Hungarian Style Goulash – A Rich and Comforting Traditional Recipe

Few dishes capture the comforting flavors of Hungarian cooking quite like Hungarian Style Goulash. Slow-cooked beef, onions, sweet paprika, vegetables, and aromatic spices come together to create a hearty dish with a deeply savory flavor.

Unlike many versions of “goulash” served outside Hungary, traditional Hungarian goulash is closer to a rich, paprika-seasoned soup or stew. The secret is allowing the ingredients to cook gently so the beef becomes tender and the broth develops plenty of flavor.

What Is Hungarian Goulash?

Hungarian goulash, known as Gulyás, is one of Hungary’s best-known traditional dishes.

The recipe is built around a few essential ingredients: beef, onions, Hungarian paprika, potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables. Caraway seeds and peppers can also be used to give the dish its distinctive character.

It is a wonderfully satisfying meal for chilly evenings, family dinners, or whenever you’re craving something warm and homemade.

Ingredients

For the Goulash

• 2 pounds beef chuck, cut into bite-sized cubes
• 2 tablespoons lard or vegetable oil
• 2 large onions, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons Hungarian sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 parsnip, sliced
• 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 6 cups beef broth or water
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley, for serving

Optional

• A small amount of Hungarian hot paprika
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• Hungarian wax pepper
• A little smoked paprika for extra depth