Easy Meatballs Goulash Recipe: A Cozy Comfort Food Classic

Crafting a hearty meatballs goulash brings comfort and warmth to your kitchen table.

Fragrant spices dance through tender meat spheres simmering in rich sauce.

Hungarian culinary traditions inspire this classic dish with deep, robust flavors.

Paprika adds a vibrant depth that transforms simple ingredients into something magical.

Slow-cooked elements meld together, creating a symphony of taste that feels like a culinary embrace.

Succulent morsels promise a satisfying meal that connects you to generations of home cooking.

Prepare to savor every delicious bite of this soul-warming classic.

Why Delia Smith Meatballs Goulash Is A Hearty Dish

• Craft Hearty Comfort: This goulash transforms simple ingredients into a soul-warming dish that hugs your taste buds with rich, meaty flavors and robust Hungarian-inspired spices.
• Master Meal Prep Magic: Create delicious meatballs and sauce in one pan, minimizing kitchen cleanup and maximizing flavor development through strategic cooking techniques.
• Customize with Confidence: Adaptable recipe allows serving over noodles or mashed potatoes, making it perfect for different preferences and dietary needs while maintaining incredible taste profiles.
• Family-Friendly Feast: Combines kid-friendly meatballs with grown-up sophistication through paprika and creme fraiche, ensuring everyone at the table enjoys a satisfying meal.

What’s In Delia Smith Meatballs Goulash

• Ground Beef: A flavorful base that provides rich taste and hearty texture for the meatballs.
• Ground Pork: Adds moisture and extra depth to the meatball mixture.

• Red Pepper, Onion, Garlic: Create a robust and fragrant foundation for the goulash.
• Parsley: Brings a fresh, herbal note to the meatball mixture.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the overall flavor profile.

• Breadcrumbs, Egg: Help bind the meatballs together and provide a tender texture.
• Seasoned Flour: Adds a light crispy coating and helps thicken the sauce.

• Tomatoes: Provide a tangy and rich base for the goulash sauce.
• Paprika: Adds classic Hungarian flavor and a warm, deep color.
• Creme Fraiche: Creates a creamy and luxurious finish to the dish.

How To Make Delia Smith Meatballs Goulash

Step 1: Combine Meat and Seasonings

Mix ground beef and ground pork in a large mixing bowl. Add finely chopped red pepper, diced onion, minced garlic, chopped parsley, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and black pepper. Use your hands to blend ingredients thoroughly until well combined.

Step 2: Shape Tasty Morsels

Gently roll the meat mixture into 24 evenly sized meatballs. Lightly dust each meatball with seasoned flour, creating a thin coating that will help develop a beautiful golden crust.

Step 3: Create Golden Exterior

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs in batches, turning carefully to ensure each side develops a rich, caramel-colored surface. Remove browned meatballs and set aside.

Step 4: Build Flavor Base

In the same skillet, sauté chopped onion, red pepper, and garlic for about 5 minutes until vegetables become soft and fragrant. Stir continuously to prevent burning.

Step 5: Enhance Sauce with Spices

Sprinkle paprika and remaining seasoned flour into the vegetable mixture. Stir to create a smooth, aromatic base for the sauce.

Step 6: Create Rich Tomato Sauce

Pour in tomatoes, additional salt, and black pepper. Allow the sauce to simmer gently, developing deep, complex flavors.

Step 7: Reunite Meatballs with Sauce

Carefully return the browned meatballs to the simmering sauce, ensuring each meatball is partially submerged.

Step 8: Slow Cook to Perfection

Cover the skillet and transfer to a preheated oven at 170°C (325°F). Bake for 1½ hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the meatballs to become incredibly tender.

Step 9: Add Creamy Finish

Remove from oven and swirl in creme fraiche, creating a luxurious, silky texture that adds richness to the dish.

Step 10: Serve and Enjoy

Plate the goulash over warm egg noodles or creamy mashed potatoes. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Tips For Better Delia Smith Meatballs Goulash

• Blend Meats Wisely: Use a mix of beef and pork for richer, more complex flavor and juicier meatballs that hold together perfectly.
• Flour Coating Trick: Lightly dust meatballs with seasoned flour to create a delicate crispy exterior and help thicken the sauce naturally.
• Gentle Baking Method: Low and slow oven temperature helps meatballs become tender without drying out, allowing flavors to meld beautifully.
• Creme Fraiche Magic: Swirl in creme fraiche at the end for a luxurious, silky texture that balances the robust tomato and paprika sauce.
• Serving Suggestions: Pair with egg noodles or creamy mashed potatoes to soak up the rich, hearty goulash sauce.

Tasty Twists On Delia Smith Meatballs Goulash

• Vegetarian Meatballs: Replace beef and pork with lentils, mushrooms, and plant-based protein, using ground flaxseed as a binding agent.
• Gluten-Free Option: Swap breadcrumbs with almond flour or crushed gluten-free crackers, and use cornstarch instead of wheat flour for dusting.
• Spicy Hungarian Version: Increase paprika, add hot Hungarian peppers, and include caraway seeds for an authentic regional flavor profile.
• Low-Carb Alternative: Skip noodles and serve over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles, reducing overall carbohydrate content while maintaining rich taste.

What Goes With Delia Smith Meatballs Goulash

• Pair with Full-Bodied Red Wine: Select a robust Hungarian Egri Bikavér (Bull's Blood) red wine that complements the rich, spicy goulash flavors, matching the hearty meat and paprika notes.
• Create Creamy Potato Side: Prepare a smooth, buttery mashed potato with roasted garlic and fresh chives to absorb the luxurious sauce and provide a comforting texture contrast.
• Enhance with Tangy Cucumber Salad: Prepare a traditional Hungarian cucumber salad dressed with sour cream, dill, and a splash of white vinegar to cut through the dish's richness and provide a refreshing palate cleanser.

Storing Delia Smith Meatballs Goulash Properly

• Store meatball goulash in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Cool completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Transfer cooled goulash to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to 2-3 months.
• Place portion in microwave-safe dish. Cover with damp paper towel. Heat on medium power in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each interval until thoroughly warmed.
• Pour goulash into saucepan. Add splash of water or broth to prevent sticking. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. Stir in additional creme fraiche if sauce looks dry.

Delia Smith Meatballs Goulash Questions Answered

• What are the key spices in this Meatballs Goulash?

Paprika is the primary spice that gives this dish its classic Hungarian flavor, creating a rich and warm taste profile.

• Can I use different types of meat?

Yes, you can substitute ground beef and pork with ground turkey or chicken, though the traditional flavor will be slightly different.

• Is this dish gluten-free?

No, the recipe uses breadcrumbs and seasoned flour, which contain gluten. To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and flour alternatives.

• How spicy is this goulash?

The recipe is mild with a gentle warmth from paprika. If you want more heat, you can add red pepper flakes or hot paprika to increase the spice level.

Meatballs Goulash Recipe

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4.8 from 27 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 37 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Hungarian comfort meets culinary magic in Classic Meatballs Goulash, a hearty dish simmering with rich paprika-infused sauce and tender beef. Savory meatballs nestled in robust gravy promise a delightful journey through traditional Central European flavors you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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Meat:

• 12 ounces (350 grams) lean minced beef
• 12 ounces (350 grams) minced pork
• 1 large egg, beaten

Vegetables and Herbs:

• 1 medium red pepper, finely chopped
• 1 medium red pepper, chopped
• 2 small onions, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Seasonings and Other Ingredients:

• 2 ounces (50 grams) fresh breadcrumbs
• 1 rounded tablespoon seasoned flour
• 1 rounded tablespoon hot Hungarian paprika
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound (450 grams) ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped, or 1 x 400 grams tin chopped tomatoes
• About 100 milliliters creme fraiche
• Salt and freshly milled black pepper

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Instructions

1. Combine ground meats with aromatics, herbs, binding agents, and seasonings in a large mixing bowl, blending thoroughly until ingredients are evenly distributed.
2. Craft uniform spherical portions, carefully rolling meat mixture into consistent-sized morsels.
3. Delicately coat meatballs with seasoned flour, ensuring light, even coverage.
4. Heat oil in a heavy skillet, searing meatballs to achieve golden-brown exterior, working in batches to prevent overcrowding.
5. Transfer browned meatballs to a separate plate, reserving for later incorporation.
6. In the same skillet, sauté chopped vegetables until softened and translucent, approximately 4-5 minutes.
7. Sprinkle paprika and residual flour into vegetable mixture, stirring to create a rich, aromatic base.
8. Pour crushed tomatoes into the pan, seasoning with salt and pepper, allowing sauce to develop depth and complexity.
9. Gently reintroduce meatballs into simmering sauce, ensuring each piece is generously coated.
10. Transfer casserole to preheated oven at 170°C, covering and allowing flavors to meld for approximately 1.5 hours.
11. Just before serving, swirl creme fraiche into sauce for luxurious creaminess.
12. Present over preferred starch like egg noodles or creamy mashed potatoes.

Notes

• Swap meats for versatility by using ground turkey or lamb to suit different dietary preferences and add unique flavor profiles.
• Reduce breadcrumbs or use gluten-free alternatives like almond meal for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Create a lighter version by baking meatballs instead of frying, which cuts down on excess oil and reduces overall calorie content.
• Enhance nutrition by adding grated vegetables like zucchini or carrots into the meatball mixture for extra vitamins and moisture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 22 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Hungarian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 333 kcal
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 210 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 14 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 24 g
• Cholesterol: 110 mg