Description
Hearty Hungarian chicken paprikash brings creamy, paprika-infused comfort straight from Budapest’s culinary heart. Home cooks will savor this classic dish’s rich flavors, tender chicken, and silky sauce that whisks diners to Hungary’s warm kitchens.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms) chicken pieces (legs, thighs, breast)
Aromatics and Spices:
- 2 onions, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) Hungarian paprika
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) salt
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 grams) black pepper
Liquids and Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) vegetable oil
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) sour cream
Instructions
- Sauté finely chopped onions in a deep skillet until translucent and fragrant, releasing their natural sweetness.
- Generously sprinkle high-quality Hungarian paprika into the softened onions, coating them evenly and creating a rich, aromatic base.
- Carefully place chicken pieces into the seasoned mixture, allowing each section to develop a golden-brown exterior through even browning.
- Pour chicken broth around the meat, creating a flavorful braising liquid that will tenderize and infuse the protein with depth.
- Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, covering the skillet to trap moisture and ensure the chicken cooks uniformly and remains succulent.
- After approximately 40-45 minutes, verify the chicken’s doneness by checking that juices run clear and meat easily separates from the bone.
- Gently remove chicken pieces and transform the remaining liquid into a velvety sauce by whisking in smooth, tangy sour cream.
- Prepare delicate dumplings by combining flour, eggs, and a touch of water until a slightly elastic dough develops.
- Create small, irregular dumpling shapes by carefully dropping spoonfuls into actively boiling, salted water.
- Once dumplings float to the surface, indicating they are fully cooked, extract them with a perforated utensil.
- Plate the tender chicken and creamy sauce atop the pillowy dumplings, offering an additional dollop of sour cream for those desiring extra richness.
Notes
- Choose high-quality sweet Hungarian paprika for authentic, rich flavor that transforms the entire dish.
- Use bone-in chicken thighs or legs for more moisture and deeper taste compared to lean chicken breasts.
- Create smooth sauce by gradually whisking sour cream to prevent curdling and maintain silky texture.
- Prepare dumplings ahead of time and keep them covered to ensure they stay warm and soft before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Hungarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 120mg