One of the most famous Hungarian dishes, this slow-simmered Hungarian beef and onion stew is loaded with flavor and is positively delicious! Authentic Pörkölt, or Hungarian beef and onion stew, is a rich and flavorful dish. It features tender beef, caramelized onions, and traditional Hungarian spices like paprika and caraway seeds. The stew is simmered slowly for a deep and satisfying flavor. Pörkölt is typically served with potatoes or noodles, and it’s a comforting and delicious taste of Hungary.

Serves 4-6

Essen Recipes

INGREDIENTS
4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced (traditionally you would use about 2 tbsp of lard) and many Hungarians add some kolbasz for flavor
1 large yellow onion
1 green bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large tomato
1/2 tsp caraway seeds
1 bay leaf, salt and black pepper
1 1/2 pounds (700 g) stewing beef, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
4 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika
1 1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Water

INSTRUCTIONS
Heat a heavy pot or Dutch oven and fry the bacon until crispy. Once done, add the onions and cook over medium-high heat until they turn golden. Add the bell peppers and garlic, and sauté for an additional two minutes. Next, add the beef to the pot and cook for one minute until it loses some of its pink color. Stir in the paprika, then remove the pot from the heat.

Add the tomatoes, bay leaf, caraway seeds, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Pour just enough water into the pot to reach slightly over halfway up the stew mixture. Return the pot to the heat and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, cover the pot, reduce the heat to medium-low, and let it simmer for 90 minutes. If the stew is not thick enough, simmer uncovered for a few more minutes to allow some of the liquid to evaporate.

Serve with mashed or boiled potatoes or wide egg noodles. It is traditional to also serve a side salad, particularly a cucumber salad.

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Homemade Mashed Potatoes: Easy, Creamy, and Bursting with Flavor!

INGREDIENTS:
2 lb (1 kg) potatoes
1 tbsp salt
3 tbsp (50 g) unsalted butter
1/2 cup (120 ml) warm whole milk
1/2 tsp salt
Garnish with extra butter

INSTRUCTIONS:
To prepare the perfect mashed potatoes, start by cutting the potato into evenly sized pieces. Boil them in salted water until they are incredibly soft and can be easily crumbled with a fork. After draining, return the potatoes to the pot and mash them with butter and milk until they reach a creamy and fluffy texture.

Finally, transfer the mashed potatoes to a serving bowl and create decorative swirls on the top. This will provide the perfect canvas to drizzle some extra melted butter, taking the mashed potatoes to a whole new level of deliciousness!

Caramelized Pasilla Brisket includes dried pasilla chiles, tomatillos and brown sugar. It will take 4.5 hours or more to prepare.

Serves 6

patijinich.com

INGREDIENTS
2 ounces (about 5 to 6) dried pasilla chiles stemmed and seeded
3 pounds beef brisket trimmed
2 teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt divided
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds tomatillos husked, rinsed, quartered
1 large white onion cut into chunks
10 garlic cloves peeled
4 cups chicken broth
4 ounces (or 1/2 cup) grated piloncillo or brown sugar
1 1/2 pounds baby potatoes halved
1 1/2 pounds carrots peeled and cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces
Greens of your choice for salad
Freshly squeezed lime juice and olive oil to dress the salad

INSTRUCTIONS
Pre-heat the oven to 350°F.

Heat up a comal or skillet over medium heat, then toast the pasilla chiles for about 1 to 2 minutes, flipping with tongs as they toast. Remove from heat and place in a bowl.

Season the meat with 1 teaspoon salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Heat oil in a large casserole or roasting pan set over high heat. Brown the meat for about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Add the toasted pasilla chiles, tomatillos, onion, garlic, chicken broth, piloncillo, the remaining teaspoon salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Make sure chiles are covered with the broth.

Cover and seal tight with a lid or aluminum foil. Place in the oven and braise for 3 to 3-and-a-half hours, or until meat is tender. Remove from the oven. Remove the meat and place on a chopping board.

In a pot with salted boiling water, cook the potatoes and the carrots for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender. Drain and reserve.

Pour all the remaining contents of the roasting pan into the jar of a blender and puree until completely smooth. Pour the sauce back into roasting pan.

Slice the meat against the grain into about 1/2 to 3/4-inch slices and return it to the roasting pan. Add the potatoes and carrots, cover everything with the sauce. Cover the dish and return to oven for another 30 minutes. Remove the lid or aluminum foil, return to the oven and cook uncovered for another 30 minutes.

Toss the greens of your choice with lime juice and olive oil to taste. Serve the brisket with the side salad.

This Brasato al Barolo recipe combines two of Piedmont’s most famous ingredients – beef and Barolo wine. Cooked until meltingly tender and served atop a bed of creamy polenta, it’s the perfect dish to serve up on a chilly winter night.

