Hungarian Pot Roast with Paprikash Sauce
I have been in Seattle the last week visiting my four month old granddaughter. The cold weather has had all of us craving comfort food. My daughter suggested a pot roast and we wanted something a little different, so it became Hungarian Pot Roast!
There are many kinds of paprika and for me, getting them all straight in my mind has been a challenge. Basically, if a recipe calls for paprika, it is the Hungarian that is most commonly used. Hungary has the perfect climate with an abundance of sunshine that is needed to grow this pungent spice. In Hungary, there are forty types of paprika grown, isn't that amazing? Based upon the weather predictions for the up-coming year, the farmers make a determination as to which of the crops will yield the sweetest and most colorful paprika. It is the amount of sunlight prior to harvest that influences the quality of the paprika.
We used Hungarian Half-Sharp Paprika from Penzey's Spices. However, we are headed to the World Spice Market downtown to select some of the smoked sweet and smoked spice paprikas. The combination should produce a super sauce the next time this dish is prepared. The amount of paprika used is really a matter of taste. We really like a spicy flavor and used 3-4 Tbsp of the Half-Sharp Paprika. If you prefer something less spicy, go easy on the paprika or you will be disappointed. remember, paprika has "spicy heat" to it!....my rule of thumb is to go easy the first time and add additional as you adjust the seasonings....or additional the second time you prepare the dish!
Hungarian Pot Roast with Paprikash Sauce
2 tbsp olive oil
2 1/2 lb. chuck roast, trimmed of fat and cut into chunks
Kosher salt and pepper
2-4 medium onions, cut into 1/2 inch slices
3 carrots, cut into bite-size pieces, or rounds
2-3 tbsp Hungarian paprika (or Spanish, Smoked Spice)
2 tsp smoked sweet paprika
12 oz. roasted red peppers, drained and sliced
14.5 oz. diced tomatoes with juice
2 cups beef broth
pepper
1 1/2 cups sour cream
2 Tbsp parsley, chopped (garnish)
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Sprinkle chunks of roast with salt and pepper.
Heat olive oil in a dutch oven. Add roast and brown all the sides and then remove to a plate. Add a little more oil to the pan and cook the onion slices, carrots and paprika until lightly browned.
Add broth to the pan to deglaze and reduce slightly. (I did not remove the vegetables when I added the broth to deglaze.) Drain the red peppers and cut into slices and add to the pan along with the tomatoes. Return the meat to the pan. Cook at 350° F. for 3 to 4 hours. Check at 3 hours and break up/shred the larger chunks of meat. Continue baking if needed.
There was not a great deal of liquid in the pan after four hours. We served it over egg noodles with a dollop of sour cream.
Should you have an ample amount of liquid, (remove the meat and vegetables) then whisk in the sour cream to make a creamy sauce. Pour this over the meat and vegetables and heat for another 15 minutes, until warm. Serve over egg noodles.
Slow Cooker Method: This could easily be done in a slow cooker by removing the meat to the cooker once browned, removing the vegetables to the cooker, add peppers and tomatoes to the cooker, then deglaze and pour over the mixture. (Prepare the sauce as above by removing the liquid to a pan and whisking in the sour cream.) Pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables and heat...and serve!
PRINTABLE RECIPE
This is the culinary equivalent of a warm sweater on a cold day.
ReplyDeleteHow absolute delightful a dish. Just screams Budapest, doesn't it? I brought several different paprikas back on my trip to Budapest in 2000. Have enjoyed using them.
ReplyDeleteI'm by the fire..it's a winter wonderland out there..snow falling..Business stew in the oven:-)
ReplyDeleteSame idea!
comfort food!!
ReplyDeletegotta love comfort food....
Shug
This does look fabulous. It's in the family of my famous Austrian Goulash. I use tomato sauce, and a blend of sweet and hot paprika. Love paprika! Yummy.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading your goulash recipe! I intend to make it along with the dumplings!
DeleteIt does look good to go with our dreary weather! Thankfully you have your granddaughter to brighten your days!
ReplyDeleteKate this sounds wonderful, a treat on a chilly winter night. And thanks for the paprika education too! :)
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious Kathy, especially served over the noodles. We love paprika, especially the good stuff and I've made my own by growing then drying and grinding sweet paprika peppers. The normal store bought stuff can't compare flavorwise.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds absolutely delicious Kathy. Even here in warm Florida. I can pretend it is cold outside.
ReplyDeleteThis looks totally delicious!
ReplyDelete