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