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BROWSE MOREgoulash
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Authentic Hungarian Goulash
Ready in: 1-2 hrs 
Difficulty: 3/5
INGREDIENTS:
2 pounds beef chuck
1 teaspoon salt
2 onions, white or yellow
2 tablespoons lard or shortening
2 tablespoons imported sweet Hungarian paprika (most important to use real Hungarian paprika for ultimate flavor)
2 bay leaves
1 quart water
4 peeled and diced potatoes
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
***Egg Dumpling Batter***
1 egg
6 tablespoons flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
DIRECTIONS:
Cut beef into 1 inch squares, add 1/2 tsp. salt. Chop onions and brown in shortening, add beef and paprika. Let beef simmer in its own juice along with salt and paprika for 1 hr. on low heat. Add bay leaves, water, diced potatoes, black pepper, and remaining salt. Cover and simmer until potatoes are done and meat is tender.
Prepare egg dumpling batter:
Add flour to unbeaten egg and salt. Mix well. Let stand for 1/2 hour for flour to mellow. Drop by teaspoonful into Goulash. Cover and simmer 5 minutes after dumplings rise to surface. Serve hot with dollops of sour cream.
Recipe Source: June Meyers
COOK'S NOTES:
This recipe is courtesy of June Meyers.
Here is a recipe for authentic Hungarian Goulash I learned to make from my grandmother and mother who were from Austria-Hungary. Every family has its own version of Goulash. My family would NEVER consider tomatoes or green peppers or other spices in Goulash. Some other dishes would have tomato or green pepper, but not Goulash. Slow cooking is the secret and you can never use too much paprika. I like to use 3 tablespoons. Hope you enjoy this dish, I have been raised on it. Regards, June Meyer.
NUTRITION:
This Authentic Hungarian Goulash recipe from CDKitchen serves/makes 6
Recipe ID: 9985
REVIEWS:
Guest: dove 2010-01-20
I try recipes never knowing what to expect, but my Husband was pleasantly suprised that this tasted so much like his Mothers recipe. His only complaint was my dumplings were tough-which most recipes I have tried with homemade dumpling usually are. What am I doing wrong??
Guest: ivo 2007-11-10
The most pure goulash recipe on the net. Everything else other recipes add to goulash most often spoil it (I admit, I used to add a pinch of cumin). Try also the Austrian version, they add much more onion - also very good, but this is the original one. For those who hesitate to add the prescribed amount of water - remember, this is a soup, not a stew. Enjoy!
Guest: Anonymous 2007-10-31
I made this dish for guests on Halloween and it was a big hit. I thought it was going to be bland, but after adding the bay leaves, salt and pepper and letting it simmer it reall came around. I added only 3c. of water and to thicken the dish I smashed up some of the potatoes at the end. My husband has requested that I make this dish a Halloween tradition, although I'm sure I'll make this again before next year!
Guest: Paul 2006-01-22
Awesome recipe. I got it when this website looked a little diferent about 4 years ago and since have tweaked the recipe. I found it easier to use a pot, and stick to 2.5 cups of water instead of 4. That way you could have this ready in and hour and a half tops as opposed to much longer while trying to reduce (if using 4 cups) to thicken it. Great recipe!!
Guest: newbee 2010-11-21
Very good recipe, thank you. My family liked it especially considering that my husband does not like beef in general, but this particular dish he liked very much. I used 3 cups of vegetable broth instead of water. In terms of cooking time - it took 4 hours of simmering on my ceramic top stove.
GolJoy 2009-09-29
To improve use beef broth instead of water. Add some ground caraway for a bit more authentic flavor.
Guest: Anonymous 2007-10-19
Pretty good but I'd never suggest adding just water. It is boring and makes for a bland dish. I'd recommend switching that to a broth or stock (homemade preferably).
Guest: John SB 2008-01-27
It looked easy, but did not seem to have enough ingredients. It doesn't. Not much taste and more like a beef soup without the vegetables.
Guest: AlphaKennyBody 2009-09-11
I am Hungarian as well. "Some other dishes would have tomato or green pepper, but not Goulash." Dear anonymous Hungarian girl read that sentence more carefully especially the end of it.In my village we use to put some caraway-seeds in it as well. That can give it more intensive taste. The recipe is not too bad. The truth is very hard to say what is the most authentic way making Goulash.
Guest: Anonymous 2007-11-28
Hello! I'm a Hungarian girl. Sorry,but I have to tell you that the authentic goulash (in Hungary Gulyás) has to include green peppers and tomatos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
