What Is Goulash? (2024)

What is Goulash? What is Hungarian Goulash?

Goulash is a stew made of beef or other meat and vegetables, mostly tomatoes and bell peppers, and generously seasoned with paprika powder. The dish originated in Hungary from where it traveled to other Central European countries and beyond. As a result, there are countless goulash variations, such as pork goulash, and even goulash made with chicken or turkey.

What is Goulash Soup?

It's like goulash but with the consistency of soup instead of stew. You simply add more liquid (meat or chicken broth or water). Goulash soup is especially popular in Czech and German cuisines.

What is Goulash Traditionally Served with?

In Hungary, goulash is served with buttered egg noodles called Csipetke, which is the Hungarian word for spaetzle.

Also good to serve with goulash is any kind of small pasta, mashed potatoes, dumplings, rice or bread to mop up the delicious sauce. Don't forget a dollop of sour cream on each serving.

What is American Goulash?

The American variation of goulash follows the basic formula for goulash but it's made with ground beef and elbow macaroni cooked in a tomato sauce; some recipes also add Cheddar cheese. Besides the ingredients, what makes American goulash quite different from the goulash recipes in other countries is that everything is cooked in one pot, including the pasta. American goulash it truly a one-pot dish that lends itself to be prepared in a slow cooker.

What is the Best Beef for Goulash?

The best beef are the tougher but flavorful inexpensive boneless cuts of beef which become fork-tender during the slow cooking process. Lean beef chuck and top round are both top choices for goulash. It's best to buy the beef as a single piece as a roast, instead of pre-cut stewing beef which often contains much more fat than a lean roast.

VIDEO: How to Make Beef Goulash

Chef John's goulash is Old World comfort food at its finest. See how Chef John makes this rustic Hungarian stew inspired by the recipe of a certain famous Austrian chef. It features tender pieces of succulent beef chuck in a beautiful toasted caraway and paprika-based sauce. Serve over buttered noodles, rice, or potatoes; and garnish with sour cream and fresh marjoram.

More Favorite Goulash Recipes

Real Hungarian Goulash (No Tomato Paste Here)

"It's hard to find a real Hungarian recipe for goulash," says mentallo. "This is the real thing. Real goulash has no tomato paste or beans. Eat with a slice of rustic bread. Dip bread in sauce and clean the plate with the bread at the end. Can be eaten with spaetzle."

What Is Goulash? (1)

Goulash Supreme

Here's a one-pot American version of goulash. "Ground beef and macaroni," says Cheryle. "I serve with homemade bread."

Mama Long's Goulash Soup

"My mother received this recipe while briefly living in Germany many years ago," says Lara. "A hearty stew that can easily be modified by adding veggies of your choice! I can eat this stew all year long!"

What Is Goulash? (3)

Ground Beef Goulash

"Easy and filling meal perfect for freezing," says jdblascyk. "Goes great with salad and brownies."

What Is Goulash? (4)

Easy Classic Goulash

"This version of classic American beef goulash makes an easy one-pot meal for the whole family," says Dawn Bohler. "We love it."

What Is Goulash? (5)

Mom Sykes' Hungarian Goulash

"The lemon flavor gives you a pleasant surprise in this tender goulash served over egg noodles," says Gail Laulette.

What Is Goulash? (6)

Classic Goulash

"Easy recipe for making a classic goulash," says pathunt. "Can also be done in a slow cooker. Inspired by Paula Deen's Bobby's Goulash."

What Is Goulash? (7)

Check out our collection of Goulash Recipes.

What Is Goulash? (2024)

FAQs

What exactly is goulash? ›

Goulash (Hungarian: gulyás) is a soup or stew of meat and vegetables seasoned with paprika and other spices. Originating in Hungary, goulash is a common meal predominantly eaten in Central Europe but also in other parts of Europe. It is one of the national dishes of Hungary and a symbol of the country.

Where to get goulash recipe genshin? ›

Steps
  1. Obtain 10 pieces of Chilled Meat.
  2. Speak to Harris.
  3. Obtain the meat of the Great Snowboar King. To spawn the Great Snowboar King, melt and kill all the Snowboars in the area.
  4. Speak to Harris. Harris will give the player Recipe: Goulash.
  5. Make Goulash. ...
  6. Look for Harris at 18:00.
  7. Speak to Harris.

What does goulash translate to? ›

The Hungarian word for this delicious dish is gulyáshús, from gulyás, "herdsman," and hús, "meat." Historically, goulash was a stew cooked by shepherds using lamb or beef.

What is American goulash made of? ›

It features ground beef, pasta (usually macaroni) and tomatoes. Unlike Hungarian goulash, American goulash cooks quickly, making it a great family-friendly option for weeknights.

What is a goulash slang? ›

goulash in American English

2. a heterogeneous mixture; hodgepodge; jumble.

What's the difference between Hungarian goulash and American Goulash? ›

Hungarian Goulash is a thick meat and vegetable stew with a broth that's heavily seasoned with paprika, while American Goulash is a quick dish made from ground beef, tomato sauce, herbs, and elbow macaroni noodles. It also goes by the name of American Chop Suey.

What is another name for goulash? ›

American goulash, sometimes called slumgullion, is an American comfort food dish, similar to American chop suey. American goulash is usually referred to in the midwestern and southern United States as simply "goulash".

What do you eat goulash with? ›

Goulash is typically seasoned with caraway seeds, garlic, and bay leaves, and is often served with bread, egg noodles or spaetzle. This Hungarian classic stew does not rely on a flour or roux for thickening. Many versions also include potatoes, carrots or turnips.

What ethnic food is goulash? ›

goulash, traditional stew of Hungary. The origins of goulash have been traced to the 9th century, to stews eaten by Magyar shepherds.

Is goulash the same as stroganoff? ›

Traditional goulash is a stew/soup, usually using a cheaper cut of meat suited to slow cooking. It usually contains potatoes and other vegetables, as well as noodles. A true stroganoff consists of paprika-dusted fillet steak quickly pan fried with mushrooms and onions in a sour cream and brandy sauce.

Can you use tomato paste instead of tomato sauce? ›

Substitute Tomato Paste For Tomato Sauce

If you have a can of tomato paste in your pantry, you are in luck—this is the best substitution for tomato sauce. All you need is the tomato paste and water. Mix together 1 part tomato paste and 1 part water until well blended. Then, season your "sauce" to taste.

Are American chop suey and goulash the same thing? ›

American chop suey is an American pasta casserole made with ground beef, macaroni and a seasoned tomato sauce, found in the cuisine of New England and other regions of the United States. Outside New England it is sometimes called American goulash or Johnny Marzetti, among other names.

What's the difference between stroganoff and goulash? ›

What is the difference between Stroganoff and Goulash? The primary difference between Stroganoff and Goulash comes down to the point that Stroganoff is a gravy whereas Goulash is a stew.

Is American chop suey the same as goulash? ›

American chop suey is an American pasta casserole made with ground beef, macaroni and a seasoned tomato sauce, found in the cuisine of New England and other regions of the United States. Outside New England it is sometimes called American goulash or Johnny Marzetti, among other names.

What's the difference between goulash and stew meat? ›

Hungarian goulash is very similar to beef stew, but there are some differences. While a typical stew consists of slow braising chunks of meat with root vegetables in a seasoned broth, goulash uses spices such as caraway, cumin, paprika, and peppers which really enhance and alter the flavor from a classic beef stew.

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