Goulash was brought to the USA by European immigrants, most especially from Hungary where it’s a national dish. As is often the case with such culinary exchanges, Americans found a way to make it their own. American Goulash straddles the line between pasta dish and stew; it certainly has the thick, rich flavorful feel of a stew, but it’s loaded with tender macaroni. In any case, American Goulash doesn’t neglect the juicy ground beef or the cheesy topping. Nor does it forget the deep savory flavor that keeps you warm when the weather turns cold. The magic of food fusions delights once again!
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce
- 1 stick celery, finely diced
- 2 bell peppers, diced, of any color
- 1 1/2 cups beef or chicken broth
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
- salt, to taste
- ground pepper, to taste
- 1 (8-ounce) package dried macaroni pasta
- 1/4 cup cream cheese, plus more to taste
- 1 cup cheese, shredded and of your choice
Directions
Step 1 –Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Step 2 –Add the beef and brown it, breaking it up as it cooks, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 3 –Drain the fat from the skillet if desired.
Step 4 –Stir the onion and the garlic into the beef mixture and sauté until the onion is translucent, about 3 minutes.
Step 5 –Stir the ground paprika, the parsley, the tomato paste, and the Worcestershire sauce into the skillet.
Step 6 –Stir the celery and the diced bell peppers into the meat mixture and stir-fry until tender, about 4 minutes.
Step 7 –Add the broth, the tomato sauce, and the diced tomatoes to the meat mixture, stirring well and bringing it to a boil.
Step 8 –Season the meat mixture with the salt and the pepper.
Step 9 –Stir the macaroni into the meat mixture and reduce the heat to medium.
Step 10 –Cover the skillet with a lid and simmer until the macaroni is al dente, about 15 minutes.
Step 11 –Stir the mixture and mix in the cream cheese.
Step 12 –Sprinkle the goulash with the cheese, then cover the skillet and let sit until the cheese has melted, about 2 minutes.
Step 13 –Serve.