Porkolt (Hungarian Stew) Made With Pork Recipe

Pörkölt is a traditional Hungarian stew with pork, onions, and a rich paprika sauce. It is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for colder days. Here's a complete recipe with step-by-step directions to make Porkolt

Ingredients:

1 kg (2.2 lbs) pork shoulder or pork stew meat, cut into 2-inch cubes

2 large onions, finely chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced

3 tablespoons Hungarian sweet paprika (adjust according to your spice preference)

1 teaspoon ground caraway seeds (optional but adds a unique flavor)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil or lard

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

2 green bell peppers, sliced

Salt and pepper to taste

2 cups beef or vegetable broth (or water if broth is unavailable)

1 bay leaf

Sour cream, to serve

Hungarian dumplings (nokedli) or cooked rice, to serve

Directions:

Heat the oil or lard over medium heat in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven

Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until the garlic becomes fragrant.

Add the pork cubes to the pot and brown them on all sides. Season with salt and pepper while browning.

Once the pork is nicely browned, sprinkle the sweet paprika and ground caraway seeds over the meat. Stir well to coat the pork evenly with the spices.

Add the chopped tomatoes and sliced green bell peppers to the pot. Stir and cook for a few more minutes until the vegetables start to soften.

Pour in the beef or vegetable broth (or water) until the meat is almost covered. Add the bay leaf.

Bring the stew to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot with a lid and let the stew simmer for about 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the pork is tender and the flavors have melded together. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and check for seasoning, adding more salt and pepper if needed.

While the stew is simmering, you can prepare the Hungarian dumplings (nokedli) or rice to serve with the pörkölt.

Once the pork is tender and the sauce has thickened, remove the bay leaf.

Serve the pörkölt hot with a dollop of sour cream on top and accompanied by Hungarian dumplings (nokedli) or cooked rice.

Enjoy your homemade Hungarian Pörkölt! It's a flavorful and comforting dish that will surely be a hit at the dinner table.