Here’s a comforting and flavorful classic: Hungarian Creamy Pork Mushroom Paprikás (Sertéspörkölt Gombával és Tejföllel) — tender pork simmered in a creamy paprika sauce with mushrooms and sour cream. It’s rich, hearty, and perfect served with nokedli (Hungarian dumplings), egg noodles, or rice.
🇭🇺 Hungarian Creamy Pork Mushroom Paprikás
🕒 Total Time: ~1 hour
🍽️ Servings: 4–6
🧾 Ingredients
-
1.5 lbs (700 g) boneless pork shoulder or loin, cut into bite-sized cubes
-
2 tbsp lard or oil (traditionally lard)
-
1 large onion, finely chopped
-
2 cloves garlic, minced
-
2 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika (not smoked!)
-
1/2 tsp caraway seeds (optional but traditional)
-
1/2 tsp black pepper
-
Salt to taste
-
1.5 cups sliced mushrooms (white button or cremini)
-
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
-
3/4 cup sour cream (plus extra for serving)
-
2 tbsp all-purpose flour (to thicken sauce)
-
Optional: 1 small green bell pepper and/or 1 tomato, finely chopped
-
Fresh parsley, for garnish
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Sauté the Base
-
In a large pot or deep skillet, heat lard/oil over medium heat.
-
Add onions and sauté until soft and golden (10–12 min).
-
Stir in garlic and caraway seeds, if using.
2. Add Pork and Paprika
-
Add pork cubes and brown on all sides.
-
Remove pan from heat briefly to stir in paprika (this prevents bitterness).
-
Return to heat and add salt, pepper, and optional bell pepper/tomato.
3. Simmer
-
Add broth just to cover the meat. Cover and simmer for 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pork is tender.
4. Add Mushrooms
-
Stir in mushrooms and cook uncovered for another 10–15 minutes, until mushrooms are soft and sauce has reduced slightly.
5. Creamy Finish
-
In a bowl, whisk together sour cream and flour until smooth.
-
Temper with a ladle of hot liquid from the pot, then slowly stir mixture into the paprikás.
-
Simmer gently for 5–10 minutes more until the sauce thickens — do not boil, or the sour cream may curdle.
🍽️ Serve With:
-
Nokedli (Hungarian dumplings)
-
Egg noodles
-
Boiled potatoes
-
Crusty bread for dipping
✅ Tips:
-
Use authentic Hungarian sweet paprika for best flavor.
-
Pork shoulder is ideal for tenderness, but loin works for leaner results.
-
Add a pinch of hot paprika or chili flakes for a spicier kick.
-
Always stir in sour cream off the heat to keep the sauce silky.