Pörkölt (Hungarian Paprika Meat Stew)
In short: Beef slowly braised in its own juices with plenty of onion and sweet paprika until it falls apart in a thick, rich sauce. It takes about 2 h 50 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 2 h 30 min
- Total
- 2 h 50 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 420 kcal
Pörkölt is the Hungarian stew that many cooks consider the base of the whole cuisine. Meat, usually beef, pork or venison, is cooked with a large amount of onion and sweet paprika and very little liquid, so it braises in its own juices into a thick, deep red sauce. Unlike goulash, it is a stew, not a soup. Serve it with nokedli dumplings, boiled potatoes or fresh bread, and a cucumber salad.
Instructions
- Heat the lard in a heavy pot over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook for 15 minutes, stirring often, until soft and light golden.
- Add the garlic for 1 minute, then take the pot off the heat. Stir in the paprika, caraway and tomato paste, then the water at once, so the paprika does not scorch.
- Add the beef, salt and pepper and stir until coated. Cover and cook over low heat for 30 minutes, stirring now and then. The meat will release its own juices.
- Add the bell pepper and tomato, cover again and cook for 1 1/2 hours more, adding a splash of hot water only if the pot becomes dry.
- When the meat is very tender and the sauce is thick and glossy, remove the lid and cook for 10 minutes to reduce the sauce slightly.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve hot with nokedli, boiled potatoes or bread.
Tips
- Cook the onions slowly. They break down into the sauce and give it body, because pörkölt has no flour or cream. A ratio of about 1 part onion to 2 parts meat is typical.
- Pork shoulder, chicken thighs or veal work equally well. Pork shoulder needs about 1 1/2 hours in total, and chicken thighs about 45 minutes.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between pörkölt and goulash?
Pörkölt is a thick stew with a small amount of sauce. Gulyás is a soup with more liquid and vegetables such as potatoes and carrots.
What do you serve with pörkölt?
Nokedli (small dumplings) are the classic side. Boiled potatoes, egg noodles or bread with a pickled cucumber salad also suit it.
Can I freeze pörkölt?
Yes. It freezes well for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight and reheat gently, adding a splash of water if needed.
How long does it take to make Pörkölt (Hungarian Paprika Meat Stew)?
About 2 h 50 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 2 h 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pörkölt (Hungarian Paprika Meat Stew)?
About 420 kcal per serving, with 40 g of protein, 13 g of carbohydrates and 23 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 420 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 40 g |
| Carbohydrates | 13 g |
| Fat | 23 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 7 g |
| Sodium | 760 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
