Hearty Hungarian Goulash with Homemade Garlic Bread: A Comforting Family Dinner

Hearty Hungarian Goulash with Homemade Garlic Bread: A Comforting Family Dinner

Hi, food lovers! Al here, back with another cozy and comforting recipe perfect for a relaxing family dinner. Today, we’re diving into the rich, deeply flavored world of Hungarian cuisine with a heartwarming Hungarian Goulash, paired with irresistible homemade garlic bread. Trust me, this dish will fill your home with amazing aromas and your hearts with warmth.

Goulash is one of those classic dishes that always brings a sense of nostalgia and comfort, especially on those chilly UK evenings. This version of Hungarian Goulash is brimming with tender beef, hearty vegetables, and a symphony of spices. Paired with a crusty, buttery garlic bread, it’s a meal that’s perfect for gathering around the table and sharing stories of the day.

A Little History

If you’re not too familiar with Goulash, let me give you a quick rundown. Goulash originates from Hungary and has been a part of Hungarian cuisine for centuries. Originally, it was a humble shepherd’s dish, packed with meat and vegetables to fuel a day of hard work. Over time, it’s become a beloved comfort food across Europe and beyond. The secret to its captivating flavors lies in the use of both sweet and smoked paprika and those slow-simmered beef cubes that melt in your mouth.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

One of the reasons I cherish this dish (and I hope you will too) is its versatility and the bit of patience it requires – a true labor of love. Slow cooking ensures that every ingredient melds together beautifully, creating a stew that’s rich, robust, and incredibly satisfying.

Perfect Sidekick: Homemade Garlic Bread

Of course, no hearty stew would be complete without some fresh, homemade garlic bread to mop up all that glorious sauce. This garlic bread is crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and bursting with buttery, garlicky goodness. Plus, it’s easy to make, so you can focus more on enjoying the meal with your loved ones.

Getting Started

Before you dive into the recipe, make sure you have all your ingredients prepped and ready. Here’s the detailed list to get you started:

Ingredients

For the Hungarian Goulash:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1.5 lbs (680g) beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 large onions, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
• 1 large bell pepper, diced
• 1 large carrot, sliced
• 4 cups (1 liter) beef broth
• 1 can (14.5 oz or 410g) diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

For the Homemade Garlic Bread:

• 1 large French baguette or Italian loaf
• 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup (25g) grated Parmesan cheese
• Pinch of salt

Method

For the Hungarian Goulash:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
2. Add the beef chuck cubes and sear until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the beef and set aside.
3. In the same pot, add the chopped onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
4. Stir in the minced garlic, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, and caraway seeds. Cook for another 2 minutes until aromatic.
5. Add the diced bell pepper and sliced carrot, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Return the beef to the pot and pour in the beef broth, diced tomatoes (with juice), and tomato paste. Stir to combine.
7. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the beef is tender. Stir occasionally.
8. 30 minutes before the goulash is done, add the diced potatoes and season with salt and pepper to taste.
9. Once the potatoes are tender and the goulash has thickened, remove from heat.
10. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

For the Homemade Garlic Bread:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cut the baguette or Italian loaf in half lengthwise.
3. In a small bowl, mix the softened butter with minced garlic, chopped parsley, grated Parmesan cheese, and a pinch of salt.
4. Evenly spread the garlic butter mixture over the cut sides of the bread.
5. Place the bread on a baking sheet, cut side up.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the bread is golden and crispy.
7. Remove from the oven, let cool for a few minutes, then slice and serve warm alongside the goulash.

There you have it, folks! A delicious, hearty Hungarian Goulash with homemade garlic bread that’s sure to become a family favorite. Give it a try, and let me know how it turned out in the comments below. Until next time, happy cooking!

Cheers,
Al

Ingredients

Ingredients

For the Hungarian Goulash:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1.5 lbs (680g) beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 large onions, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
• 1 large bell pepper, diced
• 1 large carrot, sliced
• 4 cups (1 liter) beef broth
• 1 can (14.5 oz or 410g) diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

For the Homemade Garlic Bread:

• 1 large French baguette or Italian loaf
• 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup (25g) grated Parmesan cheese
• Pinch of salt

Method

Method

For the Hungarian Goulash:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
2. Add the beef chuck cubes and sear until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the beef and set aside.
3. In the same pot, add the chopped onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
4. Stir in the minced garlic, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, and caraway seeds. Cook for another 2 minutes until aromatic.
5. Add the diced bell pepper and sliced carrot, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Return the beef to the pot and pour in the beef broth, diced tomatoes (with juice), and tomato paste. Stir to combine.
7. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the beef is tender. Stir occasionally.
8. 30 minutes before the goulash is done, add the diced potatoes and season with salt and pepper to taste.
9. Once the potatoes are tender and the goulash has thickened, remove from heat.
10. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

For the Homemade Garlic Bread:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cut the baguette or Italian loaf in half lengthwise.
3. In a small bowl, mix the softened butter with minced garlic, chopped parsley, grated Parmesan cheese, and a pinch of salt.
4. Evenly spread the garlic butter mixture over the cut sides of the bread.
5. Place the bread on a baking sheet, cut side up.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the bread is golden and crispy.
7. Remove from the oven, let cool for a few minutes, then slice and serve warm alongside the goulash.