💡 Quick Highlights
- •The Sauce: A creamy, sweet, savory, and tangy Hungarian-style bell pepper sauce loaded with tender sliced peppers and onions.
- •Total Time: Ready in just 30 minutes, making it an absolute breeze to fit into your busy weeknight routine.
- •Method: Cooked entirely in your Thermomix®—using the reverse function keeps the sliced veggies perfectly intact while cooking.
Quick Hungarian-Style Bell Pepper Sauce: A creamy, cozy family favorite!
This traditional sauce is rich, crazy flavorful, and effortless to whip up in just 30 minutes.
It’s the ultimate go-to when you need a fast, hassle-free dinner sauce that’ll have everyone reaching for seconds.
In this simple step-by-step recipe, I’ll show you just how easy it is to make this delicious homemade bell pepper sauce right in your Thermomix® in no time at all.
What is Hungarian-Style Bell Pepper Sauce?
Hungarian-style bell pepper sauce is a rich, savory simmer sauce made with sweet bell peppers, onions, and ripe tomatoes with origins in traditional Hungarian cuisine. While it’s classic to simmer this sauce with tender beef or pork, it’s just as easy to keep it vegetarian or vegan for a lighter weeknight dinner!
Why You’ll Love This Sauce:
- Quick & Easy: Ready to serve in just 30 minutes!
- Super Flavorful: The absolute best balance of sweet, tangy, and savory notes.
- Versatile: Delicious with tender meat, or easily adapted for vegetarian and vegan diets.
- Kid-Approved: A total crowd-pleaser with a silky sauce the whole family will love.
- Budget-Friendly: Made with simple, inexpensive ingredients you can find anywhere.
- Beginner-Friendly: A simple, foolproof recipe that turns out perfect every single time.
- Great for Meal Prep: Tastes even better the next day and reheats like a dream.
- Goes with Everything: Tastes amazing spooned over rice, pasta, crispy potatoes, or served with warm crusty bread.
My Top Recipe Tips
Use ripe bell peppers: Sweet, vibrant red bell peppers give you the absolute best natural sweetness and a gorgeous rich color.
Roast the peppers: Giving your bell peppers a quick roast in the oven unlocks incredible smoky flavor and intensifies their sweetness.
Don’t skimp on tomato paste: A good quality, high-grade tomato paste adds amazing rich depth and body to the sauce.
Don’t hold back on the seasonings: Hungarian-style pepper sauce is meant to be bold and flavorful!
Taste as you go: Always give the sauce a quick taste before serving and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
Top with fresh herbs: A sprinkle of fresh parsley or chives adds a gorgeous pop of color and flavor.
Enjoy with your favorite people: Hungarian pepper sauce is always best enjoyed gathered around the table with family and friends!
Can You Make This Sauce Ahead of Time?
Abolutely! This sauce is great for meal prep and keeps really well in the fridge. Just gently reheat it on the stove before serving.
It freezes beautifully, too. Simply pour the cooled sauce into a freezer bag or container and store it in the freezer.
Easy Recipe Variations
Feel free to customize this recipe based on whatever you have on hand! You can toss in extra veggies like sliced zucchini or mushrooms. Want a little kick? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes, chili powder, or caraway seeds for that classic depth of flavor.
What to Serve with Hungarian Pepper Sauce
This rich pepper sauce tastes amazing spooned over rice, egg noodles, roasted potatoes, or served with crusty bread for dipping.
Ingredients for Hungarian-Style Pepper Sauce
- 2 large onions
- 20 g olive oil
- 3 bell peppers (red, yellow, green)
- 400 g tomato purée (passata)
- 100 g water
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp red pepper paste (optional)
- 1 tbsp light vinegar (like white wine vinegar)
- 2 tsp vegetable bouillon powder or paste
- 20 g sugar
- 2 tsp sweet paprika (heaping)
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- Black pepper, to taste
Note: You will find the exact quantities and step-by-step instructions below in the recipe card, which you can also print or save as a PDF file.
How to Make Hungarian-Style Bell Pepper Sauce
Prep Work:
Peel the onions and cut them into quarters.
Wash the bell peppers, remove the seeds and stems, and cut them into thin strips.
Instructions:
First, add the quartered onions to the mixing bowl and chop for 5 sec / speed 5.
Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl, then repeat the chopping step once more.
Add the olive oil and sauté for 3 min / 120°C (250°F) / speed 1.
