Dinner

Bigos (Hunters Stew)

Name: Bigos (Hunters Stew)
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 180 min
Total time: 205 min
Cuisine: Polish
Ingredients: 2 sliced bacon, sliced; 1 lb kielbasa; 1 lb pork, cubed; 1/4 cup flour; 3 chopped garlic, chopped; 1 diced onion, diced; 1 1/2 cup mushrooms; 4 cups cabbage; 1 jar sauerkraut; 1/4 cup red wine; 1 bay leaf; 1 tsp basil; 1 tsp marjoram; 1 tbs paprika; 1/8 teaspoon caraway seeds; 1 dash hot sauce; 5 cups beef stock; 2 tbs tomato puree; 1 cup tomatoes, diced; 1 dash Worcestershire sauce; carrots, as needed; salt, to taste; black pepper, to taste; cayenne pepper, to taste

A hearty Polish pork stew with bacon, kielbasa, cabbage, sauerkraut, mushrooms, and warming spices, slowly baked until tender.

3 hr 25 min
440 kcal
Polish
Stew

Mellowpan tip: Makes 8 servings. Plan the extras as tomorrow’s lunch.

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Ingredients

For 8 servings

Steps

Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Step 2:
Heat a large pot over medium heat.
Step 3:
Add the bacon and kielbasa; cook and stir until the bacon has rendered its fat and the sausage is lightly browned.
Step 4:
Use a slotted spoon to remove the meat and transfer it to a large casserole or Dutch oven.
Step 5:
Lightly coat the pork cubes with flour.
Step 6:
Fry the pork in the bacon drippings over medium-high heat until golden brown.
Step 7:
Use a slotted spoon to transfer the pork to the casserole.
Step 8:
Add the garlic, onion, carrots, fresh mushrooms, cabbage, and sauerkraut.
Step 9:
Reduce the heat to medium; cook and stir until the carrots are soft, about 10 minutes. Do not let the vegetables brown.
10 min
Step 10:
Deglaze the pan with the red wine, stirring to loosen all food and flour bits stuck to the bottom.
Step 11:
Season with bay leaf, basil, marjoram, paprika, salt, pepper, caraway seeds, and cayenne pepper.
Step 12:
Cook for 1 minute.
1 min
Step 13:
Mix in the dried mushrooms, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, beef stock, tomato puree, and tomatoes.
Step 14:
Heat just until boiling.
Step 15:
Pour the vegetables and all the liquid into the casserole with the meat.
Step 16:
Cover with a lid.
Step 17:
Bake in the preheated oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until the meat is very tender.
2–3 h