Description
Hungarian goulash brings hearty comfort through tender beef, paprika-rich sauce, and traditional slow-cooking magic. Simmered with love and generations of culinary wisdom, this classic dish promises a soul-warming meal that connects you directly to Eastern European kitchen traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound (450 grams) ground beef
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Liquid and Tomato Ingredients:
- 1 can (15 ounces/425 grams) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 ounces/411 grams) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Pasta and Topping:
- 2 cups (200 grams) uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 cup (100 grams) shredded cheddar cheese (optional, for topping)
- Chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Sear ground beef in a spacious pot over medium flame, methodically crumbling the meat while it browns. Eliminate most of the rendered fat, preserving a thin layer for flavor enhancement.
- Introduce diced onions and minced garlic into the meat-filled pot. Sauté until vegetables become translucent and release their aromatic essence, approximately 3 minutes.
- Pour in tomato sauce, whole diced tomatoes with their natural juices, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce. Sprinkle paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and freshly ground pepper into the mixture. Stir thoroughly to marry the ingredients.
- Gently cascade uncooked elbow macaroni into the bubbling sauce. Ensure complete pasta submersion through careful stirring. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cover the pot.
- Allow the goulash to evolve, stirring periodically, until pasta reaches perfect tenderness and sauce thickens substantially, roughly 15-18 minutes.
- For enhanced creaminess, fold half the cheddar cheese into the goulash. Distribute remaining cheese across the surface, creating a tempting molten layer.
- Let the residual heat transform the cheese into a glossy, melted blanket. Rest the dish momentarily to allow flavors to harmonize.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Serve piping hot, accompanied by crusty bread or a crisp side salad.
Notes
- Drain beef thoroughly to prevent excess grease, ensuring a cleaner, more robust flavor profile.
- Use lean ground beef (90/10) for a healthier version without sacrificing taste or texture.
- Layer flavors by toasting paprika and Italian seasoning briefly before adding liquid ingredients to enhance their depth and complexity.
- Customize for dietary needs by substituting gluten-free macaroni or using plant-based ground meat alternatives for a vegetarian twist.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Hungarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg