Nesze Semmi ("here's nothing" cookies)

Name: Nesze Semmi ("here's nothing" cookies)
Total time: 1 h
Yield: approx. 25 pcs
Cuisine: Hungarian
Ingredients: 1 egg white (pasteurized); 180 g powdered sugar; 20 g dark chocolate, finely grated; 1 tsp lemon juice; 1 pinch salt; powdered sugar or rice flour for rolling; parchment paper

Time: 1 hourapprox. 25 pcsapprox. 40 kcal / serving (estimated)

“Nesze semmi” (roughly “here, take nothing”) is the old tea cookie made from the fewest ingredients: a single egg white, sugar and a little chocolate. It got its name because it is made from almost nothing. The rollable mass of egg white and powdered sugar is cut into shapes and tastes a bit like marzipan.

Nesze Semmi ("here's nothing" cookies) (illustration)

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Method

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Whisk the egg white with the salt and lemon juice for 1-2 minutes until frothy. Gradually sift in most of the powdered sugar and stir until you have a thick, rollable mass (about 150 g powdered sugar is needed).
Work in the grated chocolate. If the mass is too sticky, sift in a little more powdered sugar.
Preheat the oven to 150 °C (140 °C fan) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Roll the mass out on a powdered-sugar-dusted surface to about 4 mm thick and cut out shapes (hearts, stars, circles).
Place the shapes on the tray and dry them at 150 °C for 12-15 minutes until set but still pale. Cool on a rack and store in an airtight container.

Based on: Malatinszky Fanny szakácskönyve (a classic Hungarian cookbook), modernised. Calories and protein are estimated.

Tips

Use pasteurized egg white.
Roll the mass out on a powdered-sugar surface, not a floured one.
Bake at a low temperature so they do not brown.
You can decorate with icing or chocolate.

Frequently asked questions

Why powdered sugar for rolling?

Flour would turn the white cookie gray; powdered sugar melts into it.

How long can they be stored?

In an airtight container for 2 weeks.

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