Pörkölt

Pörkölt () is a meat stew which originates from Hungary, but is eaten throughout Central Europe.

In Hungary

Pörkölt is a Hungarian stew with boneless meat, paprika, and some vegetables. It should not be confused with '' gulyás'', a stew with more gravy or a soup (using meat with bones, paprika, caraway, vegetables and potato or different tiny dumplings or pasta simmered along with the meat), or ''paprikás'', which uses only meat, paprika and thick heavy sour cream).
Pörkölt, paprikás and gulyás are considered national dishes of Hungary.

There are different pörkölt variations from region to region. In most parts of Hungary, pörkölt is made with beef or pork. The word ''pörkölt'' means 'roasted'. Pörkölt is made of meat, onion, and sweet paprika powder. Tomatoes or tomato paste, green pepper, marjoram, and garlic are common additions to the basic recipe.

If no paprika powder is available, a mild or heatless chili powder is a suitable substitute but may slightly alter the character of the dish.

Any kind of meat can be used when making pörkölt. Most common are beef, lamb, chicken, and pork, but game, tripe and liver can also be used. A variant of pörkölt, called ''pacalpörkölt'', is prepared using tripe. Another variation is ''gombapörkölt'', which has mushrooms in it instead of meat.

Much of the quality of a pot of pörkölt is found in the use of the very few ingredients. The spiciness and the taste of the paprika powder used is very important to the taste.

A simple Hungarian trick for making good pörkölt is first frying the onions in lard or oil, before making anything else. Then set aside the pot and immediately add paprika powder and the meat and "stir-fry" (this is the origin of the verb ''pörkölni'' – 'to roast'). This way the juices are kept inside. Water is added, the same volume as the meat. ''Pörkölt'' should be simmered slowly in very little liquid. Flour should never be used to thicken a Hungarian pörkölt.
In Hungary, pörkölt is served with pasta (''tészta''), ''tarhonya'' (big Hungarian pasta grains), '' galuska'', or '' nokedli'' as a side dish. Boiled potato is also a common garnish, and pickles may complement the dish.

Outside Hungary

There is a different style Hungarian ''pörkölt'' stew, ''tokány'', a Transylvanian stew that does not emphasize the use of paprika as much as the ''pörkölt'' in Hungary proper. These are stews using black pepper and kitchen herbs like marjoram for spices instead, often made with mixed meats, vegetables and wild mushrooms, depending on the season and the region. ''Tokány'' is often served topped with sour cream, and ''puliszka'' (polenta) or boiled potatoes are served as the side dish.

In the Czech Republic, '' pörkölt'' is made with pork, beer, dark bread and caraway. Often large Czech ''knedlíky'' dumplings are served with it. In Slovakia, the dish is called ''perkelt'' and is served with '' Halušky'' dumplings. Goulash (Polish: ''Gulasz'') is similar to Hungarian ''Pörkölt'', and is also popular in Poland, usually being eaten with potatoes.
In Slovenia it is called "Golaž" and is served with mashed potato or thick polenta

See also

* List of stews

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Porkolt
Hungarian stews
Romanian cuisine
Slovak cuisine
Austrian cuisine
Czech cuisine
Croatian cuisine
Serbian cuisine
Porkolot
Hungarian words and phrases
Montenegrin cuisine
Meat stews