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Lecsó served with fresh peppers, tomatoes, and smoked sausage
Classic Lecsó with sweet peppers, juicy tomatoes, and smoky bacon

Classic Hungarian Pepper Stew (Lecsó)

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Vegetarian & Vegan Dishes Main Courses
The Hungarian Ratatouille, the essence of summer. Good Lecsó isn't a soup or a simple sauté, but a thick ragout where vegetables braise in their own juices. The character is defined by the ratio of peppers to tomatoes (usually 2:1) and the sweetness of the onions. Rendered bacon fat provides a smoky foundation that ties the fresh vegetables together.
🕒 Prep Time 15 mins
🍳 Cook Time 25 mins
⌛ Total Time 40 mins
🍽️ Servings 5 servings
🔥 Calories 320 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Hungarian

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Large skillet or Dutch oven
  • Cutting board
  • Knife

Instructions

1 ✓

Render the fat from the diced bacon, then sauté the sliced onions in the fat until softened.

Tip: If there isn't enough bacon fat, add a little oil or lard. Thoroughly sweating the onions gives the stew its thickness.
2 ✓

Remove from heat, stir in the paprika, then add the sliced peppers.

Tip: Salt the peppers lightly and let them wilt slightly in their own steam before adding the tomatoes.
3 ✓

Once the peppers have softened, add the tomato wedges and crushed garlic.

Tip: You can peel the tomatoes (blanch in hot water) if you prefer a smoother texture without skins.
4 ✓

Simmer until the peppers are tender but not mushy, and the sauce has thickened.

Tip: Don't overcook! The peppers should still have a bit of bite.

Recipe FAQ

It's too watery.
Vegetables have high water content. Cook it longer without the lid to evaporate excess liquid and concentrate the flavors.
It tastes slightly bitter.
The pepper skins or seeds might be the cause. A pinch of sugar can balance this out.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Ripe Tomatoes
  • 2 lbs Hungarian Wax Peppers (or Banana Peppers/Yellow Bell Peppers)
  • 2 medium Yellow Onions
  • 1 tbsp Lard or Oil
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 0.5 tsp Ground Black Pepper
  • 3.5 oz Smoked Bacon (diced)
  • 1 tsp Sweet Paprika