Hungarian Lecsó – Traditional Hungarian Pepper and Tomato Stew

Hungarian Lecsó is a classic Hungarian comfort food made with sweet peppers, ripe tomatoes, onions, paprika, and a little oil. Simple, colorful, and deeply flavorful, this rustic dish is a staple of Hungarian home cooking and is perfect with fresh crusty bread.

Hungarian Lecsó Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons sunflower oil or vegetable oil
• 2 medium onions, finely sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 6–7 Hungarian wax peppers or sweet peppers, sliced
• 4–5 ripe tomatoes, chopped
• 1 tablespoon sweet Hungarian paprika
• ½ teaspoon hot paprika, optional
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar, optional
• 100–150 ml water, if needed
• 100 g smoked sausage, sliced, optional
• Fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

1. Prepare the vegetables
   Wash the peppers and tomatoes thoroughly. Remove the pepper stems and seeds, then slice the peppers into strips. Chop the tomatoes and finely slice the onions.

2. Sauté the onions
   Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for 5–7 minutes until soft and lightly golden.

3. Add the garlic and paprika
   Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Remove the pan briefly from the heat and add the sweet paprika. Stir quickly so the paprika does not burn.

4. Cook the peppers
   Return the pan to the heat and add the sliced peppers. Cook for approximately 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften.

5. Add the tomatoes
   Add the chopped tomatoes, salt, black pepper, and optional hot paprika. Stir everything together. If using sausage, add the sliced sausage at this stage.

6. Simmer
   Cover partially and simmer over medium-low heat for 20–30 minutes. Stir occasionally until the vegetables become tender and the tomatoes form a rich, thick sauce.

7. Adjust the flavor
   Taste and adjust the salt and paprika. If the tomatoes are particularly acidic, a small amount of sugar can be added to balance the flavor.

8. Serve
   Remove from the heat, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and serve hot with crusty bread.

Serving Suggestions

Hungarian Lecsó is delicious served as a main vegetarian dish with fresh bread, boiled potatoes, or rice. It can also be served as a side dish alongside grilled or roasted meats.

For a more substantial Hungarian-style meal, add smoked sausage or serve the lecsó with fried eggs.

Expert Tips for the Best Lecsó

• Use ripe, flavorful tomatoes for the best sauce.
• Hungarian sweet peppers give the dish its characteristic flavor, but regular sweet peppers can also be used.
• Do not let the paprika burn, as it can become bitter.
• Cook the lecsó slowly so the peppers and tomatoes have time to develop a rich flavor.
• For a thicker consistency, simmer uncovered during the final 10 minutes.

Why You’ll Love Hungarian Lecsó

Lecsó is one of those recipes that proves simple ingredients can create an exceptionally satisfying meal. The sweetness of the peppers and tomatoes combines beautifully with aromatic onions and Hungarian paprika, creating a rich, rustic dish that tastes even better with a piece of warm bread.

Recipe Card

Recipe: Hungarian Lecsó
Cuisine: Hungarian
Category: Main Course / Side Dish
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy

Keywords: Hungarian lecsó, Hungarian pepper stew, Hungarian tomato stew, traditional Hungarian recipes, paprika peppers, Hungarian comfort food