Hot Paprika and Tomatoes (Gypsy Sauce) for Schnitzel

Classic goulash
Elena Zapassky/E+/Getty Images
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 4 servings

Zigeunersauce, or gypsy sauce, is another German "fast-food" item at traditional restaurants, or "Gaststaette." Zigeunersauce is made with brightly colored bell peppers, ground Hungarian paprika and tomato paste. It is very tasty, but watch which kind of ground paprika you use, or you could turn up the heat so much you would have a hard time eating it. It's commonly served over schnitzel.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon oil

  • 1 medium onion, sliced

  • 3 cups sliced multi-color bell peppers, sliced

  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose or brown rice flour

  • 2 teaspoons sweet paprika, preferably Hungarian

  • 1 to 2 teaspoons hot paprika, preferably Hungarian

  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste

  • 1 1/2 cups homemade or store-bought broth chicken

  • 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, more to taste

  • 1 teaspoons sweetener, such as honey, sugar or agave nectar, more to taste

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a large skillet, heat the oil on medium heat until it shimmers. Add the onion slices and sauté for a few minutes until they begin to soften.

  3. Add the bell pepper slices and cook a few minutes longer.

  4. Add the garlic, sprinkle the flour and both kinds of ground paprika over the vegetables and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.

  5. Add the tomato paste and stir until blended.

  6. Add the chicken broth, a little at a time, stirring after each addition. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce begins to thicken.

  7. Lower the heat to low and let the mixture simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes.

  8. Add lemon juice, sweetener, salt, and pepper to taste. Serve.

Tips

  • This hot and spicy tomato-flavored gypsy sauce turns pork cutlets, pork chops or schnitzel into a meal fit for guests. It's not what Americans typically think of as German food, so you'll surprise them if you have asked them to dinner for a German-style dinner party.
  • For an authentic menu, serve with sauerkraut, a green vegetable like spring peas or steamed green beans, and a hearty white bread in the German style.
  • You can serve a red or white wine with a gypsy sauce entree; the choice depends upon which meat is part of your dish. If it's pork, choose a medium-bodied red like grenache or zinfandel. If you're serving beef, those reds would work, or you could go with a more full-bodied red like cabernet sauvignon. If the meat is chicken breast, go with a dry white wine like chardonnay, riesling or sauvignon blanc. 
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
122 Calories
4g Fat
20g Carbs
3g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 122
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 2mg 1%
Sodium 502mg 22%
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 151mg 755%
Calcium 38mg 3%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 443mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)