Traditional Hungarian Paprikash turned plant-based! This Vegan Paprikash is made with tofu and flavored with paprika, onion, and garlic. A simple, flavorful, and high-protein dish. Ready in 30 minutes.
I’m half Hungarian, so I grew up eating paprikash quite regularly.
I must have a true Hungarian palate because I love paprika. And paprikash, like most Hungarian dishes, is loaded with paprika.
Paprika has a delicious savory, sweet, slightly smoky flavor. The flavor is really rich, and you don’t need a bunch of ingredients to make a flavorful dish.
There are quite a few paprikash recipes floating around the internet and a lot of them are pretty complicated. But Hungarian cooking usually is very simple. So I wanted to make this recipe just as simple.
I took the recipe that my family made growing up, which is just a few ingredients, and simply replaced the protein and tweaked the spice ratio.
Seven ingredients. Simple. And easy!
Hungarian Paprikash is traditionally a meat dish. It is similar to goulash (which is a paprika-based potato stew), but without potatoes and using meat instead, often chicken and sometimes veal. The chicken is pan-fried with paprika and usually some vegetables like onion and pepper.
This vegan version of paprikash is made with tofu. The dish is so similar in flavor to traditional paprikash. It’s crazy! My Hungarian dad was snacking on this when I was testing and was amazed by how flavorful it is.
Tofu is very porous, so it absorbs the ingredients you cook it with. Meaning, it’s really easy to get that classic Hungarian paprika flavor. You will need to use more spice than you might use for a meat-based recipe, but it’s worth it! This is how you get all the flavor.
The word paprikash comes from the Hungarian "paprikas" which literally means a dish seasoned with paprika.
Paprikash gets its flavor almost entirely from paprika, so it tastes mild, slightly sweet, and like peppers.
I also add hot paprika to my version of paprikash, so this paprikash is also a tad spicy!
Step 1. Cube the tofu. Turn each block of tofu on its side and slice in half lengthwise. Then slice the block into 4 strips. Rotate and slice into 8 strips, creating 32 cubes per sheet (64 cubes per block).
Step 2. In a large non-stick skillet, sauté the onion for 5-7 minutes until soft, using a splash of vegetable broth as the cooking liquid. If there's any liquid in the pan when the onions are soft, turn to high and cook off the liquid.
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Step 3. Add the tofu and both paprikas. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring only a few times - let the tofu cook a minute or two on each side. If the tofu begins to stick, add a splash of vegetable broth.
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Step 4. Add the remaining vegetable broth, pepper, tomato paste, and salt. Cover and simmer for 5-7minutes, stirring occasionally.
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Step 5. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
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Step 6. Serve the tofu paprikash over the noodles. Enjoy!
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Often people will say that they think paprika is flavorless. Grocery store paprika can be pretty bland, so I highly encourage buying real Hungarian paprika. It has so much flavor and a little goes a long way!
We order our paprika from Spice Jungle. (This link is not sponsored, it's simply the paprika I use and recommend.
Sometimes I recommend pressing tofu. For this recipe, it is not necessary.
The tofu will soak up all the paprika flavor while cooking, so there's no need to take the extra time to press.
I haven’t tested this but I think tempeh would be a great option.
Tempeh has a firmer texture, so it mimics meat more than tofu. If you try this, please let me know!
Mushrooms have a strong earthy, umami flavor that isn’t usually found in paprikash. So be most traditional, I left them out.
That said, the savory mushrooms would definitely be delicious!
If you want to add mushrooms, you could add 8-16 ounces of sliced mushrooms along with the peppers.
Store this tofu paprikash in an air-tight container in the fridge. It will last up to a week.
Feel free to store the tofu and pasta mixed together - get that paprika flavor all mixed in!
Thank you God for this meal. Thank you for cultures and traditions that bring beauty into this world. Amen.
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Traditional Hungarian Paprikash turned plant-based! This Vegan Paprikash is made with tofu and flavored with paprika, onion, and garlic. A simple, flavorful, and high-protein dish. Ready in 30 minutes.
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At Elizabeth's Table I bring you easy and nutritious, plant-based recipes, explore the relationship between food and faith, and share my unique lifestyle.
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