Real Hungarian Goulash Cooks Illustrated Recipes

AUTHENTIC HUNGARIAN GOULASH

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium high heat. Saute onions until soft, then add beef and brown. Stir in caraway seed, marjoram, garlic and paprika. Pour water over all, lower heat to low and simmer for 2 1/2 hours.
• Add potatoes and cook until tender, another 45 minutes to 1 hour. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

REAL HUNGARIAN GOULASH - COOK'S ILLUSTRATED

Steps:

• Place rack in lower-middle position of oven and heat to 325°F.
• Sprinkle meat with 1 tsp salt and let stand 15 minute.
• In a food processor, combine paprika, peppers, tomato paste and 2 tsp vinegar until smooth, 1-2 minutes.
• Heat oil in Dutch oven until shimmering. Add onions and 1 tsp salt. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions soften but are not brown, 8-10 minutes.
• Stir in paprika paste and cook until onions begin to stick to bottom of pan, 2 minutes.
• Add beef, carrots and bay leaf. Stir until everything is well coated. Scrape down sides of pot, cover and place in oven. Cook, stirring every 30 minutes, until meat is tender, and liquid is 1/2" below top of meat, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• Remove pot from oven and add enough warmed beef broth to bring liquid level up to 1/4" below top of meat. Do not cover meat in liquid! Replace pot cover and return to oven about 30 minutes more, until a fork slides in and out of beef easily.
• Meanwhile, put potatoes, 1/2 cup beef broth and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce to a rapid simmer, cover, and cook until potatoes are tender, 20-30 minutes.
• Skim fat off surface of stew. Stir in 1 tsp vinegar and sour cream, if using. Remove bay leaf and adjust seasonings. Serve over boiled potatoes.

HUNGARIAN BEEF-NOODLE GOULASH

Steps:

• Roll beef cubes in flour.
• Heat oil in dutch oven and brown beef on all sides.
• Add onions, paprika, salt, pepper, and beef broth.
• Cover and cook over low heat for 1/ 1/2 hours or until tender.