Hungarian pepper and tomato stew (lecso)
Background
The Hungarian pepper and tomato stew (lecso) is one of the basic, most popular dishes in Hungarian cuisine. Itβs very similar to ratatouille, but the Hungarian version only has peppers & tomatoes, spiced with paprika. Despite using only a few ingredients, there are no two households that make this dish the same way! Β As I live in the UK itβs not easy to find Hungarian yellow paprika (sometimes in Turkish shops) so I make my lecho with belle peppers. Lecso can be served as a main dish (with pasta, rice or bread) or as a side dish with grilled meat. It can be preserved for the winter in jars too (particularly Β the sauce version). Below is the basic, vegan recipe - diced chorizo-like sausage or bacon can be added to it (just fry them together with the onion). In my family, we also like stirring in 2- 3 lightly whisked eggs at the end, and make a sort of scrambled lecso β this is a much-loved supper of my kids (although not very aesthetic looking).
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 large onion
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 yellow bell pepper
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 red bell pepper
- 4 medium ripe tomatoes
- 1 Tbsp Hungarian paprika ( can be spicy)
- 2 Tbsp chopped parsley
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Thinly slice the onion and peppers. Dice the tomatoes. Mince the garlic.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan or heavy-based casserole dish. Add the onion and gently sautΓ© until transparent then adds the garlic and pepper strips. Put a lid on and gently cook for about 10 minutes.
- When the pepper has softened add the tomatoes and cook for another 15 minutes (under cover) or until you get a stew. (Most Hungarians like lecso to be cooked into a mushy sauce β if you want this version, cook it longer, for 25-30 minutes).
- Mix in the chopped parsley, season with ground pepper and serve.
Categories
- Meal Type: - Budget - Everyday - Kids Food - Lunch - Main - Quick & Easy - Seasonal - Side - Supper
- Cuisines: - Mid&East European
- Health and Diet: - Combination - Dairy Free - Detox - Diabetic - Egg Free - Gluten Free - Healthy - High Fibre - Low Calorie - Low Carb - Low Cholestrol - Low Fat - Low GI - Nut Free - Sugar Free - Vegan
- Skill Levels: - Easy
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