Beef Gulasch
A classic dish perfected. Ask your butcher to cut the meat from the shank into 3/4-inch cubes.
1/2 cup canola oil
1 1/2 pounds white onions, halved through core, thinly sliced crosswise (about 8 cups)
2 garlic cloves, sliced
1 tablespoon dried marjoram
1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 tablespoons Hungarian sweet paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons Hungarian hot paprika
1 cup white wine vinegar
6 cups low-salt chicken broth
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel
3 1/2 pounds beef shank meat (from about 4 1/2 pounds beef shanks) or boneless beef short ribs, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
- Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium high heat.
- Add onions and cook until golden brown and soft, stirring often, about 25 minutes.
- Add garlic and marjoram; cook until garlic softens, about 3 minutes.
- Add tomato paste and cook until mixture begins to turn dark red, stirring often, about 3 minutes.
- Add both paprikas and stir to blend; remove from heat and let stand 1 minute for flavors to blend.
- Add vinegar; stir over medium heat until almost all liquid is absorbed, about 2 minutes.
- Add broth, bay leaves, and lemon peel; increase heat and bring to boil.
- Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper; add to pot. Simmer over medium-low heat until beef is tender, stirring occasionally, about 2 1/2 hours.
- Transfer beef to bowl, leaving onions in pot. Boil sauce in pot until reduced to 5 cups, about 15 minutes. Cool slightly.
- Working in batches, puree sauce in blender until smooth; return to pot. Season with salt and pepper.
- Return beef to pot. Simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes.
DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cool slightly. Chill uncovered until cool, then cover and chill. Rewarm before serving.
What to drink: In keeping with the spirit of this menu, pour an Austrian red with the gulasch. The fruity, elegant Feiler-Artinger 2007 Zweigelt ($19) is a good choice.
Per serving: 474.2 kcal calories, 42.4 % calories from fat, 22.6 g fat, 4.1 g saturated fat, 81.1 mg cholesterol, 18.4 g carbohydrates, 4.1 g dietary fiber, 8.1 g total sugars, 14.3 g net carbohydrates, 48.6 g protein