As Autumn draws near, the need for comfort food intensifies. Although we love to double up on this type of food all year long, Autumn is a time to introduce those spicier and heartier dishes you’ve been unsuccessfully avoiding in order to keep your summer body in top shape. Today we’re going to share with you one of our favorite comfort food delights and give you the recipe for authentic Serbian Goulash.
As always, let’s start by diving into what exactly makes a tasty goulash.
A Brief Introduction to Serbian Goulash
Tracing its origins back to the 9th century, Goulash is a thick stew-like dish made of vegetables, meat, and various spices such as paprika. The original recipe hails from Hungary, a small country located in Central Europe, right next to Serbia. It has since then been adopted by many cultures, and today it is a popular meal throughout Central and Eastern Europe. While similar in texture, the Serbian version of this hearty meal is quite different.
Serbian goulash ingredients are somewhat simpler, yet when prepared right, they yield a dish with complex aromas and flavor notes. You just need a few things perfectly paired with each other to create this comfort food delight. If you are already familiar with traditional Serbian food, you’ll probably be able to guess that this version of Goulash incorporates more meat than any other version. Yes, Serbian people love their meals full of meat, and Goulash is no different. Forget about using an excessive amount of vegetables; it’s all about meat, onions, and spices, served over creamy mashed potatoes.
Here is the recipe together with the instructions for making genuine Serbian goulash.
The Best Recipe for Preparing Serbian Goulash
To enjoy this warm and hearty specialty during a cold Autumn day, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 600 grams of minced onions
- 2x bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons of Vegeta (a mix of salt with flavor enhancers, spices, and vegetables)
- 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley, minced
- 2 teaspoons of red paprika
- 650 grams of beef (or lamb chop) cut in cubes
- 250ml of fresh tomato juice
- season with salt and pepper
How to prepare:
- Put your minced onions In a large saucepan, drizzle them with oil and sauté until they become translucent. Add a little bit of water and leave it to simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Next, you’ll want to add the paprika, bay leaves, and parsley to the mixture. Give it a couple of stirs and start adding your beef chunks. Keep adding water to the mix, just remember not to overdo it. You want your Goulash to be thick, but not too thick. You also want to avoid making it a soup.
- Bring it to a boil and stir the mixture until the meat turns golden brown and is cooked thoroughly. Add fresh tomato juice, Vegeta, and season with salt and pepper. Then reduce to a simmer for about one to one and a half hours.
- The longer your goulash is cooked on low heat, the better it will taste. Just remember to give it an occasional stir.
- Serve your delicious goulash over a plate of creamy mashed potatoes and garnish with some basil and sour cream (optional).
And there you have it, a simple comfort food dish that will keep you warm during chilly Autumn days. Are you interested in similar recipes or you want to find out more about Serbian cuisine? Then check out our blog where we post articles similar to this one and give you tips on how to make authentic Serbian dishes at your home. If, on the other hand, you want to taste Serbian Goulash prepared by experienced cooks, stop by our Rakija Grill restaurant located in downtown Miami, and enjoy a plate… or two.
