Recipe: Hungarian Gulyas (Goulash)

HUNGARIAN GULYAS (GOULASH)

2 ts Dried marjoram
1 t Caraway seeds
1 t Lemon zest
1 cl Garlic
3/4 c Butter
1 tb Tomato paste
1 tb Sweet Hungarian paprika
2 lb Onions, sliced
1 c Water
2 lb Beef (rump, round or chuck)lamb or veal is nice too
1 c Sweet red and green pepper chunks (or peppers of your choice)
Salt to taste

Crush together the marjoram, caraway, garlic and lemon zest. In a large kettle, combine the butter (or fat of your choice), 1 tb. tomato paste, the crushed seasonings and the sliced onions. Saute the onions, stirring all the while, until the onions are golden. Add the paprika, stir and saute 30 seconds longer. Add the beef, lamb or veal, (cut in uniform chunks), the water and salt to taste. Cover the kettle tightly and simmer for 1 1/2 hours or until the meat is tender. Add a bit more water during cooking, only if it is necessary. Just before the goulasch is done, add 1/2 cup more water and let the sauce boil up once more. If more sauce is preferred, sprinkle it with 1/4 cup flour just before the water is added at the end and add 1 more cup of water. Serve the goulasch with speaetzle, noodles or boiled potatoes. Our personal preferance (and one that is commonly used in Vienna) is zemmel knoedle (kaiser roll dumplings.) In Hungary, slivered grteen peppers are sprinkled on this gulyas. It may also be sprinkle with bits of sweet red pepper.