Bigos (Hunters Stew)

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven

   1 min

   Begin by setting your oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the stew. This will ensure it’s hot and ready for the casserole once all ingredients are combined.

2. 2

   Cook bacon and kielbasa

   41 min

   In a large pot over medium heat, add bacon and kielbasa. Sauté until the bacon becomes crispy and the kielbasa is nicely browned, about 5–7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked meats to a large casserole or Dutch oven, leaving the drippings in the pot.

3. 3

   Brown the pork

   46 min

   Take your pork cubes and lightly coat them with flour. In the same pot with the reserved drippings, fry the pork on medium-high heat until it is golden brown on all sides, which should take about 5–8 minutes. Once browned, add the pork to the casserole with the other meats.

4. 4

   Sauté vegetables

   58 min

   Add garlic, onion, mushrooms, cabbage, and sauerkraut to the pot. Cook this mixture over medium heat for approximately 10 minutes until the onion is translucent and the cabbage begins to soften, ensuring the vegetables do not brown during this process.

5. 5

   Deglaze the pan

   17 min

   Pour in the red wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Add the bay leaf, basil, marjoram, paprika, caraway seeds, and a dash of hot sauce. Stir well and let it cook for about 1 minute to meld the flavors.

6. 6

   Combine the remaining ingredients

   4 min

   Incorporate beef stock, tomato puree, diced tomatoes, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce into the pot. Stir well and heat the mixture until it starts to bubble gently, indicating it’s ready to be combined with the meat.

7. 7

   Combine meat and sauce

   17 min

   Carefully pour the bubbling vegetable and sauce mixture over the meats in the casserole dish. Ensure all the meat is well-covered, then place a lid on the casserole to retain moisture during cooking.

8. 8

   Bake the stew

   1 min

   Transfer the covered casserole to the preheated oven and bake for 2.5 to 3 hours. The stew is ready when the meat is incredibly tender and easily pulls apart with a fork.