Next, add all remaining ingredients except the bell pepper strips (tomato puree, water, tomato paste, paprika paste, vegetable broth, sugar, vinegar, paprika, salt, and pepper) and mix for 10 sec / Speed 3.
Then, add the bell pepper strips to the mixing bowl and cook for 20 min / 100°C / Reverse / Speed 1.
Season the sauce to taste with a little extra salt and pepper, cook for another 5 min / 100°C / Reverse, and serve hot!
Enjoy!
Note: You will find the exact quantities and step-by-step instructions below in the recipe card, which you can also print or save as a PDF file.
By the way, the prep times listed are just averages. Everyone cooks at their own pace, and sometimes things take a bit longer or shorter than expected.
Happy cooking!
If you loved this recipe, you might also like my delicious creamy mushroom sauce 🙂
Cheers, Christoph
Don’t want to miss any more recipes? Follow me on:
Have you tried this recipe?
If you liked my recipe or if you have any questions or tips about the recipe, please leave a comment and rate the recipe with 5 stars. Tag your picture on Instagram with @thermokoch.de so that I can see it 🙂
Hungarian-Style Bell Pepper Sauce
Click stars to rate now
Zutaten
- 2 Onions large
- 20 g Olive oil
- 3 Bell peppers red, yellow, green
- 400 g Strained tomatoes (passata)
- 100 g Water
- 2 tbsp Tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Sweet pepper paste optional
- 1 tbsp Vinegar light / white wine vinegar
- 2 tsp Vegetable broth
- 20 g Sugar
- 2 tsp Sweet paprika heaping
- 1 ½ tsp Salt
- Black pepper to taste
Zubereitung
Prep:
- 2 OnionsPeel and quarter the onions.
- 3 Bell peppersWash the bell peppers, remove the seeds and stems, and cut them into thin strips.
Instructions:
- First, add the onions to the mixing bowl and chop for 5 sec / speed 5. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl, then repeat once more.
- 20 g Olive oilAdd the olive oil and sauté for 3 min / 120°C / speed 1.
- 400 g Strained tomatoes (passata), 100 g Water, 2 tbsp Tomato paste, 1 tbsp Sweet pepper paste, 1 tbsp Vinegar, 2 tsp Vegetable broth, 20 g Sugar, 2 tsp Sweet paprika, 1 ½ tsp Salt, Black pepperAdd all remaining ingredients except for the bell pepper strips and mix for 10 sec / speed 3.
- Next, add the bell pepper strips to the mixing bowl and cook for 20 min / 100°C / reverse mode / speed 1.
- Give the sauce a quick taste and adjust with salt and pepper if needed, then cook for another 5 min / 100°C / reverse mode / speed 1. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- This delicious bell pepper sauce (traditionally known as “Zigeunersoße”) is the ultimate pairing for juicy schnitzel and crispy French fries!
Hungarian-Style Bell Pepper Sauce
Click stars to rate now
Zutaten
- 2 Onions large
- 20 g Olive oil
- 3 Bell peppers red, yellow, green
- 400 g Strained tomatoes (passata)
- 100 g Water
- 2 tbsp Tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Sweet pepper paste optional
- 1 tbsp Vinegar light / white wine vinegar
- 2 tsp Vegetable broth
- 20 g Sugar
- 2 tsp Sweet paprika heaping
- 1 ½ tsp Salt
- Black pepper to taste
Zubereitung
Prep:
- 2 OnionsPeel and quarter the onions.
- 3 Bell peppersWash the bell peppers, remove the seeds and stems, and cut them into thin strips.
Instructions:
- First, add the onions to the mixing bowl and chop for 5 sec / speed 5. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl, then repeat once more.
- 20 g Olive oilAdd the olive oil and sauté for 3 min / 120°C / speed 1.
- 400 g Strained tomatoes (passata), 100 g Water, 2 tbsp Tomato paste, 1 tbsp Sweet pepper paste, 1 tbsp Vinegar, 2 tsp Vegetable broth, 20 g Sugar, 2 tsp Sweet paprika, 1 ½ tsp Salt, Black pepperAdd all remaining ingredients except for the bell pepper strips and mix for 10 sec / speed 3.
- Next, add the bell pepper strips to the mixing bowl and cook for 20 min / 100°C / reverse mode / speed 1.
- Give the sauce a quick taste and adjust with salt and pepper if needed, then cook for another 5 min / 100°C / reverse mode / speed 1. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- This delicious bell pepper sauce (traditionally known as "Zigeunersoße") is the ultimate pairing for juicy schnitzel and crispy French fries!
