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Hungarian Pörkölt (Beef Stew) Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 85 reviews

Pörkölt is a traditional Hungarian stew made with tender chunks of beef chuck roast simmered in a flavorful sauce rich with Hungarian sweet paprika, onions, tomato sauce, and a hint of vinegar. This comforting dish is perfectly complemented by egg noodles and finished with a creamy touch of sour cream, offering a warm, hearty meal ideal for family dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

  • 2 pounds chuck roast, cut into bite size pieces

Cooking

  • 2 Tablespoons oil
  • Fresh cracked salt and pepper
  • 2 onions, diced
  • 8 oz tomato sauce
  • 2 teaspoons beef bouillon paste or 2 beef bouillon cubes
  • ½ cup water
  • 3 Tablespoons Hungarian sweet paprika
  • 1 tsp vinegar
  • ¼ cup sour cream

To Serve

  • 1 lb egg noodles

Instructions

  1. Sear Meat: Season the beef chuck roast pieces generously with salt and freshly cracked pepper on all sides. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large cast iron pot over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the beef in small batches to avoid overcrowding and sear the meat until browned on all sides. Remove seared meat to a plate and set aside.
  2. Cook Sauce Ingredients: If needed, add a little more oil to the pot and reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced onions and cook until they become golden and soft. Return the seared beef to the pot, then add tomato sauce, beef bouillon paste or cubes, water, Hungarian sweet paprika, and vinegar. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
  3. Simmer: Cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and let the stew simmer gently for about 2 hours, or until the meat is fall-apart tender. After cooking, remove the pot from the heat and let it cool slightly for about 10 minutes.
  4. Finish with Sour Cream: Stir in ¼ cup of sour cream to add creaminess and a subtle tang to the stew. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
  5. Serve: Prepare egg noodles according to package instructions. Ladle the pörkölt over the cooked noodles and serve hot for a traditional Hungarian comfort meal.

Notes

  • Yield: About 5 cups of pörkölt. Serving size: Approximately 1 cup.
  • Hungarian sweet paprika can be found in most grocery spice aisles or online. Using regular hot paprika will alter the flavor, so reduce the quantity accordingly and adjust to taste.
  • Variations: You can substitute the beef chuck roast with other meats like chicken, pork, or game meat.
  • Add vegetables such as sautéed carrots or potatoes during the last 30 minutes of cooking for added nutrition and flavor.
  • To make Paprikás, add extra sour cream at the end to create a creamy Hungarian favorite.
  • To freeze: Prepare the recipe through to the simmer step and allow the stew to cool before placing it in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3-4 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and stir in sour cream before serving.
  • Nutrition information does not include the egg noodles.

Keywords: Hungarian stew, pörkölt, beef stew, paprika stew, comfort food, traditional Hungarian recipe, egg noodles, sour cream stew

Find it online: https://mixitwitjoe.com/hungarian-porkolt-beef-stew-recipe/