Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy

Movie stills found here

MAGYAR

(Hungarian, subtitled)

And porkolts. You know porkolts?

JIM PRODEAUX

(Hungarian, subtitled)

Yes, I've had it.

MAGYAR

It's very good. Better than goulash. 

I of course had selected our Hungarian recipe (Chicken Paprikash) before seeing this little segment in the beginning of the movie, otherwise i would have thrown some peppers into our paprikash and voila! we would have had Porkolts. 

This was such a cinematically beautiful movie, the plot was fantastic, with an abundance of talented actors. Based on the 1974 British spy novel by John lé Carré the film focuses on a retired agent (Gary Oldman) finding a mole within the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS)–who doesn't love a spy thriller? Only, this beautiful movie wasn't so thrilling that we both didn't nod off from time to time. Still, I would hesitate to recommend it–we probably just ate too much delicious paprikash!

Movie Rating: 

Plot: 4 stars

Cinematography: 4.5 stars

Acting: 4 stars 

Average: 4.16 stars

Hungarian Chicken Paprikash

Recipe adapted from the one found here

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs chicken, bone-in, skin-on (we used two breasts, two thighs, and two drumsticks)

1 large onion

2-3 tablespoons paprika

salt and pepper 

6 cups chicken broth (water would be fine too, plus this measurement is just an estimation)

1/4 cup flour

1/2–3/4 cup sour cream (full-fat yogurt would work as well)

egg noodles (prepare according to package instructions)

DIRECTIONS

Season the chicken generously with salt, pepper, and paprika. Brown the chicken over medium heat on all sides. Cover chicken with the onions. Allow the onions to soften. Pour the chicken broth over chicken and onions until covered. Simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the chicken falls from the bone. Remove the chicken and allow to cool. Put the 1/4 cup flour in a medium bowl and slowly add small amounts of broth until you form a thick paste. Keep mixing and adding more broth until the "roux" is thin enough to add back to the pot. Once the chicken has cooled, remove the bones, etc. and return the chicken to the pot along with the sour cream. Serve over prepared egg noodles. 

Dinner Rating: 

Movie Relevance: 5 stars

Taste: 5 stars

Presentation: 4.25

Average: 4.75 stars