Chicken Paprikash is one of the easiest and most delicious Hungarian meals. Just a few ingredients, some time and some love - and you'll be amazed.
Below are the recipes for the Paprikash, the Galuska (Nokedli) and the Cucumber Salad. If you don't want to make the Nokedli, you can cook some square shaped noodles instead. And of course, you can eat it with any pickles you like, not just the cucumber salad..
Chicken Paprikash:
1 whole chicken cut to pieces (or precut legs and breast)
2 large onion
1 tomato
1-2 garlic cloves
1/2 green pepper
3-4 tbsp (olive) oil
3 (or more) tbsp Paprika (preferably Hungarian)
salt, black pepper,
2-3 chilies (optional)
1. Cut the chicken up
2. Finely chop the onions and soften them in 3-4 tbsp of heated (olive) oil. It should be soft and sweet, not brown
3. Take the pot off the heat (to prevent the Paprika from becoming bitter) and stir 3 tbsp Paprika into the onion mixture
4. Drop the chicken pieces into the pot, and stir together
5. Add the tomato, green pepper, garlic, chilies and season with salt and pepper
6. Pour over some water (do not need to cover the meat), stir, cover and cook at least 1 hour
7. Remove the lid, and continue cooking to reduce the sauce, let most of the water evaporate
8. If your meat starts to overcook, and the sauce is not thick enough, remove the meat from the pot and let the sauce reduce
9. It's ready to serve
While your Paprikash is cooking, make your Nokedli:
1. Mix well 2 eggs, 2 tbsp oil, 1 dl milk and some salt
2. Add 1 lb flour and start stirring
3. Pour in 1 cup lukewarm water and continue stirring
4. Add some more water and stir-stir-stir, until you have a silky, not too soft dough which is a little bit sticky
5. Boil a large pot of water with 1 tbsp salt
6. Here comes the "Galuska-maker". This is a common kitchen appliance in Hungary, but you can buy it online (Ebay: under the name "Dumpling, Noodle maker - Nockerlmacher" or on Etsy: "Typical Hungarian Pasta Food Spaetzle Dumpling Noodle Maker")
7. Put the Galuska-maker over the pot, pour some dough into it, and make your Nokedli using a quick back and forth motion (they'll instantly cook in the boiling water)
8. Do the same with the rest of your Nokedli dough
9. Stir frequently to prevent sticking
10. When the Nokedlis come to the surface, they're done
11. Drain and rinse under cold water
12. Pour them into a bowl and mix with a little (olive) oil
13. It's done, ready to serve
Cucumber salad:
1. Mix together 2 cups cold water, 2 tbsp sugar, 3 tbsp vinegar, some salt and black pepper (some people prefer to add some crushed garlic too)
2. Stir until the sugar dissolves
3. Slice the cucumber very thinly and mix it with the salad dressing
4. Put it into the fridge, and rest for at least 1/2 hour
Serve the Paprikash over a nice portion of Nokedli (Galuska), with 3-4 dollops of sour cream, a little chopped parsley and sprinkle with a pinch of Paprika. Serve this with the cucumber salad, or any pickles you like.
The music is based on a Hungarian folk song, made by my husband, MrStick© 2016 - (all rights reserved)
