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Goulash is a traditional Hungarian Soup featuring the favorite spice of the region – paprika.

When making this dish it is important to use the freshest Hungarian Style Sweet Paprika you can find.

For a variation, you can substitute the Sweet Paprika with a Smoked or Hot Paprika.

The soup was originally made with lard and thickened with lots of sour cream.

Since most of us don’t work on a Hungarian farm, today’s versions are more often thinner and made with vegetable oil instead.

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The goulash can be served on its own, in a bread bowl, or over nokedli noodles. Goulash soup is also often served with a traditional Hungarian Hot Chile Sauce, Eros Pista!

Here are a few additional recipes from Eastern Europe that you might enjoy!

Zacusca – Romanian Eggplant and Red Pepper Spread

Beef Borscht – Beetroot and Cabbage Soup

Romanian White Bean Dip – Fasole Batuta

Romanian White Cabbage Salad – Salatǎ de Varzǎ

Yield: 10 Servings

Traditional Hungarian Goulash Soup

Name: Traditional Hungarian Goulash Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: Eastern European
Ingredients: 1 1/2 lbs (680 g) stew beef (chuck) trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch cubes; 2 tablespoons (28 ml) vegetable oil (not olive oil); 2 small onions - finely chopped; 2 tablespoons (13.8 g) Sweet Hungarian Paprika; 1 teaspoon (2 g) cumin powder; 1 pinch caraway seeds; 2 cloves garlic - minced; 12 ounces (340 g) diced tomatoes; 3 medium carrots cut into 1/2 inch cubes; 1/2 turnip cut into 1/2 inch cubes; 4 medium potatoes peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes; 1/2 green pepper -diced; salt and pepper to taste; Sour Cream (optional); Spicy Hungarian Paprika Sauce - Eros Pista (optional topping)

Traditional Hungarian Goulash Soup with beef featuring sweet Hungarian paprika. A hearty beef and vegetable soup.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs (680 g) stew beef (chuck) trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 tablespoons (28 ml) vegetable oil (not olive oil)
2 small onions - finely chopped
2 tablespoons (13.8 g) Sweet Hungarian Paprika
1 teaspoon (2 g) cumin powder
1 pinch caraway seeds
2 cloves garlic - minced
12 ounces (340 g) diced tomatoes
3 medium carrots cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/2 turnip cut into 1/2 inch cubes
4 medium potatoes peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/2 green pepper -diced
salt and pepper to taste
Sour Cream (optional)
Spicy Hungarian Paprika Sauce - Eros Pista (optional topping)

Instructions

Sauté the finely chopped onion over medium heat in a heavy bottomed pot in the olive oil until translucent. Add more oil/lard if needed to prevent the onions from sticking.
Remove the pan from heat, add the paprika powder and then the meat.
Return the pan to the heat, season with salt, add the cumin powder, and caraway seeds and garlic. Sauté over medium heat to bring out the aroma of the spices for approximately 3 minutes, taking care not to burn the paprika.
Add the tomatoes and 5-6 cups of water or low-salt beef broth and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 40-50 minutes until the beef is tender.
Add the carrots, potato and green pepper and continue simmering for approximately 30 minutes until the vegetables are tender
For a thicker soup, mix 1/2 cup (123 g) of sour cream with 1 tablespoon (14 g) of flour and 1/2 tsp of paprika. Mix until smooth. Combine with some of the liquid in the soup to temper the sour cream, and then add to the soup. Simmer for another 10 minutes
Serve with a side of sour cream. You can also serve in a bread bowl or with Hungarian Dumplings (Nokedli) on the side to add to the soup if desired.
For a little extra heat, also consider serving the soup with a little hot sauce on the side. A favorite accompaniment in Hungarian cuisine is a hot sauce made with hot paprika sauce, Eros Pista.. For me, it absolutely makes the dish!