My Finest Pal’s Mother’s Paprikash

There’s one meal that everybody in my family loves, and it’s not mac and cheese. It’s not even my very own recipe! It’s my finest buddy’s mother’s mushroom paprikash.

I received hooked on this meal again in my twenties, once I began making it with my finest buddy, Chrissy, who discovered it from her mother, Monika, who discovered make it as a baby in Slovakia. “Historically, paprikash is made with rooster,” Monika informed me. “However within the outdated days, behind the Iron Curtain, we didn’t have meat most days, so folks used what was out there. In summertime, if it was a pleasant day, all us children would exit into the woods and collect mushrooms. That’s how the mushroom paprikash took place. And it was great!”

It nonetheless is. Which is why I comply with Monika’s model to the letter. I nonetheless have her directions saved in a decade-old textual content message, which I can now recite from reminiscence (although I’ve copied it into my Notes app JUST IN CASE). It’s our household’s favourite winter meal, by far, however I’ll simply as simply whip it out in July. Monika’s paprikash has a 100% success charge, even with my preschooler — even when she’s sick and I’ve to beg her to contemplate a popsicle. She’s going to willingly dehydrate earlier than my eyes, but when she sees me slicing mushrooms, she’ll throw her arms up and shout, “PAPRIKASHHH!” After which her dad is available in and goes, “Paprikash?” After which I nod and all of us chant the phrase “paprikash” as a result of it’s additionally enjoyable to say. The meal places everybody in a great temper — till somebody eats the final portion with out asking, after which we’re all grumpy and a few of us cry. All this to say: do your self a favor and double the recipe.

Monika’s Mushroom Paprikash
serves 3-4

1 medium yellow onion, finely diced or grated
2-3 tbsp olive oil
1-2+ tbsp candy paprika (Monika recommends a Hungarian paprika, like this one)*
16 oz mushrooms (child bella/cremini/brown button), sliced skinny
Salt, to style
1+ cups bitter cream
Egg noodles or spaetzle**, for serving

Add olive oil to a big pan or Dutch oven (sufficient to coat the underside properly), and switch the warmth on medium-low. Add the onion, and sauté simply till it begins to show translucent and golden. Subsequent, add the paprika (see under!) and switch the warmth low. Monika suggests including a tiny splash of water right here, to make sure the paprika doesn’t burn. That is the #1 rule: Don’t let the paprika burn! Hold the warmth low from right here on out, and keep watch over the pan to verify the paprika doesn’t begin to darken.

Add the mushrooms and rapidly stir them into the onion combination in order that they’re properly coated, and sauté, stirring steadily. You may inch the warmth up a bit as soon as the mushrooms have launched their liquid, however watch out to not let it boil off fully (once more: no burning the paprika!).

As soon as the mushrooms are good and delicate, take the pan off the warmth and provides it a fast style. “I generally add a bit salt right here, if it wants it, however solely after the whole lot’s cooked,” Monika says. FYI, that is one other key to the recipe. I’ve unintentionally added the salt too early earlier than, and observed that the mushrooms don’t launch as a lot liquid — a significant taste component.

Stir within the bitter cream, including extra as wanted. You need it a bit thicker than a sauce — extra just like the consistency of whole-milk yogurt. Boil up your egg noodles or spaetzle, and serve beneath a great scoop of paprikash. (Make sure that to depart some for seconds.)

*As for a way a lot paprika so as to add to the pan, it’s not an actual science. I normally begin with a heaping tablespoon — which looks as if lots, however then I inevitably add one other (and generally extra). In my expertise, it’s fairly onerous so as to add an excessive amount of. When doubtful, Monika says: “You need sufficient to make it crimson.”

**Paprikash is historically served on spaetzle — which I’ve by no means made, although it seems scrumptious. Monika says it’s positive to be versatile right here. “Egg noodles or any comparable quick pasta will do!”

Large due to Moni for sharing this treasured household recipe with me! Any nice recipes you’ve nabbed from another person’s mother?

P.S. The #1 factor we’d inform new dad and mom about household dinner, and what are 5 recipes in your arsenal?