Goulash Soup

Here’s a classic Hungarian Goulash Soup—hearty, warming, and full of paprika flavor. Perfect as a meal on its own with crusty bread.

Goulash Soup (Hungarian Style)

Servings: 4–6

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1–1.5 hours

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450 g) beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil or lard

• 1 large onion, finely chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1–2 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika

• 1 tsp caraway seeds (optional)

• 2 medium carrots, sliced

• 1–2 medium potatoes, diced

• 1 red bell pepper, diced

• 1–2 tomatoes, chopped (or 1 cup canned)

• 4 cups beef broth

• 1 bay leaf

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

• ½ tsp hot paprika or cayenne (optional for spice)

• Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish

Instructions

1. Brown the meat
   Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
   Add beef cubes and brown on all sides. Remove and set aside.

2. Sauté aromatics
   In the same pot, add onion and cook until soft, about 5–6 minutes.
   Stir in garlic, paprika, and caraway seeds, cooking 30 seconds to bloom the spices.

3. Build the soup
   Return beef to the pot. Add carrots, potatoes, bell pepper, tomatoes, and bay leaf.
   Pour in beef broth and bring to a boil.

4. Simmer
   Reduce heat to low and simmer 1–1.5 hours, until beef is tender and vegetables are cooked.

5. Finish
   Season with salt, black pepper, and hot paprika if desired.
   Remove bay leaf before serving.

6. Serve
   Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve with crusty bread or traditional Hungarian csipetke (tiny egg noodles).

Tips

• Use stewing beef for tenderness.

• Hungarian paprika is key—sweet for traditional flavor, hot if you like spice.

• For thicker soup, mash a few potatoes gently in the pot.

Variations

• 🥩 Beef & pork mix: Adds extra richness

• 🌶 Spicy goulash: Add hot paprika and chili flakes

• 🍲 Vegetarian: Use root vegetables and mushrooms with vegetable broth

I can also give you a quick 30-minute goulash soup version for busy nights, which still tastes authentic.