Who doesn't love pasta? OK, so I did a little research on "Goulash" or "American Chop Suey" or Macaroni & Beef (as it's know commercially). If you've never heard of it, It's an American pasta dish. What I found out is that the preferred name and recipe varies by region: for example, the name American Chop Suey is most prevalent in New England, which is where I'm from.
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| Simmering tomatoes, onion & hamburg |
I wondered why my family called it Goulash. I phoned mom and asked her and she said that's what her mom called it - OK, so that's cast in stone! So, it is what it is. My husband grew up calling it American Chop Suey, well, he lived near Boston, maybe they were a little fancier than us! LOL!
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| Add some different types of pasta! |
Upon further research, I discovered that it's known as chop suey because it is a sometimes-haphazard hodgepodge of meat and vegetables. The recipe is quite adaptable to taste and available ingredients. Elbow macaroni can be substituted with any pasta of similar size, such as ziti, shells, or rotelle. The onions or green peppers may be omitted, or replaced with other vegetables or mushrooms. While some recipes call for a smooth prepared tomato sauce some cooks prefer to add crushed or diced tomatoes along with tomato paste for a chunkier more intensely flavored dish - which is what I like. Italian herbs and Worcestershire sauce are sometimes used in preparation.
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| Some favorite ingredients. |
However you decide to make it, or whatever you'd like to call it, and keeping with family tradition I'll call it Goulash, two accompaniments are a must, grated Parmesan cheese and fresh bread for a yummy comforting meal!
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| Grab a fork and enjoy! |
My Goulash Recipe (with an attitude*)
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 pound of lean ground beef, broken up
1 tablespoon Olive oil
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic
pinch of sea salt
pinch of fresh ground pepper
2-4 shakes of hot sauce ( I use Franks)
1- 14 oz. can of organic diced tomatoes
1- 10 oz. can of Rotel diced tomatoes & green chilies
8 ounces of dry pasta - cooked (I used elbows, shells, and orecchiette)
Parmesan cheese
Directions
Add olive oil to a large skillett, add chopped onion and soften, add garlic and simmer for another few moments. Add the salt and pepper. Add 2-4 shakes of hot sauce. Add the ground beef and break it up in the skillet. When the hamburg is browned add the organic and Rotel tomatoes. Cook until hot, add the pasta, mix it up, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve!
*If you don't want the "attitude" you may leave out the hot sauce and substitute the Rotel with regular diced tomatoes.
Enjoy!
