Hungarian Goulash

Updated Sept. 15, 2023

Hungarian Goulash
Angie Mosier for The New York Times
Total Time
1 hour 45 minutes
Rating
4(2,597)
Comments
Read comments

There is no high drama about simmering a stew. However fine, stew is a homey, intimate exchange, a paean to the way living things improve when their boundaries relax, when they incorporate some of the character and flavor of others. Soulful, a word inextricably linked with a good sturdy stew, is the payoff to the cook who plans a little and has the patience to abide.

Featured in: A Simmer of Hope

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone
    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.
    Subscribe
  • Print Options


Advertisement


Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 2teaspoons unsalted butter
  • 2medium onions, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 2tablespoons sweet Hungarian paprika
  • 1teaspoon caraway seeds
  • 1pound beef stewing meat, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • ¼cup all-purpose flour
  • 2cups beef broth, homemade or low-sodium canned
  • 1tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
  • ¼teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

243 calories; 8 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 15 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 29 grams protein; 713 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by
Cooking Newsletter illustration

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until wilted, about 10 minutes. Stir in the paprika and caraway seeds and cook 1 minute more. In a bowl, toss the beef with the flour to coat well. Add the beef to the onion mixture. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.

  2. Step 2

    Add ½ cup of the broth, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot. Gradually stir in the remaining broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a slow simmer. Cover and cook until the beef is tender, about 1½ hours. Stir in the lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Serve over wide egg noodles.

Ratings

4 out of 5
2,597 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Comments

As a Hungarian, I am cooking goulash all the time. This recipe is the closest I have ever read in an English language description.
However, I never used lemon juice or flour. But more onion, never sliced but chopped, 1 small fresh tomato and a slice of yellow or green pepper. We always serve it with gnocchi, or boiled potato.

There is one essential thing to know about Hungarian cooking: never just stir in the paprika: always pull the pot off the heat, stir in the paprika, then return to heat. Otherwise your food will taste bitter!

Just wondering: Why use low sodium broth and then add two teaspoons of salt???? that's a lot of salt? I'll probably go with regular broth.

Last time we had goulash this good, we were eating at a famous Hungarian restaurant in Boston. I modified the ingredients because I wanted to use left over prime rib cut into small pieces. I used a single clove of grated garlic which was added with the paprika and caraway seeds. This dish was sweet & lovely! We will make it again!

I’ve made this 3 times in the past month, it’s a winter crowd pleaser. I took the suggestions of the others and add carrots and a couple diced tomatoes. Also- I double the recipe because everyone goes back for seconds!

This recipe is a big winner, but like every goulash I’ve ever made, it’s much better on the second day. So if you eat it on day one and think it’s just a little bland, give it a day. I love this recipe because it is supremely simple, but it doesn’t have enough onions so add at least one more.

Private comments are only visible to you.

Advertisement

or to save this recipe.