Instructions: When my son arrived for dinner one Sunday evening with a winter cold, I prepared Hungarian goulash soup in only a few minutes with ingredients I had on hand.

Goulash is a traditional Hungarian dish made with bacon and other meat, Hungarian paprika, potatoes and spices. It was prepared by the Magyars as a method of preserving meat and was cooked for a very long time, allowing the meat to become tender. For this recipe, I used a low-fat smoked sausage to shorten the cooking time while still producing a flavorful result. This soup gains flavor as it sits. Make double and refrigerate the extra for another quick dinner.

Hungarian paprika lends a sweet pepper flavor to the soup. It can be found in the spice section of many supermarkets. Regular paprika will also work well. Be sure your paprika is fresh. If you like a peppery soup, look for hot Hungarian paprika.

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