A deep blue plate serves as the 'night sky'. The vibrant and luscious red stew, bejeweled with chunks of beef and vegetables, represents the 'earth'. White, star-shaped dumplings float atop the stew like stars against the dark navy plate, only heightening the stunning, festive aesthetic of the dish.

Krampusnacht Beef Goulasch with Starry Dumplings

Name: Krampusnacht Beef Goulasch with Starry Dumplings
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 105 min
Total time: 125 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Central European
Ingredients: Beef (prime stewing cut), 2 pounds cut into 1-inch cubes; Hungarian paprika, 3 tablespoons; Caraway seeds, 1 teaspoon toasted and lightly crushed; Onions, 2 medium-sized finely chopped; Garlic, 4 cloves minced; Red wine, 1 cup; Beef broth, 4 cups; Bell peppers, 3 assorted colors, diced; Potatoes, 2 large peeled and cubed; Bay leaves, 2; Salt, 2 teaspoons; Olive oil, 3 tablespoons; Black pepper, 1 teaspoon freshly ground; All-purpose flour, 2 cups; Milk, 1 and 1/2 cups; Eggs, 2 beaten; White cheddar cheese, 1 cup shredded; Butter, 1 tablespoon

Category Main Course

Prep 20 minutes

Cook 105 minutes

Style Central European

Technique Boiling

Diet Friendly High-Protein

Daily Recipe: December 05, 2025

Cool winter nights are perfect for a traditional Central European Krampusnacht feast! One of the most iconic festive dishes from this region is the hearty and comforting Beef Goulasch (Gulyás). Our version will include key ingredients, such as prime stewing beef, rich Hungarian paprika, aromatic caraway seeds, and root vegetables, all served on a dazzling blue plate to represent the crisp, wintry night Krampus roams.

Ingredients (for 6)

Beef (prime stewing cut) - 2 pounds - cut into 1-inch cubes
Hungarian paprika - 3 tablespoons
Caraway seeds - 1 teaspoon - toasted and lightly crushed
Onions - 2 medium-sized - finely chopped
Garlic - 4 cloves - minced
Red wine - 1 cup
Beef broth - 4 cups
Bell peppers - 3 - assorted colors, diced
Potatoes - 2 large - peeled and cubed
Bay leaves - 2
Salt - 2 teaspoons
Olive oil - 3 tablespoons
Black pepper - 1 teaspoon - freshly ground
All-purpose flour - 2 cups
Milk - 1 and 1/2 cups
Eggs - 2 - beaten
White cheddar cheese - 1 cup - shredded
Butter - 1 tablespoon

Preparation

Step 1 - 🍲🔥🥩

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef cubes and cook until they are browned on all sides. Then remove the beef and set it aside.
Step 2 - 🍲🧅🧄

In the same pot, add in the chopped onions and minced garlic. Cook until they soften. Then add in the Hungarian paprika, toasted caraway seeds, and salt, stirring to combine.
Step 3 - 🍲🍷🔥

Pour the red wine into the pot, scraping the bottom to deglaze it. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes until the wine reduces by half.
Step 4 - 🥩🥔🌶️🍲

Return the browned beef to the pot, and add in the diced bell peppers, cubed potatoes, beef broth, and bay leaves. Let it simmer, covered, for about 1.5 hours until the beef and potatoes are tender.
Step 5 - 🌟🥟🧀

In the last half hour of cooking, prepare the star dumplings. Mix together the flour, milk, beaten eggs, shredded cheddar cheese, and butter in a bowl. Knead until a dough forms, roll it out, and cut into star shapes.
Step 6 - 🌟🥟🍲

Bring a pot of water to boil. Cook the star dumplings in the boiling water until they float to the top, about 5-6 minutes. Drain them and add the dumplings to the goulash just before serving.

Additional

This dish is a wonderful way to bring a Krampusnacht tradition into your home. The star-shaped dumplings add a fun pop of festivity, making the cooking process a great activity for kids too! You can also add a variety of root vegetables such as parsnips or turnips to enhance the taste and nutritional content of the goulasch.