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–+ servings
Hungarian vegan lecso with a light vegan scramble stirred in at the end

Hungarian Vegan Lecso – A Stew with a Scent of Home

This nostalgic dish is built with fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic, and green bell peppers – no tomato paste, no shortcuts. Just pure, honest flavor. Top it with a fluffy vegan scramble or hearty sausages, and you’ve got a complete plant-based meal straight from the heart of Central Europe.
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Servings: 2
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2-3 tablespoon oil
  • 500 gram Cherry tomatoes – diced Alternatively: regular tomatoes with 1 teaspoon sugar *see note
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 large or 2 small dark green bell peppers washed, halved lengthwise, and thinly sliced crosswise
  • 2 cloves crushed garlic to taste
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • salt, and black pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup water as needed
🍅 Optional Add-ins (for extra flavor & texture):
  • Vegan scrambled egg
  • 2-4 Redefine bratwurst-style vegan sausages – roasted according to package directions, or air-fried at 200°C (392°F) for 8 minutes, then sliced into bite-sized pieces
For Serving
  • Fresh parsley – finely chopped
  • Crusty bread or soft rolls

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a wide skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onion and green bell pepper, and sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peppers begin to soften.
  2. Add the crushed garlic and stir for a few seconds until fragrant.Then add the tomatoes, sweet paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peppers are fully softened and the tomatoes break down when pressed.If the mixture looks too dry, gradually add a little water as needed.
    Remove from heat and let cool slightly.Meanwhile, if desired, prepare vegan scrambled egg.(A detailed recipe for vegan scramble will be published soon on the blog!)
  3. Once the vegan scrambled egg is ready, gently fold it into the lecso. Alternatively, you can spoon it into the center of each serving just before serving.
To Serve
  1. Spoon a generous portion of lecso into a bowl or plate. If you haven’t mixed in the vegan scrambled egg, place 1–2 spoonfuls in the center of each serving. Arrange a few slices of bratwurst-style vegan sausage on top, sprinkle with chopped parsley, and serve with crusty bread or a soft roll for soaking up the sauce.

Notes

  • Sweetness tip:
    Cherry tomatoes are naturally sweeter than regular tomatoes. If using regular tomatoes, it’s recommended to add 1 teaspoon of sugar (or to taste) to balance the acidity.
  • Which green pepper to choose?
    Light green peppers soften faster, but dark green peppers are recommended – they hold their color better during cooking and offer a richer, deeper flavor.

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