Hungarian Goulash

This is a really satisfying and flavour-packed meal which I cooked last night in my recently acquired pressure cooker, a piece of kitchen equipment that I’m rapidly falling in love with. (NB: You can get perfectly good and very much cheaper PCs than mine – I just opted for what looked like a  ‘foolproof version’ because I was nervous about the whole idea of pressure cooking)!  In this recipe, cooking time is reduced to 25 minutes in the PC.

If you want to try this recipe using another method of cooking, it takes about 2 hours in the oven at 180°C / 350°F / Gas Mark 4, OR 5-6 hours in a slow cooker.

(My version) Hungarian Goulash

Ingredients:

• A small quantity of sour cream (about 75ml or 4 to 5 tablespoons)
• 200g (about 6 oz) peas or sliced green beans (optional)
• 2 carrots, (75g / 3 to 4 oz), sliced
• 1 green pepper, sliced
• 1 stick of celery, sliced
• Salt and pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon caraway seeds (optional) or 1/4 tsp.ground mixed spice or cinnamon (optional)
• 1 x 400g (14 oz.) can chopped tomatoes in juice (+ 1 tin of water)
• 350 ml (12 fl. oz.) liquid beef stock
• 100 ml (3 to 4fl. oz.) red wine
• 400g (14 oz.) potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
• 1 onion, peeled and diced
• 200g (7 oz) bacon or spicy sausage, diced
• 600g (21 oz) stewing beef, diced
• 2 oz (about 50g) flour
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Method:

Oven on (if using a traditional oven).

Toss the beef in the flour to coat. I do this by putting the meat and flour in a zip lock bag an tossing it around.

Heat the oil in the open pan and brown off the beef in small batches, setting it aside when done.

Add the onions, bacon / spicy sausage and garlic to the pan and cook until the onions have softened (3-4 minutes).

Add back the beef +  potatoes, tomatoes in juice, carrots, stock, wine, paprika, bay leaf and caraway seeds if using.

*Put the lid on the pressure cooker and lock it in place.  Set the pressure to high (‘meat’ setting on my PC),  bring to pressure and cook for 25 minutes.

When done, release the pressure slowly (take the pan off the heat and let it stand for 10-15 mins – this allows the flavour-infused steam to meld back into the cooked dish).

If using, add the peas or beans to the opened pan and cook through for 4 to 5 minutes.

To serve: top with a little sour cream.  Can be had with crusty bread or rice, although we found this to be a satisfying ‘one-bowl’ meal on its own.

……………….

*If using a traditional oven, cover the casserole and cook for the required time (2 hours or until the meat is tender).

You're kidding…right?

This recipe was advertised on my Googlemail page and just the title made me click on it.  I had no idea that people still ate Spam let alone a ‘French Fry and Spam Casserole’ (with a few crushed cornflakes in there for good measure)! 

Actually this inspires me to start collecting the worst sounding recipes I can find.  At some point I may (may, I say) actually try them to see if they really do taste as bad as they sound.  Anyone want to contribute?  Genuine recipes only (together with a note of the source if you can).

Here is the recipe for Spam and French Fry Casserole, as listed at recipesource.com.  Try it – I dare you.

Title: FRENCH FRY SPAM CASSEROLE
  Categories: Main dish
       Yield: 8 servings
 
       1 pk Frozen french fry potatoes,
            -thawed (20 oz)
       2 c  Shredded Cheddar cheese
       2 c  Sour cream
       1 cn Condensed cream of chicken
            -soup (10 3/4 oz)
       1 cn SPAM Luncheon Meat, cubed
            -(12 oz)
     1/2 c  Chopped red bell pepper
     1/2 c  Chopped green onion
     1/2 c  Finely crushed corn flakes
 
   Heat oven to 350’F. In large bowl, combine potatoes, cheese, sour
   cream, and soup. Stir in SPAM, bell pepper, and green onion. Spoon
   into 13×9″ baking dish. Sprinkle with crushed flakes. Bake 30-40
   minutes or until thoroughly heated.