Hungarian Traditional Food | Hungarian Bean Goulash (Babgulyás)

Hungarian Bean Goulash (Babgulyás) 🇭🇺🥣

A classic Hungarian stew—hearty, smoky, and packed with beans, paprika, and tender meat. Perfect for warming up on cold days.


Ingredients

  • 2 cups dried white beans, soaked overnight
  • 300–400 g smoked pork or beef (or smoked sausage), diced
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 1 parsnip, diced (optional)
  • 1–2 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt & black pepper, to taste
  • 6 cups water or broth
  • 2 tbsp oil or lard

Optional: caraway seeds or tomato paste for extra flavor


Instructions

  1. Cook Beans & Meat
    Drain soaked beans. In a large pot, heat oil or lard, sauté onion and garlic until soft. Add meat and brown slightly.
  2. Add Paprika & Vegetables
    Remove from heat, stir in paprika, then add carrots, parsnip, bay leaf, and soaked beans.
  3. Simmer
    Add water or broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 1–1½ hours until beans and meat are tender.
  4. Season & Finish
    Add salt and pepper to taste. Adjust thickness if needed by simmering longer or adding more water.
  5. Serve
    Serve hot, optionally with a slice of rustic bread.

💡 Tip: Babgulyás is even better the next day, as flavors deepen overnight.

If you want, I can make a short, easy-to-follow Facebook-style version for Babgulyás that’s perfect for sharing. Do you want me to do that?

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