Hungarian Goulash (Blog #10)

Hungarian has a variety of traditional/local food. The majority of these plates contain some type of meat such as sausage, pork, or chicken. One of the main traditional Hungarian dishes that you can find in many different locations is goulash. I would compare Goulash to a beef stew of some type. There is a dark beef broth seasoned with a lot of paprika. There are large chunks of beef and then sometimes, carrots, peas, onions, and celery. 

This local favorite is served at all kinds of restaurants, not just Hungarian ones. I have been to a variety of restaurants that serve sandwiches, pasta, salads, and then goulash. The size of the goulash varies depending on the restaurant. Some goulash comes served in a large size soup bowl and then others come in a smaller stew-like pot. 

I am confident when I say that I truly am open to trying any kind of food no matter what. There is nothing that I won't try and there is little to nothing that I don't enjoy eating. It is easy to get comfortable eating the same thing each day/week because it is a habit. I had gone the first two months of being in Hungary not trying Goulash for no other reason than when it comes down to ordering at a restaurant other food grabs my eye. This past weekend I tried Goulash for the first time. 

The Drum Cafe located in Budapest has an assortment of traditional Hungarian foods. The full name of the restaurant is the "Langosh and Gulyas bar". The first time that I went to the Drum Cafe, I tried Langosh. Langosh is a deep-fried flatbread with toppings such as cheese and sour cream. It was a comfortable and filling meal. This time I was eager to try the traditional Goulash. The Drum Cafe has very cozy feel to it. They have an outdoor and indoor seating arrangement and many decorations such as flowers and bright colors.

 My friends and I squeezed into the wooden benches outside and we were welcomed by the amazing smells of Hungarian food. The menu had different types of goulash such as a spicer one with meat and just the regular goulash which wasn't spicy. I decided to try the traditional beef goulash. The goulash was presented in a delicious steaming bread bowl with a perfect amount of broth inside. This broth was on the lighter side with more orangey tints. Another goulash I have seen has a darker red broth but regardless of the color, it was delicious. Large chunks of beef, carrots, and onions soaked up the broth.

The goulash provides the comfort that chicken noodle gives when you are feeling under the weather. Since it can be served in different portion sizes, you can incorporate it into any part of your meal. When I was out at a local restaurant I watched a couple have a salad as their appetizer and then their goulash came out in. a very large bowl and they each had their own for lunch. Goulash can be for lunch, dinner, or an afternoon pick-me-up. I am looking to try goulash at a variety of different restaurants to compare and contrast the flavors and how it is served. 

As mentioned prior, many Hungarian meals contain some kind of meat. Another local favorite that I have yet to try yet is chicken paprikash. Chicken fried in bread crumbs and covered with paprika. Paprika is one of the most used spices. In the goulash, you will most definitely find paprika. Chicken Paprikash is seared in butter and covered with onions and paprika. Then to make the consistency thicker and gives it a soupy look to it, sour cream is mixed into the sauce. I have seen the dish served over plain noodles or even dumplings. 

I have been told that there are different types of paprika, some are sweeter while others are spicier. paprika is not a spice I typically use or have when I am at home. I am eager to try more traditional Hungarian foods because it is important to try all kinds of foods to learn about a country's culture. Since Budapest is such a large city, there are many traditional Hungarian restaurants that serve the local favorites.

Each restaurant serves the food in its own way. The flavors and spices that they use vary. Langosh can be served with a diverse range of toppings. Goulash can be served in a bread bowl or in a large soup bowl. The broth may taste spicier at some restaurants and not as flavorful at others. It is important to try the local favorites in not just one but many restaurants so you can compare how they taste.