Sausage Leczó / Lecso (Hungarian Vegetable Stew)

Sausage Leczo / Lecso (Hungarian Vegetable Stew) – only 5 ingredients and a great use for your summer vegetables! Full of tomatoes, green peppers and onion!

My dad’s dad (my papa) was from Hungary and we grew up eating a delicious Hungarian stew called lecsó (lay-cho). 

When I did research on the history of this traditional vegetable stew, however, I found that other countries have their own version. And that version is often spelled leczó.

This probably isn’t a big deal. It probably isn’t any kind of deal at all.

I had several moments of confusion though, wondering if I had been spelling it wrong for 30 years. For that reason alone, I will reference both spellings in this post.

Digging this recipe out of the family coffers was more difficult than I expected it to be. Several phone calls and emails to my dad, asking for the recipe, amounted to no response or a half response.

I finally had to reach out to my uncle and my dad’s cousin. And that’s when I realized that my dad’s half response was actually the recipe.

Doh.

Lecsó / leczó is so easy to make that for over a year I thought he was trying to keep the recipe from me. In reality, I just didn’t understand the recipe is very simple.

Sausage Leczó / Lecsó (Hungarian Vegetable Stew)

Leczó /lecsó is a vegetable stew that is part of traditional Hungarian and European cuisine.

My family always adds sausage to it but if you are looking for a vegetarian soup and leave it out, you will still have a delicious soup.

To make this stew, put your vegetables in a big pot and let them cook down until the heat and steam creates a juicy broth right from the veggies.

My dad kept telling me, “Jen, get some tomatoes and green peppers and the biggest onion you can find and put it all in a pot.” If you heard that, you would probably think something was missing too.

After my other family members reiterated the simple recipe, I set out to find the best ratio of vegetables.

If you are lucky enough to have a vegetable garden or a nearby awesome farmer’s market, save some veggies to make this soup. If not… buy some at the store and make this soup.

Basically, just make this soup. You will be glad you did!

The recipe below is my family’s recipe: if you think I made it wrong, included or omitted an ingredient, remember, this is how my family makes lecsó. Your family may make it differently, and that’s great – that’s the beauty of food.

Sausage Lecso Ingredients

Tomatoes: Ripe, juicy tomatoes are cut into wedges to form the flavorful tomato base of the dish. They add a natural sweetness and a delightful texture to the stew, providing the foundation for this hearty Hungarian dish.

What meat can I use if I can’t find Hungarian sausage?

Smoked Hungarian sausage, also known as “kolbász” in Hungarian, is a type of sausage that’s an integral part of Hungarian cuisine.

It’s characterized by its robust flavor, smokiness, and a blend of spices, with paprika being a prominent ingredient. 

The sausage is typically made from pork, but variations can include beef, lamb, or a mixture of meats.

The meat is seasoned with garlic, salt, and various spices, often featuring Hungarian paprika, contributing to its distinctive taste.

If you can’t find smoked Hungarian sausage, you can substitute it with other smoked or flavorful sausages available in your region. 

The key is to select a sausage that aligns with your personal taste and the flavor profile you desire for your Lecsó. 

While the specific taste may vary with these alternatives, you’ll still be able to enjoy a flavorful and satisfying dish.

SaveSave

Sharing is caring!