Goulash Soup with Dumplings

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  Serves 4-6

Ingredients
1 lb (450 g) braising steak
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped small
1 tablespoon plain flour
2 tablespoons hot paprika, plus a little extra for sprinkling
¼ teaspoon dried marjoram (if available)
½ teaspoon caraway seeds
1 clove garlic, crushed
14 oz (400 g) tinned Italian chopped tomatoes
2½ pints (1.5 litres) beef or vegetable stock
1 teaspooon tomato purée
1 lb (450 g) potatoes, peeled and cut into ½ inch (1 cm) cubes
1 green or red pepper, deseeded and chopped
5 fl oz (150 ml) soured cream
salt and freshly milled black pepper
For the dumplings:
4 oz (110 g) self-raising flour, plus a little extra for dusting
2 oz (50 g) shredded suet
salt and freshly milled black pepper

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Equipment
You will also need a 6 pint (3.5 litre) lidded, flameproof casserole.

Method

Begin by trimming and cutting the meat into ½ inch (1 cm) pieces. Then heat the oil in the casserole and fry the meat in batches over a high heat until well browned, removing it to a plate as it is ready. Now stir in the onion, adding a little extra oil if needed. Cook the onion over a medium heat for about 5 minutes or until it's lightly browned, stirring now and then. Then return the meat to the casserole and sprinkle in the flour, paprika, marjoram (if using), caraway seeds and garlic and season with salt. Stir well and cook for a minute before adding the tomatoes and stock. When it comes to simmering point, cover and continue simmering very gently for 45 minutes.

After that, take the lid off and stir in the tomato purée, followed by the potatoes and chopped pepper, then bring the goulash back to a simmer and cook gently, covered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Then, to make the dumplings, mix the flour and shredded suet in a bowl, season with salt and pepper, and add enough cold water (6-8 tablespoonfuls) to make a smooth elastic dough. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured board and divide it into 12 small dumplings, pop them on to the soup – don't press them down, though, just let them float. Then put the lid back on and simmer for a further 25 minutes.

Taste to check the seasoning and ladle the goulash into six warmed, deep bowls, making sure everyone has 2 dumplings.

Finish each one with a spoonful of soured cream and a sprinkling of paprika.

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