Chicken Paprika
MUM's CSIRKE PAPRIKAS. (Chicken Paprika)
Paprikas is pronounced - 'cheerke paap-ree-kysh'
This satisfying meal is a simple Hungarian recipe made with chicken browned in butter (or lard), cooked with onions and paprika, then finished with a little sour cream mixed in. Serve over dumplings or noodles.
See recipe for 'Nokedli' - Mum's quick and easy Hungarian homemade noodles.
INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons butter or *pork lardÂ
6-8 chicken pieces, *bone-in and skin-on
2 medium onions, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 tomatoes, very finely diced (Roma are good)
1 Hungarian bell pepper, diced (optional)
3-4 tablespoons of quality, genuine imported sweet Hungarian paprika. (this is the secret ingredient)
2 cups chicken broth (*homemade preferably - just boil chicken wings and bones for hours with whole onion, salt and peppercorn)
1 and half teaspoons sea salt
half teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup full fat sour cream , room temperature (full fat prevents lumpy cream)
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
traditionally used for the best flavour
METHOD
Heat the lard in a heavy pot and brown the chicken all overÂ
Let the chicken rest on a plate.  In the same oil, add the onions and fry until golden brown. Â
Add tomatoes, garlic and pepper and fry another 2-3 minutes. Â
Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the paprika, salt and pepper (you must remove the pot from heat otherwise the paprika goes bitter)
Return the chicken to the pot and place it back over the heat. Â
Pour in the chicken broth. The chicken should be mostly covered. Bring it to a boil.Â
Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 40 minutes. Remove the chicken and transfer to a plate.
In a small bowl, stir the flour into the sour cream/cream mixture to form a smooth paste. Stir the cream mixture into the liquid in the pot, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.Â
Simmer for a couple of minutes until the sauce is thickened - keep stirring.Â
Add salt and pepper to taste.Â
Return the chicken to the sauce and simmer to heat through.
Serve the chicken paprikash with Hungarian nokedli, steamed rice, pasta shells, rigatoni or mashed potato.