Brian’s Favorite Eastern Goulash

            While living in Europe my husband Brian traveled back and forth between Ljubljana, Slovenia and Warsaw, Poland.  Often on this journey, he ate his lunch in the Pilzen (Plzeň) train station in the Czech Republic.  Brian frequently talked about how great the goulash was there, not a runny beef soup, but a thick and rich broth filled with meat and vegetables.  One bowl of this soup leaves an imprint on your gastronomic memory for life, giving you random cravings of a taste from Eastern Europe.  Amanda and I once had the pleasure of joining him on one of his trips to Warsaw, and our connecting train stop was, once again, in Pilzen.  Off we went into the station restaurant for a good hot meal.  I was so impressed with the meal and the price that I wished we could stop in more often; the three of us ate for about five Euros total!  In Germany, we would have been able to buy only one Döner (Turkish kebab sandwich) for the same price.  Today I made Brian’s long awaited dream for the Slavic soup come true, once more.  

            Brian’s Favorite Eastern Goulash

            Take 2 lbs soup meat, stew meat and two bones.  Cut up the meat into bite size pieces.  Place the meat into a pot.  Pour some olive oil over the top and stir.  Add about a quarter cup of flour and brown, making sure to not let the flour burn by stirring the meat mixture occasionally.  Chop up an onion and crush two cloves of garlic; add to the pot.  Let cook just a couple of minutes.  Add water to the pot until it is just a bit higher than half full.  Add 4oz. of tomato paste, 2 bouillon cubes, 2 bay leaves, 2 carrots, 2 American celery stalks, 1 sweet potato, and a can of corn.  Once again, feel free to add any other vegetables that you might have on hand in your kitchen.  Next add: 1 tablespoon of Paprika, ½ thyme, 1 large teaspoon of marjoram, 1 teaspoon coriander, 2 table spoons of goulash seasoning, and 2 tablespoons of vinegar.  Place the covered pot into the over on 350 F for two hours, stirring occasionally.  When serving, add one large tablespoon full of sour cream to each bowl, and enjoy!  

PS:   Pilzen is the place where Pilsner Beer was invented, and the locals do drink it.  If you enjoy this drink, say “Na zdraví” (to your health) and enjoy your meal!