Unleash the Flavor with This Mouthwatering Hunter’s Stew

Bigos is a traditional Polish stew using pork, kielbasa, and sauerkraut — great for a cold winter’s day. This recipe is well worth the time it takes to make it!

Recipe Details

Prep Time:
45 mins
Cook Time:
3 hrs
Total Time:
3 hrs 45 mins
Servings:
10

Ingredients

  • 1poundkielbasa sausage, sliced into 1/2 inch pieces

  • 2thick sliceshickory-smoked bacon

  • 1poundcubed pork stew meat

  • ¼cupall-purpose flour

  • 4cupsshredded green cabbage

  • 2carrots, diced

  • 1onion, diced

  • 1 ½cupssliced fresh mushrooms

  • 3clovesgarlic, chopped

  • 1(16 ounce) jarsauerkraut, rinsed and well drained

  • ¼cupdry red wine

  • 1bay leaf

  • 1tablespoonsweet paprika

  • 1teaspoondried basil

  • 1teaspoondried marjoram

  • ¼teaspoonsalt

  • teaspoonground black pepper

  • teaspooncaraway seed, crushed

  • 1pinchcayenne pepper

  • 5cupsbeef stock

  • 1cupcanned diced tomatoes

  • ½ouncedried mushrooms

  • 2tablespoonscanned tomato paste

  • 1dashbottled hot pepper sauce

  • 1dashWorcestershire sauce

Cooking Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

  2. Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add kielbasa and bacon; cook and stir until bacon has rendered its fat and sausage is lightly browned. Use a slotted spoon to remove the meat and transfer to a large casserole or Dutch oven.

  3. Coat cubes of pork lightly with flour and fry them in the bacon drippings over medium-high heat until golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to transfer pork to the casserole. Add cabbage, carrots, onion, fresh mushrooms, and garlic. Add in sauerkraut. Reduce heat to medium; cook and stir until carrots are soft, about 10 minutes. Do not let the vegetables brown.

  4. Deglaze the pan by pouring in red wine and stirring to loosen all of the bits of food and flour that are stuck to the bottom. Season with bay leaf, paprika, basil, marjoram, salt, pepper, caraway seed, and cayenne; cook for 1 minute.

  5. Mix in beef stock, tomatoes, dried mushrooms, tomato paste, hot pepper sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Heat through just until boiling. Pour vegetables and all of the liquid into the casserole dish with meat. Cover with a lid.

  6. Bake in the preheated oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until meat is very tender.

Nutrition Facts

Full Nutrition Label
Servings Per Recipe10
Calories356
% Daily Value *
Total Fat
24g
30%
Saturated Fat
8g
40%
Cholesterol
62mg
21%
Sodium
978mg
43%
Total Carbohydrate
15g
6%
Dietary Fiber
4g
14%
Total Sugars
7g
Protein
20g
Vitamin C
33mg
164%
Calcium
79mg
6%
Iron
3mg
18%
Potassium
795mg
17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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Dish Photos