Szekley Gulyas (pronounced Say Kay gulash)
2 Lbs of Pork Stew Meat
2 Medium Onions sliced Fine
3 cloves of Garlic
1/2 lb of Good Smoked Bacon.
1 28 oz can of ground Tomatoes
1 teaspoon of Caraway Seed
3 cups of Veal Stock or Beef Broth
1 Large (28 oz ?) Sauerkraut
1/2 pint Sour Cream
In a Large Pot,(Stew Pot or Dutch Oven) mince the Bacon and render it till it's brown. Remove the Bacon and of course, save the fat. Add a little Oilve oil or Vegetable oil and dust the Pork with Flour. Brown the Pork on all sides in the Bacon Fat and Vegetable oil. Do it in smaller Batches so that the meat browns and the meat and flour do not steam and get gummy. After you brown all the Pork, Add the sliced Onion and mince the Garlic. Saute in the pot until the Onions are transparent (and the Garlic smells wonderful). Add the Bacon and the Pork back to the pot.
Place the Sauerkraut in a Sieve and Rinse it quickly in cold water for about 15 Seconds and squeeze the water out. Add the Kraut,Veal Stock and tomato to the pot and mix well. Bring up to a good strong simmer and I like to place the pot in a 375 F. Oven Covered. Let this braise for about 1 1/2 hours.Every so often, Open the pot to make sure there is still enough liquid. I have found over the years the "Vessels" vary as far as how much steam they let out. So some times the evaporation of the stock could be too fast. If it starts to look dry, add some more broth or Stock so it is "Stew Like" Check the meat by checking if a fork can slice through it. If it's fork tender, add the Caraway seed (You don't have to use the Caraway) When the meat is done, Put the Sour Cream in a bowl and wisk a little of the hot sauce form the meat a little at a time to gradually bring up the temp of the Sour Cream. This is called tempering. This will prevent the sour cream from Breaking or Curdling.Add the Sour Cream to the whole mixture and check for Salt and Pepper.
I like to make home Made Spaetzle, and Panfry them with toasted Bread Crumbs. Then Ladle the Gulyas over them. If the stew seems thin, just add a little roux to tighten it up. but it should be OK.
WARNING... This is one of those meals that if you eat too much,you could explode
This is my Grandmother's from Budapest.