The presence of Serbs in Hungary dates back to the medieval period when they settled in the region as part of the wider migration of Slavic peoples. During the Ottoman period, many Serbs fled to Hungary to escape the Ottoman invasion and occupation of Serbia, which led to a significant increase in the Serbian population in Hungary.

Serbian cuisine has had a significant influence on the culinary traditions of Hungary, particularly in the southern regions of the country, in the areas of Bács-Kiskun, Csongrád and Békés counties, where a large Serbian minority lives. Some popular Serbian dishes have become a part of the Hungarian cuisine and are widely enjoyed by both Hungarians and Serbs living in Hungary.

The Hungarian word ‘rác’ used in the name of many dishes indicates the Serbian origin of those foods. Rácbab and gyuvecs are iconic dishes of the Serbian cuisine, which are also loved by Hungarians. Rác oldalas is a lesser-known recipe that bears the stamp of the Serbian influence too. It implies oven-baked pork ribs with bacon, potatoes, peppers and tomatoes.