Description
Hearty grandmas goulash brings comfort from Hungarian kitchens, blending rich beef, paprika, and tender vegetables into a soul-warming stew. Home cooks savor this traditional recipe that connects generations through its deep, satisfying flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Tomato Base:
- 1 (15 ounces/425 grams) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounces/425 grams) can tomato sauce
Pasta:
- 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
Liquid:
- 1 cup water or beef broth
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
Instructions
- Sizzle ground beef and onions in a spacious pot, breaking meat into crumbly fragments until browned and translucent. Eliminate accumulated fat through careful draining.
- Introduce minced garlic, allowing its aromatic essence to permeate the mixture for approximately 30 seconds. Pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, liquid complement, and seasonings including paprika, oregano, bay leaf, salt, pepper, and optional sugar.
- Orchestrate a gentle culinary dance by reducing heat and allowing the sauce to simmer, developing rich flavors through occasional stirring. Maintain this melodic cooking process for roughly 15 minutes.
- Simultaneously prepare elbow macaroni in a separate vessel, following package guidance for optimal texture. Thoroughly drain pasta, setting aside momentarily.
- Reunite the sauce and pasta, gently folding them together to ensure comprehensive integration. Continue simmering for an additional 5 minutes, permitting ingredients to harmonize and meld their distinctive characteristics.
- Extract the bay leaf to prevent unexpected bitter undertones. Distribute the robust goulash into serving vessels, presenting a steaming, comforting meal that promises warmth and satisfaction.
- Optional embellishment includes sprinkling fresh parsley or scattering shredded cheese atop the dish for enhanced visual and flavor complexity.
Notes
- Lean Meat Swap: Use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version of this classic dish, reducing the fat content while maintaining rich flavor.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace traditional elbow macaroni with gluten-free pasta or zucchini noodles to make the recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Vegetable Boost: Sneak in extra nutrients by adding diced bell peppers, carrots, or spinach during the meat cooking stage for increased vegetable intake.
- Flavor Enhancement: Toast the paprika in the pot for 30 seconds before adding other ingredients to intensify its smoky depth and release more complex aromatics.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Hungarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg