Hungarian Beef Stew (Marhapörkölt)

Hungarian Beef Stew, known as Marhapörkölt, is a classic Hungarian comfort food built around tender beef, onions, sweet Hungarian paprika, and a rich, savory sauce. Unlike many Western-style beef stews, traditional Hungarian pörkölt relies heavily on paprika and slowly cooked onions to create its distinctive flavor and deep red color.

Ingredients

• 2 lb (900 g) beef chuck, cut into bite-sized cubes
• 2 large onions, finely chopped
• 2–3 tablespoons lard or vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons sweet Hungarian paprika
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium tomato, diced
• 1 teaspoon caraway seeds, optional
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup (240 ml) beef broth or water
• 1 bay leaf, optional
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste, optional