Vegan Hungarian Goulash

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4.93 from 28 votes

This vegan Hungarian goulash (gulyás) is flavorful, comforting, hearty, very tasty, and perfect as a weeknight dinner, especially in fall and winter! The recipe is vegetarian (meat-free), oil-free, gluten-free, and easy to make. Serve this plant-based stew over mashed potatoes, with bread or pasta!

Vegan Goulash

Have you ever tried vegan goulash? My parents are from the Czech Republic (which isn’t too far away from Hungary) and they made goulash quite often in the past. Because I loved this dish when I was little, I decided to create my own vegan version.

And here it is! A plant-based goulash that is very delicious and comforting. If you are a fan of paprika, you should definitely give this recipe a try!

I love this recipe because it is:

A great vegan weeknight that can be combined with different side dishes.
It’s flavorful, comforting, hearty, and very delicious.
Easy to make with simple ingredients

What Is Goulash?

Per Wikipedia: Goulash (Hungarian: gulyás [ˈɡujaːʃ]) is a stew or soup of meat and vegetables usually seasoned with paprika and other spices. Originating in medieval Hungary, goulash is a popular meal predominantly eaten in Central Europe but also in other parts of Europe.
It is one of the national dishes of Hungary and a symbol of the country… Goulash can be prepared from beef, veal, pork, or lamb…
InHungarian cuisine, traditional “Gulyásleves” (literally “goulash soup“), “bográcsgulyás“,pörkölt, andpaprikás were thick stews made by cattle herders and stockmen…

Of course, I didn’t add beef or any other meat. I added my own twist and even though my version isn’t traditional, it’s still very delicious and flavorful.

How To Make Vegan Hungarian Goulash?

This recipe is very simple. You only need one pot, a stove, and easily accessible ingredients.

Soak the textured vegetable protein in water for about 10 minutes (check the recipe below for a soy-free version), then drain/squeeze out the water.

Meanwhile, chop veggies + potatoes and heat a skillet over medium heat.
Add water (or oil) and sauté the onion with the peppers for about 3-4 minutes.
Add carrot, garlic, potatoes, tomatoes, all spices, tomato sauce, bay leaves, and water (or veggie broth) and bring the mixture to a boil.
Let simmer for about 15 minutes, then add the textured vegetable protein, soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar.
Cook for a further 20 minutes, or until the potatoes and veggies are softened.
Finally, add coconut milk (or your favorite plant-based cream, e.g. oat cream) and stir.
Taste and adjust seasoning. Add more salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, etc. to taste.
Serve with bread, pasta, or over mashed potatoes.
Store leftovers covered in the fridge and reheat with a splash of water in a pan/skillet.

Health Benefits Of Paprika

Did you know that paprika has many health benefits? It’s packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. I found an amazing article with 6 great facts about paprika! I am going to share some facts with you:

1.) Rich in Antioxidants

Perhaps the most impressive quality of paprika is the amount of antioxidant power it packs in just one serving…

2.) Aids in Treatment for Autoimmune Conditions

A groundbreaking study conducted in 2016 found that capsaicin, the ingredient in chili peppers and other hot varieties that provide the heat — like paprika — may have incredible power against autoimmune conditions…

3.) May Help Treat and Prevent Cancer

The capsaicin found in spicy paprika isn’t useful in treating just one type of disease — it also has great potential in treating and/or preventing cancer…

4.) Potentially Useful in the Treatment of Diabetes

Like many nutrient-rich foods and spices, paprika seems to have the potential to help regulate blood sugar levels and assist in treating diabetes…

5.) Good for the Eyes

Because of the large amount of antioxidants present in this spice, such as vitamin A, lutein and zeaxanthin, it’s already clear that paprika benefits you by helping prevent diseases that damage your eyes…

6.) Keeps Your Heart Strong

Spicing up your life with paprika helps keep your heart and cardiovascular system in good shape. Vitamin B6 helps lower high blood pressure and heal damaged blood vessels…

For more information, check out this article.

Healthy Ingredients

This vegan goulash recipe contains lots of healthy ingredients, such as onion, peppers, garlic, tomatoes, carrot, potatoes, and many spices. Check the recipe card below for all ingredients and measurements!

If you want to make the recipe soy-free, simply leave out the textured vegetable protein and add, for example, 3 cups of cooked beans or lentils instead (add them 5 minutes before the cooking time is up).

