Great Goulash - Dinner Tonight - Cooking

Great Goulash! Five Easy Recipes

No Comments | Written on February 2, 2012 at 3:00 pm, by The Editors

Beef Goulash Goulash, a traditional Hungarian stew made with chunks of beef and seasoned with paprika, is one of those comfort foods that resonates with almost everyone. Its tomato-based sauce mingles with the rich flavors of beef and veggies, while the paprika (essentially smoked dried chile) gives the dish a smoky complexity. The stew is usually served over hot buttered egg noodles, but white rice or mashed potatoes would also be tasty.

The key to success with this dish is to ensure the beef chunks are fork-tender, and the best way to achieve that is to brown the meat, then let it simmer for hours. (A slow cooker is ideal for this.) When it comes to goulash, you don’t have to limit yourself to beef—below, we’ve got recipes that bring pork, chicken, and even veal into the dish. Experiment with them all to see which version of this Hungarian favorite your family likes best.

A long simmer in a slow cooker makes the Hungarian Beef Goulash (pictured above) meltingly tender. An assertive blend of spices ensures you won’t miss the fat of traditional recipes.

Beef Goulash: This spin on classic Hungarian goulash uses beef stew meat and lots of veggies. A bit of lemon zest gives it a welcome brightness.

Hungarian Pork Goulash: Pork tenderloin stands in for beef in this version of Hungarian goulash. The sauce is full of vegetables, with a pleasantly sweet tang.

Veal Goulash with Paprika, Caraway, and Fried Capers: If you want a little wow factor, opt for veal in your goulash. Here, the meat is bathed in a rich, velvety sauce flavored with plenty of paprika.

Chicken Goulash with Dumplings Chicken Goulash with Biscuit Dumplings: A twist on traditional goulash, this chicken version is topped with biscuit dumplings. It’s a hearty one-pot meal perfect for Sunday supper.