Ah! Bob Goulash—sounds like a variation of the classic Hungarian gulyás, but “Bob” might just refer to a personalized or simplified version, often made as a hearty beef stew with paprika, vegetables, and sometimes potatoes 🍲🥩. Here’s a solid traditional-style recipe you can follow:
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
- 1 lb (450 g) beef stew meat, cut into cubes
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 potatoes, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 2 tomatoes, chopped (or 1 cup canned)
- 4 cups beef broth or water
- 1 tsp caraway seeds (optional)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Optional garnish: fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Brown the beef
- 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, sauté onion until translucent.
- Add garlic and cook 1 more minute.
- Stir in paprika and cook briefly—don’t burn.
3. Simmer the goulash
- Return beef to the pot.
- Add carrots, bell pepper, tomatoes, and caraway seeds (if using).
- Pour in beef broth to cover.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 1–1.5 hours, until beef is tender.
4. Add potatoes
- Add diced potatoes about 20–30 minutes before the end of cooking. Cook until tender.
5. Finish & serve
- Adjust salt and pepper.
- Serve hot, garnished with parsley if desired.
- Optional: serve with crusty bread or noodles.
Tips & Variations
- Thicker stew: Mash a few potatoes or add a cornstarch slurry to thicken.
- Spicy: Add a pinch of hot paprika or chili flakes.
- Vegetarian twist: Replace beef with mushrooms, beans, or lentils for a hearty version.
- Authentic flavor: Use Hungarian paprika for best results; avoid substituting with generic paprika if possible.
If you want, I can give a “restaurant-style Bob Goulash” recipe with deeply browned beef, perfectly seasoned broth, and vegetables cooked to tender perfection, essentially a hearty, soul-warming goulash.
Do you want me to do that version?
