Best 2 Hungarian Lecso Pepper Sausage And Tomato Stew Recipes

**Aromatic Hungarian Lecsó: A Colorful Symphony of Peppers, Sausage, and Tomatoes**

Lecsó, pronounced "LEH-choh," is a vibrant Hungarian stew that captures the essence of summer's harvest. This delectable dish combines the sweetness of ripe peppers, the savory smokiness of sausage, and the tangy acidity of tomatoes, creating a symphony of flavors that dances on the palate. As you delve into this culinary journey, you'll discover two enticing variations of lecsó: the classic Hungarian version and a vegetarian delight. Both recipes promise an explosion of colors and flavors that will transport you to the heart of Hungary's culinary traditions. Embark on this gastronomic adventure and let lecsó become your new favorite comfort food.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

HUNGARIAN TOMATO-PEPPER STEW (LECSó)

Hungarian Tomato-Pepper Stew (Lecsó) image

Hungarian lecsó is a vegetable dish of stewed tomatoes, peppers, and onions. It can be served as a side dish, an appetizer, or the main meal itself.

Provided by Barbara Rolek

Categories Appetizer Dinner Lunch Side Dish

Time 1h

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

1 medium onion (sliced thinly)
2 tablespoons bacon grease (or oil)
1 pound peppers (Hungarian wax, banana, Italian, or green bell peppers, cut into 1/4-inch strips)
3 large tomatoes (very ripe, peeled, and chopped, or use the shortcut below)
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon sweet Hungarian paprika

Steps:

Gather the ingredients.
In a large skillet, sauté the onion in bacon fat or oil over low heat for 5 minutes.
Add pepper strips and cook another 15 minutes.
Add tomatoes, sugar, salt, and paprika, and cook for another 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the mixture resembles chunky tomato sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 93 kcal, Carbohydrate 12 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fiber 3 g, Protein 2 g, SaturatedFat 0 g, Sodium 536 mg, Sugar 6 g, Fat 5 g, ServingSize 4-6 Portions (4-6 Servings), UnsaturatedFat 0 g

HUNGARIAN LECSO - PEPPER, SAUSAGE AND TOMATO STEW

Hungarian Lecso - Pepper, Sausage and Tomato Stew image

Here is an ancient dish which originated in Serbia. Lecso is very versatile and essentially, is a stew of onions, various shaped and sized peppers including hot and yellow banana peppers, tomatoes and paprika. By adding sliced Kolbász, it becomes a main dish. Served as a side dish with any breaded meat; veal or pork is a perfect match. Excellent with scrambled eggs for breakfast! Many people refer to this is the Hungarian Ratatouille.

Provided by Chef Czegeny

Categories Peppers

Time 30m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

2 tablespoons fat (bacon) or 2 tablespoons lard (bacon)
3 medium onions
3 red peppers
3 hot white hungarian bell peppers
1 hot banana pepper
1 green bell pepper
1 fresh tomato
1 (14 ounce) can stewed tomatoes (whole)
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika
1 dash hot Hungarian paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 lb Hungarian sausage (Kolbasz)
1/2 cup water

Steps:

METHOD: In a heavy, straight-sided sauté pan or a casserole (like a Dutch Oven), melt three generous tablespoons of delicious lard.
Prepare all peppers, core, devein and cut into 4-6 long narrow wedges.
Cut onions into ½ moon slices. Place onions and peppers into the lard on high heat. Stir-fry until it becomes like a stew, cooked, but still firm; only about 6-8 minutes - no longer, you want the integrity of the peppers to remain in tact and the bright colours to stay. Then, add all seasonings, stewed tomatoes and paste.
Adding the Hungarian Sausage: Take 1 pair of Hungarian Kolbász (Sausage) and slice it on the "diagonal" - the visual effect is important. You can add the slices right into the pepper stew and let it stew together if it's not too dry. Other sausage variations like Debrecen are ideal, but the drier ones, like the Gyulai sausage are exceptionally delicious. Note: if the sausage is too dry - stew beforehand in ½ cup water in a shallow saucepan for 10-15 minutes before adding it to the peppers. (Add both stewing liquid and sausage to the peppers).
Let simmer until all flavours are melded; about 4-6 minutes. Warning - when you are stirring, use a wooden slotted spoon so as not to break up the peppers - you are not going for baby food!
Serving Suggestions: Serve with fluffy white jasmine rice and/or fresh Hungarian white bread. You can jazz it up or play it down. However you use, it you will find it to be very complimentary with a variety of your favourite dishes.

Tips:

To save time, use pre-cooked sausage or kielbasa.
If you don't have paprika, you can substitute chili powder or smoked paprika.
Feel free to add other vegetables to the stew, such as zucchini, eggplant, or mushrooms.
Serve the stew with mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta.

Conclusion:

Hungarian Lecsó is a hearty and flavorful stew that is perfect for a cold winter day. It is packed with colorful peppers, juicy tomatoes, and savory sausage. The stew is also very easy to make, and it can be tailored to your own taste. If you are looking for a delicious and satisfying meal, be sure to give Hungarian Lecsó a try.