Chicken Paprikash (Hungarian Paprika Chicken Stew with Sour Cream)
Chicken paprikash is a Hungarian stew that browns chicken thighs, then simmers them with onion, sweet paprika, and tomato before finishing with sour cream. The onion is cooked slowly until sweet and soft, and the paprika is bloomed briefly over low heat to release its red color and smoky aroma without burning. Paprika forms the foundation of the sauce's flavor and hue, while tomato brings acidity that balances the richness of the dark meat over a 25-minute simmer. Sour cream must be stirred in at the very end over gentle heat to prevent it from splitting, adding a creamy body and subtle tang to the sauce. The traditional serving pairs it over wide egg noodles or spaetzle to catch the sauce.
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Instructions
- 1
Season chicken and brown the surface in a pan.
- 2
Add butter and cook onion until sweet and soft.
- 3
Lower heat and bloom paprika briefly.
- 4
Add tomato and water, return chicken, and simmer 25 minutes.
- 5
Lower heat, stir in sour cream, and cook 3 more minutes.
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