Hungarian Goulash Soup – Traditional Gulyásleves

Hungarian Goulash Soup, known as Gulyásleves, is one of Hungary’s most iconic traditional dishes. This hearty soup combines tender beef, onions, Hungarian paprika, potatoes, carrots, and peppers in a rich, aromatic broth.

Unlike the thick beef stew often called “goulash” outside Hungary, authentic Gulyásleves is a soup—with plenty of flavorful broth surrounding tender pieces of meat and vegetables.

🇭🇺 What Is Hungarian Goulash Soup?

The Hungarian word gulyás originally referred to a cattle herder, while gulyásleves means “goulash soup.”

Traditional Hungarian goulash soup is built around a few essential ingredients:

• Beef
• Onions
• Hungarian paprika
• Potatoes
• Carrots
• Parsley root
• Green pepper
• Tomato
• Garlic
• Caraway seeds

The result is a deeply savory soup with a beautiful reddish color and a warm paprika aroma.

🥩 Ingredients

For the Soup

• 2 lb (900 g) beef chuck, cut into bite-size cubes
• 2 large onions, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons lard or vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons Hungarian sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon hot paprika, optional
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 parsley roots or parsnips, sliced
• 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
• 8 cups (2 liters) beef broth or water
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Optional Nokedli

• 1 egg
• ½ cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
• Pinch of salt