Poverty Meal Recipe: Hearty and Homemade Hungarian Goulash

This “Poverty meal” (Hungarian Goulash) is an expensive way to combine pasta, tomatoes, and hamburger meat to create a hearty (maybe not so healthy, ha!) home cooked meal that is sure to warm your tummy and your soul.

Poverty Meal

I had a pretty good child hood. While we did have our fair share of harder times and family members that didn’t have so much, I personally felt it was sheltered in love and plenty. That doesn’t mean I didn’t have  my fair share of jello, mac n cheese, spam and fish sticks. My grandmother used to make this type meal, which means everyone has probably eaten at some point the same thing via their grandmothers house. To be honest I used to think it was called “goulash” but when I looked it up, it appears Goulash is a Hungarian meal made with meat, vegis and paprika.

Hungarian Goulash

• 1 large chopped up onion
• 2 garlic cloves that are minced (I use pre-minced garlic and add to taste)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 lb ground beef, browned up and drained
• 2 (16 ounce) cans chopped stewed tomatoes
• 1 (16 ounce) can water
• 8 ounces elbow macaroni, uncooked
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• Parmesan cheese

First saute up your garlic and onions for a few minutes till cooked through

Brown your ground beef and drain excess oils

Add your beef, canned tomatoes (undrained), water, macaroni, onion, garlic and seasonings together and cook till your macaroni is tender and soft

Top with fresh Parmesan

No matter what wealth you have physically or emotionally, this “poor mans meal” is sure to be an inexpensive and cost effective meal that has lasting power for full tummies! Follow more meals on my Pinterest board here!