Chef John's American Goulash Recipe

"One of my all-time favorite comfort food meals growing up was the beef goulash they served in my school cafeteria alongside a slice of buttered white bread and a carton of milk. Little did I know that it wasn’t really goulash, but an Americanized version, invented to stretch a small amount of beef into enough food for a not-so-small family. This one of those very simple dishes that does not taste simple–perfect for your weeknight dinner rotation."

Ingredients

  • Adjust
  • US
  • Metric
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 quart chicken broth
  • 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni
  • 1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley
  • 1 cup shredded white Cheddar cheese (optional)
  • Directions

  • Prep
  • Cook
  • Ready In
    1. Heat oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and ground beef. Cook, breaking the meat into small pieces, until browned, about 5 minutes. Cook and stir until liquid is evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes more. Add garlic, salt, black pepper, cayenne, paprika, Italian seasoning, and bay leaves.
    2. Cook and stir until flavors come together, about 3 minutes. Pour in chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and marinara sauce. Rinse out the jar with 1 cup water and pour into the pot. Add soy sauce, stir, and bring soup to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium and simmer to let flavors intensify, about 30 minutes.
    3. Increase heat to medium-high and bring soup to a simmer. Add macaroni; simmer, stirring occasionally, until just barely tender, about 12 minutes. Check for doneness after 10 minutes.
    4. Remove goulash from heat. Discard bay leaves; stir in parsley and Cheddar cheese. Cover and let rest for 5 minutes. Taste and season as desired.

    Footnotes

    • Chef’s Notes:
    • Make your own Italian herb mix with any desired blend of oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, parsley, and basil.
    • Feel free to swap water for chicken broth.
    • You can also add beans to turn this into an excellent pasta fazool.

    Nutrition Facts

    Per Serving: 336 calories;17.3 g fat;25.1 g carbohydrates;18.9 g protein;58 mg cholesterol;1169 mg sodium.Full nutrition
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