Description
Hungarian chicken paprikash brings classic comfort from Budapest’s kitchens, combining tender chicken with creamy paprika sauce. Hearty ingredients and simple techniques create a soul-warming meal you’ll savor with genuine Central European delight.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 chicken thighs (2.5 lbs / 1.13 kg)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps paprika
- 3 tbsps butter
- 1 cup chicken stock
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Seasoning: Thoroughly coat chicken thighs with salt and pepper across all surfaces for maximum flavor infusion.
- Searing: Heat butter in a large pot over medium-high flame, carefully brown chicken thighs skin-side down for 3-4 minutes to develop a rich, golden crust. Remove and set aside.
- Aromatic Base: In the same pot, sauté onions until translucent, then add red bell peppers, garlic, tomato paste, paprika, additional salt, and black pepper. Stir to create a vibrant flavor foundation.
- Liquid Integration: Pour chicken stock into the pot, return chicken thighs, and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Rotate midway to ensure even cooking and verify internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Creamy Transformation: Whisk flour and sour cream in a separate bowl. Temper the mixture by slowly incorporating hot liquid from the pot to prevent lumping. Blend back into the sauce, stirring until it reaches a luxurious, velvety consistency.
- Final Assembly: Reunite chicken with the creamy sauce, ensuring complete coverage. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve alongside traditional accompaniments like spaetzle, noodles, or roasted potatoes.
Notes
- Prevent Curdling: Temper sour cream by slowly adding hot liquid to avoid separation, ensuring a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Skin Crisping Technique: Brown chicken skin-side down first to develop a golden, flavorful crust that locks in moisture.
- Paprika Power: Use high-quality Hungarian paprika for authentic flavor depth and rich, vibrant color.
- Temperature Precision: Check chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F to guarantee safe, perfectly cooked meat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Hungarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg