Fiakergulasch

Fiakergulasch is a popular variation on the traditional Viennese goulash, or Wiener saftgulasch, as it is known in Austria. The dish is usually made with diced beef that is simmered in a flavorful sauce consisting of onions, tomato purée, garlic, water, vinegar, smoked paprika (hot and mild or sweet), bay leaves, marjoram, caraway seeds, salt, and pepper. What distinguishes this version from other Viennese goulash versions is the choice of garnishes and accompaniments that are traditionally served with the beef stew. These include fried Wiener sausages (known as Frankfurter würstel in Austria), fan-cut pickled gherkins, bread dumplings or boiled potatoes, and a fried, sunny-side-up egg. This specialty is said to have been a favorite of the Viennese coachmen who drive the famous 19th-century horse-drawn carriages or fiakers around the city, hence the name of the dish, which translates to coachman’s goulash. In Vienna, this dish is also known by the name herrengulasch (meaning gentlemen’s goulash). The beef stew is thought to be an excellent hangover remedy, which is why it is a popular meal choice in the morning, served in many cafés throughout Vienna.