Serves 6

greatitalianchefs.com

INGREDIENTS
olive oil
26oz beef roast
1 onion, diced
1 celery stick, diced
1 carrot , peeled and diced
2 garlic cloves
1 sprig of thyme
1 sprig of rosemary
1 bay leaf
1 tbsp of tomato purée
750ml of Barolo wine or other full-bodied red wine
salt
pepper
8oz of polenta/coarse cornmeal
27oz of vegetable stock
1 tablespoon of butter
salt
pepper

INSTRUCTIONS
Heat a glug of olive oil in a heavy-bottomed casserole with a lid – it should be just big enough to hold the beef. Season the beef generously with salt and pepper then add to the pan and brown on all sides

Remove the beef from the casserole and set aside. Add the diced vegetables with the garlic into the same pan and cook until softened

Add the herbs and stir in the tomato puree. Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring to avoid it sticking. Return the beef to the pan

Pour the wine over the beef, bring up to a boil then turn down to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 2 hours. Stir every now and then to check nothing is sticking to the bottom of the pan, and if the wine doesn’t cover the beef, turn over every 30 minutes to prevent any part of it drying out

Remove the beef and set aside in a warm place. Using a hand blender, blitz the stew left in the casserole to create a glossy thick sauce

To cook the polenta, place a saucepan over a medium heat and add the vegetable stock. Once hot, add the polenta and cook for 4-5 minutes, whisking continuously to prevent lumps. Once thickened, stir in the butter and season with salt and pepper

Carve the beef against the grain and lay on the bed of polenta. Pour over the sauce and serve the rest of the sauce on the side.

Beef suet [use lard] and masa give this Texas chili its distinctive flavor. For a true taste of this state dish skip the beans and tomatoes.

Serves 6

saveur.com

INGREDIENTS
6 oz. beef suet, coarsely chopped [use appropriate amount of lard]
3 lb. trimmed beef chuck, cut into ½-in. pieces
6 tbsp. chili powder
4 large garlic cloves, peeled and minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup masa harina
4 cups beef stock or low-sodium beef broth, warm
3 tbsp. white vinegar
Cayenne pepper
Chopped cilantro, for garnish
Tabasco, for serving
Thinly sliced scallions, for garnish
Tabasco, for serving
Saltines, for serving
Sour cream, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS
In a large Dutch oven set over medium-high heat, melt the suet, stirring frequently, 8–9 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to discard any solids. Working in batches if necessary, add the chuck and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned all over, 8–10 minutes. Turn the heat to medium and stir in the chili powder, garlic, and salt and black pepper to taste. Add the masa harina and stir to coat, then gradually pour in the broth, vinegar, and 4 cups of water. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook, partially covered and stirring occasionally, until the meat begins to fall apart, about 4 hours, adding water as needed to prevent sticking. Season with additional salt, black pepper, and cayenne to taste.

To serve, ladle the chili into bowls and garnish with the cilantro and scallions. Accompany with Tabasco, saltines, and sour cream.

Beer, chocolate, lard and masa harina are critical ingredients – no beans!

[Stock photo]

From Michael Chiarello:

INGREDIENTS
3 pounds beef chuck
Freshly ground black pepper
Gray salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus 1 teaspoon
1 teaspoon ground cumin, plus 2 teaspoons
2 tablespoons chili powder, plus 2 tablespoons
Masa harina (Mexican corn flour)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup lard (Manteca)
4 red onions, peeled and minced
6 cloves garlic, minced
4 jalapeno peppers, sliced thin with seeds, stems removed [use chipotle in adobo – watch amount]
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 to 3 (12-ounce) bottles beer
1 (12-ounce) can diced tomato in juices
1 quart chicken stock
3 (12-ounce) cans black beans
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into large chunks

INSTRUCTIONS
Cut the chuck into ¾-inch pieces, or, to save time, have your butcher do this for you. Place the chuck in a large bowl. Season liberally with pepper (about 20 turns of the pepper grinder) and grey salt to taste– remember half of this will come off in the pan. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of the cumin, and 2 tablespoons of the chili powder. Mix this well and coat the meat with the masa harina (this is a ground hominy flour common to Mexican cuisine and easily found in the Mexican food sections of many grocery stores). The flour will thicken the sauce and give it a specific, Mexican taste.

Preheat a cast iron Dutch oven on the stove over medium high heat. Add the olive oil and then the coated meat, spreading it evenly so it covers the bottom of the Dutch oven in 1 layer. Leave it alone, without turning it, so the meat will brown and caramelize. Meanwhile, add the lard. The meat has a lot of moisture in it, so a good amount of steam will come from the pan before it is caramelized. As it browns, slowly turn each piece with tongs. Once all sides are caramelized, remove the meat from the pan with a slotted spoon and place on a cookie sheet to cool, leaving juices in the Dutch oven to saute vegetables. Add the onions and garlic and saute for 5 minutes over medium heat until they start to caramelize and get soft. Add the jalapenos and allow to cook for 2 more minutes until soft. Add the tomato paste. Some of the same spices as were used on the meat will be used in the sauce. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of the cumin, 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon, the oregano, and 2 heaping tablespoons of the chili powder. Add beer. Stir to incorporate everything. Add diced tomatoes, and stir. Then add the reserved meat. Add chicken stock. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours until meat is wonderfully tender. Strain juice from the black beans, add the beans to the chili pot and bring up to simmer. Then add chunks of bittersweet chocolate. Stir until it melts. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days