The textured vegetable protein adds a lot of plant-based protein, however, legumes are also rich in protein, so you can vary the recipe to your liking.

How To Serve Vegan Goulash

My parents used to make traditional Hungarian goulash (with beef) and they often served it with bread. I think that’s most common in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia. Americans love to serve American goulash with pasta, for example, elbow noodles or macaroni which for sure is tasty as well!

I prefer eating this hearty stew over mashed potatoes. It may sound weird, but you really have to give it a try and once you do, you will fall in love. Trust me! I also love eating vegan meatballs over mashed potatoes.

Serve the goulash with a fresh salad, and enjoy.

This Vegan Hungarian Goulash recipe is:

Meatless
Dairy-free
100% oil-free
Gluten-free
Hearty
Satisfying
Flavorful
Comforting
A great weeknight dinner
Easy to make with simple ingredients

Should you try out this delicious vegan goulash recipe, please leave a comment and rating below, and don’t forget to tag me in your Instagram or Facebook post with @elavegan #elavegan because I love to see your remakes! 🙂

If you like comfort food, definitely also check out the following vegan recipes:

Mushroom Stroganoff
White Bean Soup
Vegan Butter Chicken
Corn Chowder
Creamy Pasta Soup
Roasted Red Pepper Pasta
Easy Lentil Stew
Sweet Potato Curry
The Best Lentil Soup
Rice And Bean Casserole
Roasted Cauliflower Soup
Oil-Free Chickpea Curry
Vegan Gumbo

Author: Michaela Vais

This vegan Hungarian goulash (gulyás) is flavorful, comforting, hearty, very tasty, and perfect as a weeknight dinner, especially in fall! The recipe is vegetarian (meat-free), oil-free, gluten-free, and easy to make. Serve this plant-based stew over mashed potatoes, with bread or pasta!

4.93 from 28 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Ingredients

3 medium (465 g) Yukon Gold potatoes
1 medium (140 g) bell pepper (I used red)
1 small/medium (100 g) carrot
2 medium (200 g) onions
2 small (120 g) peppers (I used green)
3 medium (340 g) tomatoes
5 cloves of garlic (minced)
4 tbsp (yes, tablespoons) paprika (more to taste)
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp salt (or less/more to taste)
1 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1 Pinch of cayenne pepper
Black pepper to taste
2 tsp coconut sugar or brown sugar
2 bay leaves
2 cups (480 g) tomato sauce
2 cups (480 ml) low sodium vegetable broth or water
4.6 oz (130 g) textured vegetable protein chunks (see notes)
1 1/4 cup (300 ml) water
2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup (80 ml) coconut milk canned (see notes)
Fresh herbs to garnish
For serving: mashed potatoes, pasta, or bread

Instructions

Watch the video below for easy visual instructions.
Soak the textured vegetable protein in a bowl with 1 1/4 cups of water for about 10 minutes. Then drain and squeeze out the water.
Meanwhile, chop veggies + potatoes and heat a skillet over medium heat.
Add 1 tablespoon water (or oil) and saute the onion with the peppers for about 3-4 minutes.
Add carrot, garlic, potatoes, tomatoes, all spices, tomato sauce bay leaves, and water (or veggie broth) and bring the soup to a boil.
Let simmer for about 15 minutes, then add the textured vegetable protein, soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar.
Cook for a further 20 minutes or until the potatoes and veggies are softened.
Finally, add coconut milk (or your favorite plant-based cream, e.g. oat cream) and stir.
Taste and adjust seasoning. Add more salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, etc. to taste.
Serve with bread, pasta, or over mashed potatoes. Enjoy!
Store leftovers covered in the fridge and reheat with a splash of water.

Notes

If you want to make the recipe soy-free, simply leave out the textured vegetable protein and add 3 cups of cooked beans or lentils instead (add them 5 minutes before the cooking time is up).
The goulash tastes best if you use Hungarian paprika!
You can use your favorite plant-based cream, e.g. oat cream instead of canned coconut milk.
You might also enjoy this Vegan Mushroom Bourguignon
Recipe serves 6. Nutrition facts are for one serving.

Nutrition Facts

Vegan Hungarian Goulash

Amount per Serving

Calories

259

% Daily Value*

Fat

Saturated Fat