Authentic Hungarian Goulash

sugarpea's Note:

Got the original recipe for this fifteen years ago from an ethnic cookbook. The author's Hungarian grandmother taught her how to make it so I'm sure it's one authentic way to make goulash. It's so good it's worth the effort it takes to make and much of the time you can be doing other things while it simmers. Just keep an eye on it and stir once in awhile. I like to serve it with steamed beet greens or spinach dressed with a bit of butter, salt/pepper and vinegar.

• Total Time: 4 hrs
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 3 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 3 tablespoons olive oil , divided (the original calls for butter and bacon fat in twice the quantity. I don't believe the flavor suffer)
• 6 cups sliced onions (don't let the large quantity deter you, it mellows)
• 2 ½ cups water , divided
• ½ cup flour
• ½ teaspoon thyme
• ½ teaspoon marjoram
• 1 ½ lbs beef stew meat , cubed
• ½ cup white wine
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon Hungarian paprika (no substitutions)
• salt and pepper
• ½ cup sour cream (Try adding a bit to a spoonful of finished sauce and see what you think. You may want to serve it in) (optional)

Directions:

1. Saute the onions in a dutch oven with 2 T olive oil over medium-low heat until they are golden and carmelized, about 45 minutes.
2. Put the onions in a bowl and add 1/2 cup of water to the pot, scrape up all the brown bits and then pour it into the bowl of onions.
3. In a plastic bag shake the flour, thyme, marjoram and beef until coated.
4. Brown beef in the dutch oven with 1 T olive oil and save the extra flour mixture.
5. Add the onions, 2 cups of water, wine, bay leaf and paprika.
6. Cover, simmer and stir occasionally for 3 hours or until tender.
7. Put 2 cups of sauce in a saucepan, pour a little warm water into the reserved flour mixture until it is the consistency of cream, add it to the saucepan and cook, stirring, until thickened.
8. Pour contents of saucepan into dutch oven and cook another 5 minutes.
9. Season with salt and pepper and serve over noodles.
10. If using sour cream add it just before serving.

Reviews

[teveve]

I'm also Hungarian and although there are versions of the dish, the olive oil and the white wine are odd to me. I would certainly not call this authentic Hungarian food.

[Laurie519]

I think that this recipe is very authentic. My mother is Hungarian and our relatives are familiar with this type of dish. Some people do not realize that there are MANY different types of Hungarian goulash depending on the region you are from, we loved this dish!!

[Chef #470802]

i am hungarian also, this recipe has nothing to do with ungarian gulash or gulyas as we say it. it could have something to do with stroganoff or so. of course it can still taste great, but NOT A GULYAS at all.