Traditional Czech Beef Goulash Recipes

HOVěZí GULáš (CZECH BEEF GOULASH)

Steps:

• Season beef with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Brown the meat in batches for about 3 to 5 minutes per batch. You'll likely need to do about 5 batches if you're using a 10-inch wide pot. Set the seared meat aside as you complete each batch. If you are using a cast iron pan (like an enameled Le Creuset French oven) it will retain heat extra well, and you may want to lower the heat to medium partway through the searing process if the meat is browning too fast.
• Add onions to the empty pot and cook until soft, about 5 to 7 minutes. Next, add flour, tomato paste, paprika, garlic, and dried marjoram. Stir and cook for 1 minute, then add the water, stirring to dissolve the tomato paste and flour, and scraping up any of the fond (the dark brown residue from searing the beef) still left on the bottom of the pan.
• Return the seared beef and any residual juices to the pan. Season with salt and pepper, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer covered for 1 ½ hours, then uncover and continue to simmer for another 30 minutes until the beef is fork tender, and the liquid has thickened. Adjust seasoning if necessary.
• Serve on a flat plate with a slight lip around the edge, topped with sliced onion for garnish, and a few slices of Czech dumplings or bread on the side to soak up the sauce.

CZECH BEEF GOULASH (GULAS)

Steps:

• Peel the onion and chop it roughly. Cut the beef into 1-1.½-inch pieces.
• Melt the lard or vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a pot with a thick bottom (I use a heavy iron cast Dutch oven). Fry onions until almost brown. Stir frequently to avoid burning. Finally, add the crushed caraway seeds and stir for another minute.
• Add beef chunks, season with salt, and fry them from all sides until a golden brown crust is created. Expect the meat releases some juices when fried. Stir frequently, and scrape off the burnt residue on the bottom of the pot with a wooden spatula. If necessary, reduce the heat or add a spoon or two of water.
• Turn the stove on medium heat, and add ground pepper, sweet paprika, and tomato paste. Fry for 1 minute while stirring. The base can't get burnt, or else the goulash will taste bitter. Add 1-2 spoons of water to prevent burning.
• Pour in water, so the meat is almost covered. Add bay leaves. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a minimum, cover with a lid and allow the beef to simmer for 2-2.5 hours or until soft.
• Check the goulash from time to time. Add some water if the level of liquid in the pot falls. When the gulas contains too much water, cook it uncovered at the end. The liquid will be reduced, and the gulas will gain a richer flavor and a nice red color. Stir occasionally.
• When the beef cubes are soft, add flour to thicken the stew. In the next step, I'll provide a helpful method for making the stew sauce smoother and more cohesive.
• Thickening of goulash with flour (optional): Take off the pot's lid. Using a small sieve, carefully dust the surface of the stew with a tablespoon of flour. Do not stir. Cover with the lid and leave to cook for a further 15 minutes. Remove the lid and stir. The sauce will be just thick enough!
• Remove bay leaves, add crushed garlic and dried marjoram, and stir. Season with salt to your liking. Cover with a lid and let it rest off heat for 10 minutes.

TRADITIONAL CZECH BEEF GOULASH

Steps:

• Cut up the beef in to bigger chunks
• Mix together the plain flour, pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper and put it in a deeper plate or bowl
• Coat the beef pieces in the flour mix
• Heat a large frying pan with some oil and leave until it's medium hot
• Fry the beef from both sides until it's golden brown and the meat is 'sealed' and place on a new plate. Do this in several batches if your pan is small.
• Next fry the onions until see through and flavour them with carraway seeds, pinch of chilli, some marjoram and also add the garlic.
• Put the beef back to the frying pan (or swap it for a large stock pan or soup pot).
• Add the beef stock cube and about 500 ml hot water
• Add the tomatoe puree
• Reduce the heat to medium low, cover with a lid and let the whole thing to simmer for about 2 hrs.
• Check regularly to make sure that the stock doesn't evaporate too much and check the beef. Depening on what cut of beef you buy, the dish might be ready sooner or longer than the recipe.
• Serve with traditional Czech dumplings or with a thickly cut sourdough bread.

BEEF GOULASH (CZECH)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a heavy skillet. Add onion and cook over low heat until lightly yellowed.
• Add paprika and blend well. Add meat, green pepper, salt, and water.
• Cover and simmer until meat is tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Add more water if desired, although mixture should not be overly soupy when finished cooking.
• Serve over hot boiled potatoes or topped with dumplings. (I use Recipe#171228).

BEEF GOULASH WITH LIGHT CZECH DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• In a deep dutch oven, heat the olive oil and sauté the onions and sugar until caramelized. Add the garlic and ground toasted caraway seed. Cook another minute.
• Add the sweet and spicy paprika, marjoram, thyme and bay leaf. Sauté another minute, until fragrant.
• Add the tomato paste. Deglaze with the vinegar and the stock and add the pieces of beef, salt and pepper.
• Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer.
• Cover and cook until very tender, about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
• To prepare the dumplings:.
• Sift together the cake flour, baking powder and salt. Combine with the milk and melted butter, mixing lightly.
• After the stew has cooked until tender, the last 15 mins, drop the dumpling batter by (heaping) teaspoonfuls into the simmering stew.
• Cover and cook for 15 minutes, then test the dumpling with a toothpick - if comes out clean, dumplings are ready.
• Once you have covered the pan, DO NOT UNCOVER while the dumplings are cooking! In order for them to be light and fluffy, they must steam. If you uncover the pan, the steam will escape and the dumplings will boil instead.
• Enjoy!