Authentic Hungarian Goulash Soup Recipe: Learn Hungarian While Cooking with Paprika

Hungarian cuisine is famous for its rich flavors, and one of the most iconic dishes is gulyás (goulash soup) with Hungarian paprika (famous!). This hearty soup is perfect for cold days, and it brings the warmth of Hungarian food to your kitchen. Not only will you learn to cook this delicious recipe, but you'll also expand your Hungarian vocabulary while you're at it!

Ingredients for Hungarian Goulash Soup

• Hungarian paprika - piper paprika (the star of this dish!)
• Beef stew meat - marhahús
• Onions - hagyma
• Garlic - fokhagyma
• Potatoes - burgonya
• Carrots - sárgarépa
• Tomatoes - paradicsom
• Green peppers - zöld paprika
• Beef broth - marhahúsleves
• Salt and pepper - só és bors
• Caraway seeds (optional) - köménymag

Steps to Prepare Hungarian Goulash Soup

1. In a large pot, heat some oil and sauté chopped onions until golden. Hozzáadjuk a hagymát. (We add the onion.)
2. Once the onions are soft, add minced garlic and stir until fragrant. Hozzáadjuk a fokhagymát. (We add the garlic.)
3. Cut the beef into cubes and add it to the pot. Brown the meat for about 5 minutes. Rózsaszínűre pirítjuk a húst. (We brown the meat.)
4. Add the paprika, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, and potatoes to the pot. Stir everything together. Hozzáadjuk a piper paprikát. (We add the paprika.)
5. Pour in the beef broth and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 1 hour, or until the beef is tender. Felforraljuk, majd lassú tűzön főzzük. (We bring to a boil and cook on low heat.)
6. Season with salt, pepper, and optional caraway seeds. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Ízesítjük sóval és borssal. (We season with salt and pepper.)
7. Once the soup is ready, serve it hot with a slice of fresh bread. Friss kenyérrel tálaljuk. (We serve with fresh bread.)

Why Hungarian Paprika Makes This Soup Special

Hungarian paprika is the key ingredient that makes this dish uniquely Hungarian. Unlike other types of paprika, it has a distinctive flavor and color that enhances the soup’s richness. Paprika is used in many traditional Hungarian dishes, including pörkölt (stew) and lecsó (vegetable stew). The deep red color and smoky flavor give the goulash soup its characteristic taste.

Fun Facts About Hungarian Goulash

• The word gulyás actually refers to the cowherd who used to cook this dish while tending to cattle in the fields.
• Unlike the thick stew that some people think of when they hear “goulash,” traditional Hungarian goulash is actually a thin, brothy soup.
• Hungarians typically pair goulash with a hearty slice of tönköly kenyér (spelt bread) or fehér kenyér (white bread).

Learn Hungarian Through Cooking

Cooking is a fantastic way to learn a new language! Here are a few Hungarian words related to food and cooking that you can use while making this recipe:
• Soup - leves
• Pot - fazék
• Meat - hús
• Vegetable - zöldség
• Spices - fűszerek

Discover More Hungarian Cuisine and Language Tips

If you enjoyed this recipe and are eager to learn more about Hungarian culture and language, here are some additional resources for you:

• How Long Does It Take to Learn Hungarian?
• Celebrating Christmas and New Year in Hungary
• Hungarian Food and Recipes
• Learn Hungarian Through Music
• Discover Hungarian Cuisine