They may not be arancini, but the dumplings of Budapest’s new Mamma Sferico street-food eatery are somewhat Italian, since they are made from spaghetti or rice along with various meats, vegetables, and spices. Hungary’s Tattooed Chef, Zsolt Serényi, helped create some of the recipes. The long-cherished project was realized in December of 2016, and the owners are already thinking of investing in a food truck. Unlike hot dogs, hamburgers, and gyros, these dumplings seem easy to eat while on the go, and are filling enough to become the next festival season’s hit snack.
Mamma Sferico opened in a rather small location – just big enough to fit four people – located across the street from the National Museum and near multiple university campuses. There are a few chairs and a countertop for those who would like to eat inside, but takeaway is available, as well. The dumplings are made in a nearby kitchen, then are flash-frozen when they are halfway cooked, and then toasted in an oven on-site. Frying them in oil would seem like an obvious technique, but baking results in lighter dumplings that might not be crispy on the outside, but still develop a thin crust and remain soft on the inside.
The finished dumplings are made with various meats like salmon, chicken, pork, and beef, but there’s a vegetarian version, as well. A small portion is comprised of five dumplings, and costs 1,090 forints, including a sauce and a topping; for 1590 forints, the dumplings are served along with a drink and a dessert (like tiramisu, rice pudding with fruit, or a brownie).
A large portion has seven dumplings and costs 1,290 forints, or 1790 forints with a drink and dessert. Fortunately, the dumplings can be served in whatever flavors we want – meaning that we can try all of them in one meal.
We tasted a few pairings, and our favorite combinations were the salmon dumpling with sweet curry sauce, the beef dumpling with hoisin sauce or game sauce, the chicken dumpling with tomato sauce, and the salmon dumpling with French-cheese sauce. The sauces will change seasonally, so the variability is practically endless.
It seems like the local street-food scene is still full of fresh ideas, and we wouldn’t be surprised if the pasta and rice dumplings of Mamma Sferico will become this next festival season’s snack of choice.
Mamma Sferico
Address:
Budapest 1053, Museum Boulevard 41
Opening hours:
Monday-Friday, 11am-6pm; Saturday-Sunday: closed
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