POTATO STEW – KRUMPLI FŐZELÉK

Hungarians enjoy potatoes in many ways. Perhaps a reminder of lean times, krumpli főzelék has never been a favoured dish. But mine is delicious and it is well worth to prepare it.

Potato stew is best with slow fried Gyulai sausage. Gyulai leaves a lovely red grease behind, which is then drizzled over the főzelék. There is a trick to make any type of sliceable smoked sausage taste better. Remove the skin first. If you first freeze the sausage and then hold it under hot tap water, the skin will simply slip off. Then slice it thin and slow fry it in olive oil. Sprinkle with Hungarian Paprika and its ready. This method is an excellent substitute for Hungarian Gyulai sausage.

POTATO STEW

1 lb starchy potatoes
1/2 cup very finely diced onions
2 Tbsp olive oil
4 bay leaves
1/4 tsp marjoram
salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp Hungarian paprika
2 cups water
Thickening:
1/3 cup flour
2/3 cup sour cream
1/2 cup cold water
Garnish:
2 sticks of frozen chorizo sausage
2 Tbsp olive oil
1-2 tsp Hungarian Paprika

• Peel the potatoes and chop them up.
• Dice the onion very fine.
• In a medium pot, heat the olive oil.
• Add the diced onion, the bay leaves and the marjoram.
• Sauté the onions on medium heat stirring often until onions begin to wilt. Do not let them brown.
• Add the chopped potatoes and sauté stirring for a minute or two.
• Sprinkle with the Hungarian paprika.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Add two cups of water and bring to the boil.
• Reduce heat and cover the pot.
• Slowly simmer the potatoes until almost tender.
• To make the thickening, whisk together the flour and the sour cream.
• Gradually add the cold water and whisk mixture very smooth.
• Add the mixture to the potatoes and stir it into the potato stock.
• Bring it to a slow simmer and let it cook for two minutes.
• Remove pot from heat and cover.
• To make the garnish, hold 2 sticks of frozen chorizo sausage under hot tap water and pull off the skin.
• Slice the sausage very thin.
• Heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil in a non stick fry pan and add the sliced chorizo.
• Fry slowly on medium low heat for a couple of minutes.
• Stir in the paprika and remove pan from heat. [Hungarian paprika turns bitter when fried]
• Dish out the főzelék and garnish with the fried chorizo. Drizzle with a bit of red grease and serve.
• Makes 4 servings 

 

 Making FŐZELÉK [Vegetable Stew] -- A Parody