Description
Hearty Hungarian goulash showcases rich beef stew traditions from Central Europe. Slow-simmered meat, paprika-infused broth, and tender vegetables invite you to savor authentic culinary comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 lbs (1.36 kg) beef stew meat, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
- 3 onions, sliced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps Hungarian sweet paprika
- 3 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp ground black pepper
- ⅓ cup (79 ml) vegetable oil
- 1.5 cups (355 ml) water
- 1 (6 oz) (170 g) can tomato paste
Instructions
- Preparation: Meticulously cube beef into uniform 1.5-inch pieces and slice onions into delicate rings, ensuring precise preparation for optimal cooking.
- Sauté Foundation: Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over medium flame until it radiates a golden sheen, then introduce onions and coax them to a translucent, silky texture through gentle stirring.
- Aromatic Layering: Dust the softened onions with Hungarian sweet paprika, salt, and black pepper, creating a vibrant spice landscape. Toast the seasonings briefly to unlock their deep, complex flavors.
- Meat Transformation: Nestle beef cubes into the seasoned onion base, allowing each piece to develop a rich, caramelized crust through strategic turning and even heat exposure.
- Liquid Integration: Stream water into the pot, whisk tomato paste until seamlessly incorporated, and fold in minced garlic to construct a robust flavor foundation.
- Slow Alchemy: Initiate a momentary boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover and allow ingredients to harmonize, occasionally stirring and monitoring liquid levels to prevent scorching.
- Culinary Finale: After 1.5-2 hours, when beef surrenders to fork-tender perfection and sauce achieves a luxurious consistency, perform a final flavor calibration with a nuanced salt adjustment.
Notes
- Meat Precision Matters: Cut beef into uniform 1½-inch cubes to ensure even cooking and consistent tenderness throughout the dish.
- Paprika Power: Use authentic Hungarian sweet paprika for a genuine, rich flavor that defines the traditional goulash taste profile.
- Liquid Level Check: Monitor cooking liquid during simmering to prevent burning and maintain a perfect sauce consistency.
- Low and Slow Magic: Maintain a gentle simmer to transform tough beef cuts into meltingly tender meat, developing deep, complex flavors over time.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg