This classic Potato Paprikash (Paprikás Krumpli) is one of Transylvania’s most popular one-pot dishes. It is cheap, simple, and comforting. Paprikas Krumpli can be made with sausage and meat or as a vegetarian dish. Originating from Hungary, it is one of the staple dishes in Transylvania.
Some places call this dish “the shepherd’s stew” because they say that Hungarian shepherds first ate it in the 10th century. It’s a paprika-based stew with potatoes that can be made in a cast-iron or traditional Hungarian cauldron.
We all learned this Paprikas Krumpli from our ancestors, and we are proud to call it ours. It’s delicious and has a rich, rustic appearance, which makes it more authentic. In Transylvania, people consume this dish with fresh bread and homemade pickles.
This is our go-to dish if we are looking for a quick and inexpensive dish. I like to make it, especially with sausage or a simple vegetarian stew. If you have never made it before, I recommend it to you! I KNOW you’ll love it! It’s ready in an hour, and like many Hungarian recipes, it uses just a few ingredients yet has loads of flavor.
Reasons why I love this one-pot Paprikas Krumpli and why you’ll love it too:
- It’s a comfort food. Gives me childhood memories.
- Not much preparation. Dice 2-3 ingredients, then simmer in the pot the rest of the time.
- Customizable. You can make it as a vegetarian or as a meaty meal with a lot of options, you can choose from.
- It’s best eaten hot and fresh, but my favorites are the leftovers.
I also love and recommend the Cabbage Goulash (Székely Cabbage) because of its simplicity. It is also a versatile dish that can be made with any meat or as a vegetarian dish. The traditional Goulash Soup—which is famous all around the world—is Hungary’s national dish. I can’t recommend trying out this piece of history meal enough.
Goulash vs. Paprikash
You might wonder the difference between Goulash (Gulyás) and Paprikash (Paprikás). If you see the two dishes next to each other, there might not be much difference from the outside. Both come from the same branch, but the key differences are in their preparations.
First, paprikash is more similar to a stew and is juicier. It is usually made with chicken, sausage, fish, or even mushrooms. Second, Goulash is a soup, but you can have it as a main dish, too. It is made mostly with beef, sausage, or hot dog sausage. I never saw Goulash with chicken or any white meats.
NOTE: I want to mention that we originally had both of these dishes with fresh bread and pickles. No pasta. I see a lot of misrepresentations of Goulash on the web serving it with pasta, and then saying that it is an authentic Hungarian dish. That’s not Hungarian… It can be the American version, but not the traditional Hungarian dish.
The Chicken Paprikash is the only one that can be served with pasta on the side. The reason is that it’s a meaty stew, without potatoes or any starch ingredients. It needs a side dish with it.
Just in case you come after my head, why I don’t mention no pork (because some people like to use bacon or pork in these recipes)? I don’t eat any type of pork. My family doesn’t eat pork. So these are the ingredients I grew up with in Transylvania.
Ingredients You’ll Need
One thing about Transylvanian food is that you don’t need lots of ingredients. With a few staple ingredients, you make a special and inexpensive dish you and your family will love.
- Vegetable Oil – will be used to sautee the yellow onion in the beginning
- Yellow Onion – it’s important to sautee the onion and not just toss it in the paprikash. Gives a different authentic taste to it.
- Tomatoes – any tomatoes can be used. Canned diced tomatoes are fine too, if you don’t have fresh ones.
- Hungarian Wax Pepper – I recommend using Wax Pepper or Green Bell Pepper.
- Garlic
- Hungarian Paprika Powder – one of the most important ingredient. Paprika powder is a must in this dish.
- Marjoram
- Salt and Black Pepper
- Beef Sausage – any sausage from your choice is good.
- Potatoes – I recommend using russet potatoes.
Let’s make the Paprikás Krumpli (Potatoes Paprikash)
Paprikas Krumpli is one of the easiest one-pot dishes that is ready in just one hour. It’s not just easy to make, but you’ll get a delicious comforting food.
Heat the vegetable oil in a cast iron, then add the cleaned and chopped onions. Stir and sauté the onions.
Add the sliced tomato, wax pepper, minced garlic, paprika powder, salt, black pepper, and the marjoram. Add a little water on the bottom, so it can’t stick on the pot. Stir frequently. (It has to look like a stew.)
Cook them on LOW heat for 10 minutes.
Add the sliced beef sausage to the pot and a little more water if needed.
Stir again, then add the cleaned-cut potatoes. Pour in just enough water until almost cover the potatoes. (Not fully covered.) Add more salt and black pepper to taste if needed.
Cover the pot, and cook for 20 minutes on MEDIUM-LOW, until the potatoes are well cooked. Enjoy!
More traditional Transylvanian dishes
Would you like to try more similar dishes from Transylvania? Check out these delicious meals, you’ll love them.
Hungarian Potato Paprikash (Paprikás Krumpli)
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 large yellow onion
- 1 large tomato
- 1 Hungarian Wax Pepper or green bell pepper
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2 tbsp Hungarian Paprika Powder
- pinch of marjoram
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
- 1 tsp black pepper or to taste
- 12 oz Beef Sausage
- 3 lb white potatoes
Instructions
- Heat the vegetable oil in a cast iron, then add the cleaned and chopped onions. Stir and sauté the onions.4 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 large yellow onion
- When the onion is soft add the sliced tomato, wax pepper, minced garlic, paprika powder, salt, black pepper, and the marjoram. Add a little water on the bottom, so it can't stick on the pot. Stir frequently. (It has to look like a stew.)1 large tomato, 1 Hungarian Wax Pepper, 2 cloves of garlic, 2 tbsp Hungarian Paprika Powder, pinch of marjoram, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper
- Cook them on LOW heat for 10 minutes.
- Add the sliced beef sausage to the pot and a little more water if needed.12 oz Beef Sausage
- Stir again, then add the cleaned cut into cubes of potatoes.3 lb white potatoes
- Pour in just enough water until almost cover the potatoes. (Not fully covered.) Add more salt and black pepper to taste if needed.
- Cover the pot, and cook for 20 minutes on MEDIUM-LOW, until the potatoes are well cooked.
- Traditionally, it is served with pickles and fresh bread.
Anonymous
Anonymous
Elizabeth
This was delicious! Happy to try Transylvanian dishes. I Highly recommended!