika
6 cups water or vegetable/chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 small bunch fresh parsley, chopped
1–2 tablespoons chopped celery leaves, optional
For the Pinch Noodles — Csipetke
1 large egg
¾ cup all-purpose flour, approximately
Pinch of salt
The dough should be firm enough to pinch into tiny pieces.
